From CostCo to Baghdad

Oy:

Spc. Chris Carlson had been out of the U.S. Army for two years and was working at Costco in California when he received notice that he was being called back into service.

The 24-year-old is one of thousands of soldiers and Marines who have been deployed to Iraq under a policy that allows military leaders to recall troops who have left the service but still have time left on their contract.

“I thought it was crazy,” said Carlson, who has found himself protecting convoys on Iraq’s dangerous roads as part of a New Jersey National Guard unit. “Never in a million years did I think they would call me back.”

Good thing we have an all volunteer army.

Author: BooMan

Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.