CNN.com – Reservist questions quick return to combat, faces charges – Nov. 28, 2003

Capt. Steve McAlpin, a 25-year Army reservist, spent most of last year deployed in Afghanistan and just returned home in January. Now his unit is about to ship out again, and he’s facing insubordination charges for criticizing the quick turnaround.

McAlpin questioned the legality of a waiver that his battalion was asked to sign that would put his unit back in a combat zone after just 11 months at home. Under federal law, he pointed out, troops are allowed a 12-month ”stabilization period.” …

“We signed up to fight our nation’s enemies and we are fully prepared to do that. But if they’re going to usurp the laws of this country at the expense of our most precious asset, our soldiers, then I will not stand for that, not for a minute.”

McAlpin served in Bosnia in 1996. Last year, [he was] stationed … in Afghanistan….

“I’m looking at something I love more than just about anything _ my service to the Army and my fellow soldiers — and they’re trying to stab me in the back,” McAlpin said.