I'd seen some active duty members writing about this before and now I've now found the "smoking gun" proof.
Quite simply put, the Pentagon is preparing to mobilize as many retired veterans as possible, including those who are disabled and over age 60. This is the absolutely closest thing to a draft you can get without it becoming a press-gang operation, Viet Nam style.
The text is buried in yesterday's
Federal Register inside a lot of legalese. Here are the relevant portions:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
32 CFR Part 64
[DoD-2006-OS-0022]
[RIN 0790-AH92]
Management and Mobilization of Regular and Reserve Retired Military Members
SUMMARY: This rule prescribes uniform policy and guidance governing the peacetime management of retired military personnel, both Regular and Reserve, in preparation for their use during a mobilization.
(c) Military retiree categories.
(1) Category I. Non-disability military retirees under age 60 who have been retired fewer than 5 years.
(2) Category II. Non-disability military retirees under age 60 who have been retired 5 years or more.
(3) Category III. Military retirees, including those retired for disability, other than categories I or II retirees (includes warrant officers and healthcare professionals who retire from active duty after age 60).
Sec. 64.4 Policy.
(a) It is DoD policy that military retirees be ordered to active duty as needed to perform such duties as the Secretary concerned considers necessary in the interests of national defense as described in 10 U.S.C. 12301 and 688.
(d) Military retirees shall be ordered to active duty with full pay and allowances. They may not be used to fill mobilization billets in a non-pay status.
Woah!
This means that a heck of a lot of people who fought in Viet Nam or Korea, who have long since retired from the military, who have been civilians for 30 years, could be mobilized if Rumsfeld wants them to be.
Anyone want to take a wild guess at why this rule has just been published now?
Cross-posted from the doubleplusungood crimethink website Flogging the Simian
Peace