Soldier Sues Over Fifth Deployment

A 26-year-old sergeant is suing the army to prevent his fifth deployment to Iraq, claiming that the Army follows inconsistent policies in mobilizing reserves. The military wants reservist Erik Botta return to Iraq next week, the Miami Herald reports, but Botta is suing to stop the order he says will devastate his family, education, and career.

Botta has served 4 deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq in the last 6 years. Another one could force him and his wife out of their home, and would cost him his job working for a military contractor. "They told me to get on with my life, and I did," muses Botta, who says he’s proud of his Army service. "Now it seems they've changed their mind.'' (More Erik Botta stories.)