- One topic that I have yet to see discussed at any Vietnam
veteran web site is the Early Out Program. I'm not sure if the program
was limited to the U.S. Army or was service wide. In any case, while many
benefited from the program, it cost some everything.
- The program applied to both draftees as well as enlistees and if I
remember correctly, went like this:
- Service personal returning from
Vietnam with 150 days or less active duty time remaining on their hitch
were not reassigned and were relieved from any further active duty. This
system created a serious dilema for some people, especially draftees.
Draftees, as you may know, had a 2 year active duty commitment. When you
take the typical 12 month Vietnam tour and add it to the typical time it
takes to train a soldier, plus a couple of 30 day leaves you come up with
18 months. With 6 months of active duty time remaining, the soldier is
not eligible for the early out unless he does the unthinkable; extends his
tour in Vietnam another 30 days. One of the draftees on my radar team
found himself in just such a dilema. He wanted out of the Army so much he
extended the necessary 30 days. During that 30 days he came very, very
close to getting killed. A good friend of mine, who is also a Vietnam veteran,
had a close buddy who also faced the dilema. My friend's tour ended and
he went home under the early out program. His buddy, who was over the 150
day requirement, extended 30 days for the early out. They made plans to
meet stateside 45 days later and celebrate their separation from the
Army. His friend never showed up. He was killed during the 30 day
extension when his helicopter was shot down.
- In a recent conversation with my former teammate who extended, he made
it quite clear that if he was again faced with the decision he wouldn't
extend. It would be far better, he said, to endure the last 6 months of
active duty at some stateside Army base.
- As for me, I lucked out. I had 120 days of active duty time remaining
when I left Vietnam so I easily qualified for the early out. That's why I
served the odd 2 years and 8 months. It's worth noting that I enlisted a
couple of days after I was drafted. Even though I knew it would cost me
an extra year, my reasoning was that at least I would have some choice in
my occupational speciality. I didn't get exactly what I bargained for,
but it could've been worse. Draftees had no choices in this matter; the
Army decided for them.
Copyright © 1995 David C. Stafford
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