Ok, I just saw that new movie Stop-Loss, and as a veteran of 2 tours in Iraq myself I just have to say something.
While I can appreciate the point the movie was trying to make. What I dont like is when the character makes his stand on baseless arguements.
"I honored my contract, I expect the Army to do the same"......well guess what???...They are honoring their contract. I guess you didnt read the fine print when you signed it at MEPS explaining stop-loss.
In addition to that, most people who have never served dont realize that, when you sign up for 4 years, youre actually signing up for 8 years. 4 years active, 4 years inactive where you can potentially be recalled to service at anytime in those 4 years. if you sign up for 6, you do 2 years in the inactive reserve.
The other problem I had with the movie was how the character was "stop-lossed". You do not get all the way to your final seperation briefing on your very last day in the service and then find out you have been stop-lossed. It just does NOT happen that way. EVER.
Stop Loss occurs no more than 90 days prior to a deployment and you are Stop-Lossed throughout the deployment and then again 90 more days upon return to complete outprocessing. Start V.A. paperwork, do your medical, and turn in your gear.
I could go on, but those things just really stuck with me. Like I said, I dont have a problem with what the film maker was trying to say. What I do have a problem with is baseing it on fiction and inaccurate portrayals of military procedure. A lot of people will see this movie and immediatley think the Military is this evil entity destroying families.
Maybe Im making a big deal out of nothing, but I'd like to hear everyones opinions who has seen or wants to see this film.
While I can appreciate the point the movie was trying to make. What I dont like is when the character makes his stand on baseless arguements.
"I honored my contract, I expect the Army to do the same"......well guess what???...They are honoring their contract. I guess you didnt read the fine print when you signed it at MEPS explaining stop-loss.
In addition to that, most people who have never served dont realize that, when you sign up for 4 years, youre actually signing up for 8 years. 4 years active, 4 years inactive where you can potentially be recalled to service at anytime in those 4 years. if you sign up for 6, you do 2 years in the inactive reserve.
The other problem I had with the movie was how the character was "stop-lossed". You do not get all the way to your final seperation briefing on your very last day in the service and then find out you have been stop-lossed. It just does NOT happen that way. EVER.
Stop Loss occurs no more than 90 days prior to a deployment and you are Stop-Lossed throughout the deployment and then again 90 more days upon return to complete outprocessing. Start V.A. paperwork, do your medical, and turn in your gear.
I could go on, but those things just really stuck with me. Like I said, I dont have a problem with what the film maker was trying to say. What I do have a problem with is baseing it on fiction and inaccurate portrayals of military procedure. A lot of people will see this movie and immediatley think the Military is this evil entity destroying families.
Maybe Im making a big deal out of nothing, but I'd like to hear everyones opinions who has seen or wants to see this film.