3 Brothers AWOL In Minnesota (to tune of 4 dead in Ohio)

[Psychoblues]

How can this happen? What is slipping in the DoD? Or should I say DoO. Whatever, this is indicative of a much larger problem for the bushies and other chickenhawk legislators and executives.


After enlisting in the Minnesota Army National Guard, the Kamunens had second thoughts and didn't return to basic training after Christmas.

By Randy Furst, Star Tribune

CARLTON, MINN. -- Luke Kamunen began to wonder if he'd made a mistake the moment he arrived for basic training. He was still in the airport at Fort Jackson, S.C., with other members of his Minnesota National Guard unit, when an officer reprimanded him publicly for leaving a paper cup on his seat in the airport.
"I was thinking, is this what it's going to be like the whole time?" Luke said. "I'm not even on the bus yet."

His twin brother, Leif, started having doubts within weeks when a drill sergeant indicated they were probably headed to Iraq. Leif said that possibility had been downplayed by the recruiter who signed him up in Duluth.

On Jan. 2, the twins, age 21, and their brother Leo, 20, went AWOL from the Army. All three failed to return to basic training after Christmas break in northern Minnesota. Five months later, Luke has been released from the military, while Leif and Leo remain absent without leave. They say they plan to turn themselves in soon.

The Kamunen brothers are an example of a growing problem -- Army desertions have risen 35 percent in the past two years, according to Defense Department figures. The number rose from 2,450 in 2004 to 3,301 in 2006.

There are many more who go AWOL -- tens of thousands who leave without permission for anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days.

"In any large group of military, you are always going to have some people change their minds," said Dennis Schulstad, a retired Air Force brigadier general and a former Minneapolis City Council member. Soldiers who desert are only a fraction of the 2.5 million in the military.

But Ronald Krebs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota, blames the sharp rise on the "unfathomable pressure" that recruiters are now under. He says that forces them to lower standards and recruit people who might be less stable.

"Lower-quality recruits desert at much higher rates than higher-quality recruits," said Krebs, author of "Fighting for Rights: Military Service and the Politics of Citizenship," published last year by Cornell University Press.

The Kamunens are typical of young recruits who go AWOL, said Sam Diener of the GI Rights Hotline, a national organization that counsels soldiers. "The recruits are disproportionately rural, mostly high school graduates who aren't sure what to do next," he said.

Still, the Kamunens' situation is unusual, simply because there are three of them. "I've talked to thousands and thousands of AWOLs," said the GI Hotline's Bill Galvin. "And I don't think I've ever heard of two brothers going AWOL at the same time."

Give it a read and tell me what you really think?!?!?!??!? Thanks in advance!!!!!

[theHawk]

Sounds to me like they are the chickenshits.

"I was thinking, is this what it's going to be like the whole time?" Luke said. "I'm not even on the bus yet."

Its just boot camp, of course they are going to yell at you the whole time about stupid little things.

What a bunch of pussys.

[Gaffer]

Sounds like a bunch of spoiled brats that didn't like what they got into when they enlisted.

The opinions of a political science professor have nothing to do with the military. Sounds like someone was scraping up somebody to spout anti-military propaganda.

[theHawk]

pb spreading anti-military propaganda? Naw!!

[Gaffer]

pb spreading anti-military propaganda? Naw!!

Yeah who'da thunk it.

[Psychoblues]

I am not and have never claimed to be a professor.

Yeah who'da thunk it.

I would refer you to the article as posted and keep your ad hominems to a minimal.

Indeed. Who'da thunk it?

[lkamunen]

hey you cock winders the "hawk" and "gaffer" you guys are so fuckin typical!!
yeah I'm one of the brothers who ditched that joke of an outfit called the army! Next time you guys post a comment and think you know what your talking about get your fuckin sources straight. First thing, the guy who wrote the article on us was an old fart who put shit in there just for the publicity. Half that shit we didn't say. If you guys think your so damn tuff with your little postings why don;t you come to my house personally. The army was a fuckiin joke and anyone who backs that shit up is dumber then my shit floating in the toilet. The majority of people that join are hopeless little retards who don't have any other chioce in life, so they stick it through. And eventually get there dumb ass demolished by an IED some jew put under there vehicle. who would fight for some old man named bush anyway. Sounds to me like you guys are the chickenshits. There aint many people who have the balls to leave even when they really have to. Some people just got more important shit to do then listen to a bunch of niggers in a round hat scream at them all day, and burn there asses off in the hot sun!! Yeah one more thing, the army don't pay shit!! I could work at micdonalds and make more money in one year!!! Fuck you!!

[LiberalNation]

Nice, well it's your life and some of it might even be true but you signed up on your on free will, no one put a gun to your head, when you sign a contract your expected to fullfill it.

