U.S. Army Reservists allege mistreatment

TAJI, Iraq, July 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Reserve force members were mistreated and discriminated against, compared with full-time soldiers, when preparing for war, a complaint alleges.

Their movements and freedoms were severely restricted by a near "lockdown" during a four-month training before deployment, said the complaint seeking a congressional inquiry signed by 178 Army Reserve members stationed at Iraq's Camp Taji, 20 miles north of Baghdad.

The Army denied discriminatory treatment against the reservists, who made up nearly half a Kentucky-based helicopter-gunship battalion nicknamed "The Flying Tigers."

It said the reservists were simply pushed to get properly trained for battle.

No action has been taken on the April 1 petition sent to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

McConnell "takes these allegations very seriously," spokesman Robert Steurer told USA Today.

"Army Reserve soldiers love the Army, they love their jobs and they love their country," the complaint says. "They also understand that service is voluntary, and if not shown the respect and courtesy accorded their active-duty brethren, they will no longer be willing to make the personal, family and civilian-life sacrifices required."

Army Reserve commander Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz told USA Today he was sensitive to troop concerns about restrictions, such as being barred during training from driving civilian cars, wearing civilian clothing or drinking alcohol.

"I think we're all trying to do the right thing," Stultz said of the Army. "But is there some learning from this we need to look at?"

More than 635,000 Army National Guard and Army Reserve troops have been sent overseas since Sept. 11, 2001, most of them to Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 57,000 are currently mobilized.

The Reserve and Guard make up the Army's two reserve components.