What is Stop-Loss Military Policy?
Because the modern military is primarily composed of volunteer enlistees, contract law is just as much of a consideration for military commanders as combat training or logistics. Every new soldier is contractually obligated to provide at least eight years of military service, even if only part of that time is spent on active duty. Eventually a soldier may become part of a reserve unit until he or she reaches that eighth year or voluntarily re-enlists. A stop-loss military policy can change all of those circumstances for certain soldiers during a time of war.
Because the modern military is primarily composed of volunteer enlistees, contract law is just as much of a consideration for military commanders as combat training or logistics. Every new soldier is contractually obligated to provide at least eight years of military service, even if only part of that time is spent on active duty. Eventually a soldier may become part of a reserve unit until he or she reaches that eighth year or voluntarily re-enlists. A stop-loss military policy can change all of those circumstances for certain soldiers during a time of war. The date which officially establishes the end of a soldier’s military service obligation is known as the end of terms of service or ETS date. Ostensibly, this ETS date is fixed and unassailable from the soldier’s point of view. During a time of war or other emergency need for trained personnel, however, that ETS date can be overridden by presidential or congressional order through the Pentagon. This “stop-loss military policy” orde