[82Marine89]

hey you cock winders the "hawk" and "gaffer" you guys are so fuckin typical!!
yeah I'm one of the brothers who ditched that joke of an outfit called the army! Next time you guys post a comment and think you know what your talking about get your fuckin sources straight. First thing, the guy who wrote the article on us was an old fart who put shit in there just for the publicity. Half that shit we didn't say. If you guys think your so damn tuff with your little postings why don;t you come to my house personally. The army was a fuckiin joke and anyone who backs that shit up is dumber then my shit floating in the toilet. The majority of people that join are hopeless little retards who don't have any other chioce in life, so they stick it through. And eventually get there dumb ass demolished by an IED some jew put under there vehicle. who would fight for some old man named bush anyway. Sounds to me like you guys are the chickenshits. There aint many people who have the balls to leave even when they really have to. Some people just got more important shit to do then listen to a bunch of niggers in a round hat scream at them all day, and burn there asses off in the hot sun!! Yeah one more thing, the army don't pay shit!! I could work at micdonalds and make more money in one year!!! Fuck you!!

Lookie here. We have us an internet tough guy. "You come to my house and my pa will kick your ass." Fuck you, you cum chuggling, knob gobbling, piss ant. You and your two pillow biting brothers need to go back to daisy chaining each other and leave life to the real men. In fact fuck stain, why don't the three of you share a gallon of Drano? And before you think about getting a job at "micdonalds", you might want to think about 7th grade spelling again. Sorry you got butt hurt over having someone yell at you. You go right back to sucking mama's titty and she'll take care of you. Maybe she'll kick my ass after I'm done with your daddy. Then your whole family can go to your Klan meeting and you can tell them how some old Marine kicked your ass.

[82Marine89]

Just want to add that I apologize to any of the regular members of this board if I offended you with my language.

~Mick

[lkamunen]

ok HOSS!! Sorry i didn't check my spelling and grammer option. Its just blurbs you hick!! uhhhh??? you can come to my house and meet my PA! uhhhh??? I'm 82 marine and I like muscle cars and american flags! uuhhhh???? Hey go fuck yourself you buzz cut billy!!!

[lkamunen]

I just want to apologize to my fellow butt puggers. I might have offened someone. GO suck your pa's shriveled pecker! 82 marine

[82Marine89]

Look here li'l Himmler. If you want to go rounds with me you need to bring your 'A' game. Don't re-use stuff I've already said.

[Missileman]

How can this happen? What is slipping in the DoD? Or should I say DoO. Whatever, this is indicative of a much larger problem for the bushies and other chickenhawk legislators and executives.


After enlisting in the Minnesota Army National Guard, the Kamunens had second thoughts and didn't return to basic training after Christmas.

By Randy Furst, Star Tribune

CARLTON, MINN. -- Luke Kamunen began to wonder if he'd made a mistake the moment he arrived for basic training. He was still in the airport at Fort Jackson, S.C., with other members of his Minnesota National Guard unit, when an officer reprimanded him publicly for leaving a paper cup on his seat in the airport.
"I was thinking, is this what it's going to be like the whole time?" Luke said. "I'm not even on the bus yet."

His twin brother, Leif, started having doubts within weeks when a drill sergeant indicated they were probably headed to Iraq. Leif said that possibility had been downplayed by the recruiter who signed him up in Duluth.

On Jan. 2, the twins, age 21, and their brother Leo, 20, went AWOL from the Army. All three failed to return to basic training after Christmas break in northern Minnesota. Five months later, Luke has been released from the military, while Leif and Leo remain absent without leave. They say they plan to turn themselves in soon.

The Kamunen brothers are an example of a growing problem -- Army desertions have risen 35 percent in the past two years, according to Defense Department figures. The number rose from 2,450 in 2004 to 3,301 in 2006.

There are many more who go AWOL -- tens of thousands who leave without permission for anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days.

"In any large group of military, you are always going to have some people change their minds," said Dennis Schulstad, a retired Air Force brigadier general and a former Minneapolis City Council member. Soldiers who desert are only a fraction of the 2.5 million in the military.

But Ronald Krebs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota, blames the sharp rise on the "unfathomable pressure" that recruiters are now under. He says that forces them to lower standards and recruit people who might be less stable.

"Lower-quality recruits desert at much higher rates than higher-quality recruits," said Krebs, author of "Fighting for Rights: Military Service and the Politics of Citizenship," published last year by Cornell University Press.

The Kamunens are typical of young recruits who go AWOL, said Sam Diener of the GI Rights Hotline, a national organization that counsels soldiers. "The recruits are disproportionately rural, mostly high school graduates who aren't sure what to do next," he said.

Still, the Kamunens' situation is unusual, simply because there are three of them. "I've talked to thousands and thousands of AWOLs," said the GI Hotline's Bill Galvin. "And I don't think I've ever heard of two brothers going AWOL at the same time."

Give it a read and tell me what you really think?!?!?!??!? Thanks in advance!!!!!

I'm not so sure you can't just ring this up as the the gimme mentality of today's kids. When they realized there was actually work involved in soldiering, they want no part of it. And since the 3 are brothers, it stands a good possibility you can blame the way they were raised.

[jimnyc]

hey you cock winders the "hawk" and "gaffer" you guys are so fuckin typical!!

I suggest you lose the attitude and language if you plan on posting here. Disagree all you like but it's not wise to come off like a troll on your first few posts.