Guardsman Sues Over Service Time Extensions
A California Army National Guard soldier challenged the military’s so-called stop-loss program in federal court here, contending Tuesday that the Pentagon’s plan to keep as many as 20,000 U.S. Army personnel beyond their time of service is illegal.
It was the first lawsuit challenging extended military service after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The soldier’s complaint comes as the Army is struggling to find fresh units to continue the occupation of Iraq. Almost every combat unit has faced or will face duty there or in Afghanistan, and increased violence has forced the deployment of an additional 20,000 troops to the Iraq region.
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