White House Ceremony-30 Years All-Volunteer Force

[sfc_darrel]

White House Ceremony Marks 30 Years of
All-Volunteer Force

By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- With right hands and voices raised,
30 military personnel from each branch of the armed forces
repeated the oath of reenlistment in the White House East Room
July 1.

This reenlistment ceremony marked the 30th anniversary
of the all-volunteer force. Presiding over the event was
Commander in Chief George W. Bush. Air Force Gen.
Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
read the oath.

The White House ceremony was one of many held
throughout the Defense Department on this special day.
Enlistment ceremonies were also held at 65 Military
Entrance Processing Stations throughout the United
States. The all-volunteer force began when the draft
ended June 30, 1973.

The White House event was special not only to the
participants, but also for the spectators in the room.
Emma Gjiya traveled from New York City to
Washington to see her brother reenlist. She said that she
was proud of him. Her brother, Marine Cpl. Guyp
Tchoumba, with the Military Security Force Battalion in Norfolk,
Va., said he reenlisted because he loves the United States.

"The history, the people, are just wonderful," he
observed. Tchoumba recently became a U.S. citizen.
He and his sister are from the African Republic of
Cameroon. He also pointed out that he reenlisted
because he "felt he didn't give enough" during his first four
years of service. But most importantly, he said he wanted
to be a part of the U.S. Marines who "have a job to finish."

Air Force Staff Sgt. Kimberly Scott reenlisted because
she loves the Air Force and because of the "pride you
feel when you put on the United States Air Force uniform."

The president addressed an audience populated with
a mix of servicemembers, their families and Pentagon
leaders. Bush told them that in the past 30 years, the
country has seen the "great advantages of a military in
which all serve by their own decision." "Our country's
all-volunteer force attracts idealistic and committed
young Americans. They stay in service longer because
they have chosen the military life," he said. "The result
is a military with the highest level of training and
experience, motivation and professionalism." He added
that military life is rewarding, but even at its best, "that
life is difficult." He said that serving in the military often
involves separation and danger, "those who willingly make
these sacrifices and the families who share their hardships
have the respect and the gratitude of their fellow Americans."

The president also told the audience that today's military
is serving in one of history's "most critical hours,"
reminding them that the terrorists who attacked Sept. 11,
2001, made clear their intentions to strike again.

"As long as terrorists and their allies plot to harm America,
this country will be at war," Bush said. "We did not choose
this war, yet with the safety of the American people at
stake, we will continue to wage this war with all our
might." The president also used the occasion to outline the
importance of a volunteer force and how it has led to
successes in the global war on terrorism, as well as the
liberation of Iraq and Afghanistan. He said that from the
beginning, "we have known the effort would be long and
difficult, and that our resolve would be tested. We know
that sacrifice is unavoidable.

"We have seen victories in the decisive defeat of two terror
regimes and in the relentless pursuit of a global terror
network.Yet the war on terror goes on. We will not be
distracted, and we will prevail," he said.

Of the 230,000 military serving inside and near Iraq, the
president said, "As commander in chief, I will assure them
we will stay on the offensive against the enemy, and all
who attack our troops will be met with direct and decisive
force."

"As America fights our war against terror, we will continue
to depend on the skill and courage of our volunteer military,"
Bush noted. He said the reenlistees were answering the
"highest call of citizenship. They have stood between the
American people and the dangers of the world, and we are
glad they are staying on duty." "In these last 22 months, our
armed forces have been tested and tested again," he said.

"In every case, in every mission, America's servicemen
and women have brought credit to the uniform, to our flag, and
to our country. We have needed you, and you have never let us
down. I want to thank you for keeping your pledge of duty to
America, and thank you for renewing that demanding pledge
today." For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy
NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.

[Tamaroa]

Funny, but I am glad to eat my words!!! 30 years ago, as a member of the US Naval Institute, I wrote a letter to the Proceedings and bemoaned the end of the draft. I felt at the time that ending the draft was the wrong thing to do because I felt the draft created a diverse population that worked well together. I went on in the article to cite examples of how I saw things going badly with the draft going by the wayside.

Well I am happy to say that I was wrong. It is evident from the majority of the people on this board who enlisted after the draft ended that the country was in good hands.

Thanks for proving me wrong.

Bill