by James Glaser
June 15, 2005

At one time Americans looked at those in the Armed Services as Patriots, but today many are seeing them like Senator John McCain, who claims many in the service are now "draftees", and still others look at the tens of thousands of dollars paid for reenlistment bonuses, as making today's troops, "mercenaries."

Back on July 16th, 2003 Gerry J. Gilmore, writing for the American Forces Press Service, wrote, "Today's all-volunteer force is strong, vibrant, and has successfully met myriad challenges in the global war on terrorism." Air Force General Richard B. Myers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "This is largely so, because for the most part, everybody who is serving is someone who wants to serve."

Those words came from General Myers, when the "victory " in Iraq was still fresh and President Bush's Mission Accomplished speech was still on the minds of most servicemen and women.

We jump forward just one year to July 25th, 2004 and Stewart Nusbaumer, writes in Intervention Magazine, "It is not surprising that the poorest regions of the United States are over-represented in our national military, and minorities are overwhelmingly more likely to fight our wars than white males from the suburbs. Southerners are not necessarily more patriotic and minorities militaristic; they just have less money and less opportunity."

The population of poor Americans in our Armed Forces hints at the mercenary role in the decision to sign up and to many, military pay looks very attractive.

In October of 2004, the "cat was out of the bag," when an editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said, "One of the unintended public policy side effects of the war in Iraq is that the United States no longer has an all- volunteer military."

Now we have a military that isn't all-volunteer, and we don't have a national draft either, so, what do we have? With the lack of new recruits signing up, President Bush had to sign the "Stop-Loss" order which keeps those in our armed forces on the job, even after there enlistment is up. That is what Senator McCain referred to as the "backdoor draft."

American troops in every war have always looked forward to the end of their enlistment with anticipation and every trooper had his own calendar to cross off the days. In WW II Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines were told they were in for the Duration, which meant they were serving until the war was won or lost. Today our troops have no idea of when they can get out, but now the Pentagon is waving the "green" in front of their eyes, trying to get them to reenlist.

Today those Patriots who want to sign up to protect America can be persuaded with thousands of dollars to "sign on that dotted line." Military.com reports under Enlistment and Reenlistment Bonuses, "If you enlist in any of the Armed Forces for a period of at least 2 years, you may be eligible for a bonus in an amount not to exceed $20,000."

Veterans of America's past wars look at this bonus and wonder what happened to American Patriotism.

Today in order to keep the All-Volunteer Military intact, the Pentagon is opening up their check book and paying big money. "The bonus to be paid may not exceed the lesser of the following amounts; "The product of 15 times the monthly rate of basic pay to which the member was entitled at the time of discharge or release of the member; and The product of the number of years (or the monthly fractions thereof) of the term of reenlistment or extension of enlistment, not to exceed $60,000. (Remember this is a government program)

Today a young man from the wrong side of the tracks can get $20 grand to sign up and in just a few years, can get another $60 grand to reenlist. This money is "pay off" money to keep the Soldiers and Marines we need to defend America. These troops are doing the same jobs that millions of Americans filled with no bonus... of course that was in Pre-Bush wars.

Today the All-Volunteer Military no longer works. Enlistments are down so far that the Pentagon is paying tens of thousands of dollars to entice young Americans to hear their Nation's Call to Arms. The same call that millions of this generations parents and grandparents heard and answered, not for a signing bonus, but because they felt it was their patriotic duty.

Mercenary—A soldier who fights or engages in warfare primarily for money.

This new twist in our Armed Forces make one ask, what has George Bush done to America?