IAVA's Director of Government Affairs Todd Bowers spoke with WTTG- Fox 5 over the weekend about President Obama's announcement of a troop drawdown in Iraq, emphasizing the need to ensure servicemembers have the proper mental health screening, education benefits and job skills training for the transition home. Check-out his interview...
DAVIDSON, N.C.—When Lisa Pagan reports for duty Sunday, four long years after she was honorably discharged from the Army, she'll arrive with more than her old uniform. She's bringing her kids, too.
"I have to bring them with me," she said. "I don't have a choice."
Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to later receive orders to return to service. They're not in training, they're not getting a Defense Department salary, but as long as they have time left on their original enlistment contracts, they're on "individual ready reserve" status -- eligible to be recalled at any time.
Soldiers can appeal, and some have won permission to remain in civilian life. Pagan filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan with what she says is a choice between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.
Then she hit on the idea of showing up Sunday at Fort Benning, Ga., with her children in tow.
"I guess they'll have to contact the highest person at the base, and they'll have to decide from there what to do," Pagan said. "I either report and bring the children with me or don't report and face dishonorable discharge and possibly being arrested. I guess I'll just have to make my case while I'm there."
Master Sgt. Keith O'Donnell, an Army spokesman in St. Louis, said the commander at Fort Benning will decide how to handle the situation.
"The Army tries to look at the whole picture and they definitely don't want to do anything that jeopardizes the family or jeopardizes the children," O'Donnell said. "At the same time, these are individuals who made obligations and commitments to the country."
Of the 25,000 individual ready reserve troops recalled since September 2001, more than 7,500 have been granted deferments or exemptions, O'Donnell said. About 1,000 have failed to report. O'Donnell most of those cases are still under investigation, while 360 soldiers have been separated from the Army either through "other than honorable" discharges or general discharges.
He said Pagan isn't likely to face charges, since none of the individual ready reserve soldiers who have failed to report faced a court-martial.
Pagan, who grew up near Camden, N.J., was working in a department store when she made her commitment in September 2002. She learned how to drive a truck, and met Travis while stationed in Hawaii. She had her first child while in uniform, and they left the service in 2005 when their enlistments were up.
She always knew there was a chance she could be recalled, so she buried the thought in the back of her mind.
"When I enlisted, they said almost nobody gets called back when you're in the IRR," she said.
The young family settled outside of Charlotte in the college town of Davidson, where Travis landed a job as a salesman. It required lots of travel, but that was OK -- Pagan enjoyed her life as a stay-at-home mom to their son Eric and a daughter named Elizabeth.
She opened a child-care center in her home, and started taking classes at nearby Fayetteville State.
The orders to return to active duty arrived in December 2007. She told the Army there was no one to take care of her children: Her husband spent most of his time on the road, and they believe quitting his job is a sure path to bankruptcy and foreclosure. Her parents live in New Jersey and her husband's parents live in Texas. Neither are able to help out. The Army wasn't persuaded.
Pagan hired attorney Mark Waple, who filed another appeal, which included a letter from Travis Pagan's employer that said bluntly: "In order for Travis to remain an employee, he will be required to travel." In December 2008, her appeal was again rejected.
"It's the obligation of commanders to make certain that service members have a valid family care plan and that clearly has not happened in Lisa's case," Waple said.
Tom Tarantino, a policy associate with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonprofit group that helps veterans, said the Army has taken a hard line on many of these cases.
"Usually the only way that someone can get out of the deployment or get out of the military due to a family hardship is if they get into a situation where the kids will be put into foster care," Tarantino said.
"That's how serious it has to be, and I'm sure what the military is telling her -- and I'm not saying that this is exactly the right answer -- but the fact that it is inconvenient for her husband's job is not the military's problem. It's very harsh."
Quote by BobR:
morning.
I head into the office this morning to clean out my cubicle and have my exit interview.
yay.
Quote by wickedpam:
I hope you say soumething about the manner inwhich you received your notice. What that manager did was cowardly. Serious, if your gonna lay someone off then at least give them the respect they deserve.
Quote by BobR:
morning.
I head into the office this morning to clean out my cubicle and have my exit interview.
yay.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by BobR:
morning.
I head into the office this morning to clean out my cubicle and have my exit interview.
yay.
At least they let you do that. I was escorted out in shame; they shipped my belongings to me.
Quote by BobR:
morning.
I head into the office this morning to clean out my cubicle and have my exit interview.
yay.
Quote by Raine:
Hey Random! Good Morning!
One could only wonder how things would be if that money had gone back into the American economy over the past 6 years.
