Army's "stop-loss" policy may have kept slain vet from retiring

Veterans For Common Sense

TALLADEGA, Ala. - A 20-year Army veteran who was killed last week in Iraq may have been denied retirement - despite having seven children and his wife on duty in Iraq - because of a restrictive wartime policy known as "stop-loss," an Army official said Monday.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Stephen J. White was one of five soldiers killed Thursday in An Najaf by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his military vehicle.

Stanley White said his brother tried to retire last year, but the Army denied his request.

"He'd been in the Army for 20 years, he put in for his retirement last year, and it was denied. Why? This was his fifth tour," White told The Daily Home of Talladega.

White was assigned to a unit based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Fort Hood spokesman Sgt. Damian Steptore said Monday he couldn't give specifics about Stephen White's retirement request. However, he said White may have been denied retirement because of the stop-loss practice that has kept tens of thousands of soldiers from leaving the service at the end of their enlistment tours or retirement dates.

Under the current practice, soldiers in units that are under orders to prepare to deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan are prohibited from leaving the service during the 90 days before their deployment and for up to 90 days after they return - even if their enlistment period ends during that time or they had planned to retire.

Steptore said the Fourth Infantry Division, which includes White's battalion, has been under stop-loss policy since June 1, 2004. White's unit deployed to Iraq in December.More...

Semper Fi