I salute Army Reserve Lt. Colonel ***** ******'s service to Our Country both in and out of uniform. However,

as a civilian contractor and a Reservist, it is clear that he has a jaded idea of what life in the Active Duty military is

like [“Nontangibles add up,” Letters, Oct. 18].

With both Active Duty and Reserve Army components spending back-to-back tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and

with such a high number of them coming home injured or dead, I find it amazing that a Reservist who clearly

stands almost no chance of getting “called up” due to his civilian contractor status would dare to be critical of his

fellow compatriots' benefits while he enjoys the absolute BEST benefit: the ability to serve AND go home to

wife and kids every night. -- STG2(SW) Brandon Gresham