Ralph Nader In The Army

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
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Regular enlistees serve their time but also have a total 6 year commitment in the inactive reserve.

Not quite.

It was a total 6 year obligation including active and reserve time, at least in the early sixties when I first enlisted.

I enlisted in 1963, served on active duty four years until the expiration of my enlistment in 1967, then was separated from active duty and placed in the inactive reserves for an additional two years. Once done with that, I received my honorable discharge. So, it was six years combined total.

Originally posted by mwmiller
Not quite.

It was a total 6 year obligation including active and reserve time, at least in the early sixties when I first enlisted.

I enlisted in 1963, served on active duty four years until the expiration of my enlistment in 1967, then was separated from active duty and placed in the inactive reserves for an additional two years. Once done with that, I received my honorable discharge. So, it was six years combined total.

That's what I said. A total commitment of 6 years is required, balanced between active/reserve time. Perhaps I expressed myself poorly.

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Yes he did do it just right, right time right place. As I pointed out earlier, a few years later and it could have gone horribly wrong for him.

Quick correction for you:

Enlisted reservists are required to do 6 months active duty, followed by 5 1/2 years inactive reserve. (Unless called up in a war) Regular enlistees serve their time but also have ...[text shortened]... ar commissions and must serve 6 years.

I've done both, regular enlisted Army, then USAF OCS.

It "could have gone horribly wrong for him" at any time during his Reserve status. I still don't see your point; he took student deferments to complete his studies and then enlisted in the Reserves. What is the problem you have with that? It seems like a perfectly honorable way to fulfill his military commitments esp. during peace time.

Originally posted by no1marauder
It "could have gone horribly wrong for him" at any time during his Reserve status. I still don't see your point; he took student deferments to complete his studies and then enlisted in the Reserves. What is the problem you have with that? It seems like a perfectly honorable way to fulfill his military commitments esp. during peace time.

Are you being willfully stupid maurader?

I didn't say he did anything wrong, I'm saying that after Princeton, then Harvard, he must have been like a duck out of water being a private/cook in the Army.

Jebus.