Quote by velveeta jones:
Velveeta's wife is not too good. Someone has broken her!! :cry:
And to top it off her iBook finally died and I must get her a new (refurbished) MacBook so she can be online. With her being so down, her computer has been an important communication tool.
And my friend BobR has to clean his cubicle........ (picturing Dilbert now). :cry:
Quote by velveeta jones:
Sorry Starling...... didn't mean to spread the angst!
Quote by starling310:Quote by velveeta jones:
Sorry Starling...... didn't mean to spread the angst!
No problem. It's like when babies cry in solidarity with one another.
What happened to Bobber?![]()
Quote by Raine:Quote by starling310:Quote by velveeta jones:
Sorry Starling...... didn't mean to spread the angst!
No problem. It's like when babies cry in solidarity with one another.
What happened to Bobber?![]()
Bobber had one door closed this week...
Sunday, on the way home from our Fabulous NYC trek, his boss called... he has been laid off.
Quote by velveeta jones:
Velveeta's wife is not too good. Someone has broken her!! :cry:
And to top it off her iBook finally died and I must get her a new (refurbished) MacBook so she can be online. With her being so down, her computer has been an important communication tool.
And my friend BobR has to clean his cubicle........ (picturing Dilbert now). :cry:
Anyway....... those are my complaints today.......... back to the fun. I'll suck it up.
Quote by starling310:
God D*mn B*tch A** M*ther F*ckin' Sh*t!!!
![]()
----->
<------ :nerd:
Quote by Raine:What burns my bunch is that they did it over the phone, on a Sunday WHILE he was on vacation.Quote by starling310:
God D*mn B*tch A** M*ther F*ckin' Sh*t!!!
![]()
----->
<------ :nerd:
His boss said he didn't know how long he was going to be away -- even thos the BOSS signed off on the vacation
Fuckers.
But Bob keeps saying it doesn't pay to dwell, I guess he is right. I just hate how they treated him.
Quote by starling310:
That is really crappy! You guys have each other and that makes a HUGE difference!
Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
Quote by TriSec:
I've been tempted to send an anonymous "whistle-blower" letter to the director of the department. There's so much going wrong there, and I'm certain the manager is the cause.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
Quote by Raine:
Ewww?????
Quote by wickedpam:
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
Ewww?????
Pardon me for sayin' this, but she kinda looks like Bill Clinton's type :lol:
Quote by velveeta jones:
Auntie will soon (in about 4 days) be able to join you online........ refurbished MacBook is on the way for her. :clap:
And, we'll be dining on rice and beans for quite awhile. :kickcan:
Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
They are hiring where Velveeta lives, btw. Big ad on the teevee this am about a company that does ..... telemarketing? or something similar and hiring Customer Service people. I would assume they need tech guys/gals as well.
And...... there's a house on the market 3 houses down from me! ;)
Quote by starling310:
OMG you guys! I had a sex dream about Michelle Obama!
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Quote by Random:
Scott was back.
Why does he keep calling?
Quote by Raine:Quote by starling310:
OMG you guys! I had a sex dream about Michelle Obama!
![]()
Wowser!
I have been having dreams about Obama... I don't think they were sex dreams tho... That is awesome tho! She is hella sexy.
Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
How much are apartments renting for in the DC area these days?
Quote by Raine:It's on the list of possibilities, actually.Quote by wickedpam:
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:It's on the list of possibilities, actually.Quote by wickedpam:
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
![]()
(for purely self reasons
)
Quote by velveeta jones:
Auntie will soon (in about 4 days) be able to join you online........ refurbished MacBook is on the way for her. :clap:
And, we'll be dining on rice and beans for quite awhile. :kickcan:
Quote by starling310:
OMG you guys! I had a sex dream about Michelle Obama!
![]()
Quote by Raine:Quote by velveeta jones:
Auntie will soon (in about 4 days) be able to join you online........ refurbished MacBook is on the way for her. :clap:
And, we'll be dining on rice and beans for quite awhile. :kickcan:
:clap: for the Mac Book.
:( for the Rice and beans. What happened that made the old one die?
Quote by starling310:
OMG you guys! I had a sex dream about Michelle Obama!
![]()
Quote by Raine:I really loved where you lived... Iffin you can find the name of the company, we would surely look into it!Quote by velveeta jones:Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
They are hiring where Velveeta lives, btw. Big ad on the teevee this am about a company that does ..... telemarketing? or something similar and hiring Customer Service people. I would assume they need tech guys/gals as well.
And...... there's a house on the market 3 houses down from me! ;)
Quote by livingonli:
Are the right-wing callers to momma getting extra crazy? I blame it on Scott, he's brought them all out of the woodwork.
