“Stop-Loss” Exposes “Voluntary” Army Myth

“I think the whole stop-loss program is a misrepresentation to people of how long they're going to actually serve. I think it's caused tremendous morale problems, tremendous psychological damage to people. When you sign up for the military, you're saying, ‘I'll give you, say, six years and then after six years I get my life back.’ And they're saying, ‘No, really, we can extend you indefinitely.’”

Jules Lobel, law professor, University of Pittsburgh.

Will Dunham, “Army forces 50,000 soldiers into extended duty,” Reuters, 1/29/06.