Quote by starling310:
Wow...he's sueing California on Thursday. All I have planned for Thursday is a hair cut.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
How much are apartments renting for in the DC area these days?
depends on where you are - inside the beltway is alway more expense then outside - check out apartments.com to hunt around the area. There are also a lot of homes for rent but you have to be careful they don't foreclose on the house.
Quote by Raine:
It's on the list of possibilities, actually.
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
-- And as I alluded to yesterday in the blog, we are fortunate in that we can go wherever a job presents itself. This could be a great thing for us. We had a five year plan, it just may be that it is moved up. you have to try to look at the bright side of these things.
sooooo - DC might be an area ya'll would consider????? *plots ways to have friends move closer*
How much are apartments renting for in the DC area these days?
depends on where you are - inside the beltway is alway more expense then outside - check out apartments.com to hunt around the area. There are also a lot of homes for rent but you have to be careful they don't foreclose on the house.
Ohhh I know I know! My friend who is on a six month assignment in DC with :Name of agency redacted: is paying 3,700 dollars a month for a studio apartment! But that is on Capitol Hill. Since that is being paid for by his :agency redated: per diem, I feel we as tax payers are putting him up in such nice digs. We as a blog meet should crash there for the weekend!
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
It's on the list of possibilities, actually.
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
Somewhere within a day's drive of Boston would be good!
![]()
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
It's on the list of possibilities, actually.
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
Somewhere within a day's drive of Boston would be good!
![]()
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
It's on the list of possibilities, actually.
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
Somewhere within a day's drive of Boston would be good!
![]()
We could start a bloggie commune..
Quote by livingonli:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
It's on the list of possibilities, actually.
We want to stay on the east coast, that is pretty much our criteria. (and hopefully a progressive area.)
Somewhere within a day's drive of Boston would be good!
![]()
If I go out in the old jalopy, I would just need a place to crash. So best bet would be in the Boston-DC corridor.
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo, you only eat one Fruit Loop at a time? A whole bowl of Fruit Loops is more filling ;)
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo, you only eat one Fruit Loop at a time? A whole bowl of Fruit Loops is more filling ;)
Loop, damnit, LOOPS!
Quote by Mondobubba:
Umm guys. Lisa Pagan was discharged yesterday. I saw a wire service story on yesterday evening. Here is something from the AJC
Quote by Raine:
Ok, let me get this straight... Nancy Skinner is already airing repeats? Are you effing kidding me?
Time to find something else. *sigh* I really miss Randi. BADLY.
Quote by BobR:
I would LOVE to live in DC, but these comments about the rent are a little scary. I would definitely need to earn more than I am making now.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:
I would LOVE to live in DC, but these comments about the rent are a little scary. I would definitely need to earn more than I am making now.
Fer sure, Bobber. Its on my list of places, but I don't (no offense Mala) want live in Prince William or Louden Counties if I chose NoVa has my base of operations, same thing with outer MoCo or God give me strength Fredneck county in Maryland.
Quote by Raine:
Can anyone out here make a pdf from a word doc?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Can anyone out here make a pdf from a word doc?
Yeah I can. Since I am cool, cutting edge kinda guy with the Open Office Suite, I can covert from .doc to .pdf. Yes I am awesome!
Quote by Random:
Hello everyones.
Quote by Raine:Cool, I can use a little help... Will be emailing you.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
Can anyone out here make a pdf from a word doc?
Yeah I can. Since I am cool, cutting edge kinda guy with the Open Office Suite, I can covert from .doc to .pdf. Yes I am awesome!
My acrobat is just not up to snuff.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Random:
Scott was back.
Why does he keep calling?
He is pompous and self important?
Quote by trojanrabbit:
My wife thinks he called WBZ early this morning with the same anti-semitic stuff only a bit more virulent - earned hisself a "lifetime ban"
Quote by livingonli:
A story on Thom Hartmann's departure from Air America.
The Curse of Randi Rhodes: Nova M's Successor "On Second Thought" Padlocked in Phoenix (w/Update)
By Stephen Lemons in Feathered Bastard
talk radio enterprise Nova M. Photo taken this afternoon.
I'd been tipped off that KNUV 1190 AM, formerly the flagship station of the liberal Nova M radio network, and briefly, the home of Nova M's successor network, On Second Thought, had been padlocked. So I had to see for myself, as On Second Thought's driving force, Mike Newcomb, was apparently doing his afternoon show today as usual. At least, that's the way it sounded to someone who's not a regular listener of Newcomb's show.
But as you can see from the photo above, 1190 AM's offices are indeed chained up. The security guard for the building told me that the padlocking occurred today. When I asked why, he shrugged and said, "Something to do with the rent."