Tour Of Duty For 15,000 U.S. Army Troops Extended

[Hissyspit]

Source: CNN

Tours of duty for 15,000 U.S. Army troops extended.

CNN’s Barbara Starr reports, “The Pentagon today, as we speak, is reviewing a request from commanders in Iraq for the extension of the tour of duty for up to 15,000 Army troops. four combat ground brigades. One combat aviation brigade. their tours might be extended up to 120 days. Why? Because the Pentagon has to find a way to keep that so-called troop surge going.” 4:07 pm




Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/09/tours-of-duty-for-15000-us-army-troops-extended

[SpiralHawk]

1. "With koservative kompassion, I am also extending my stay..." - Commander AWOL

"...on vacation at the luxurious, taxpayer-funded
Imperial Pig Farm Upon Crawford,
so I and my republicon cronies can count up our Massive War Profits.
Too bad about your sons and daughters in uniform, and shit like that.
Smirk, smirk, smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[saigon68]

2. Chimp to troops

"Hey thanks suckers"

[Supersedeas]

3. Nothing to see here -- feed them more manufactured outrage re: Pelosi in Syria

[Earth_First]

4. Is this in ADDITION to the 21,000 troop 'surge' and INCLUDING the 13,000 National Guard callup?

Is my math correct here?

This 'surge' totals 49,000 COMBAT troops (EXCLUDING combat SUPPORT troops)?!

[Joe for Clark]

5. Which Brigades?? Does it say??

Joe

[sanskritwarrior]

12. If I had to guess

It would be

3rd Brigade 25th ID

3rd Brigade 2nd ID

3rd Brigade 1st Cav

and

3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne.

Those forces are all north of Baghdad and the rotation has my Brigade 2nd Brigade 25th ID (Stryker) deploying at the end of the year. Extending those 4 120 days leaves them in country until we get there, thus freeing up more units for Baghdad and al anbar.

[Joe for Clark]

13. my kid is 3/2 and I would guess that too - if...

Man, if they break their word this time - THIS TIME -

I am so mad at the officers there - the things they did - didn't do. Little bastards.

They do this - and you ever thought I was an asshole to DU people (and I have been at times).

I will absolutely fucking let go on them. And it has been a long time coming.

I have held back an awful lot. I thought for a reason.



Joe

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. Catch 22

:shrug:

[Joe for Clark]

7. We were promised - I mean PROMISED -

That if our kids did get extended, they'd tell us at least 48 hours before we heard it on CNN.

God knows just how f-ed up the army has been to date. But I think they will keep their word on this.

I don't think they have a choice.

So I will ignore the rumor.

If I do know in the future - that will mean that parents will know - that the army kept its word on this and I will say nothing about it - for 48 hours anyway.

I so don't trust CNN anyway anymore -

You made me think Hissyspit - good for you!!!!

Joe

[KT2000]

8. Does anyone know

how long a tour of duty is without extensions?

Does it vary by the individual branch of armed forces?

[Joe for Clark]

9. No mystery -

Army does 12 month tours and the Marines do 6 month tours.

That simple.

Joe

[sanskritwarrior]

11. Yeah, but not quite

Some Army units do 6 months, we have an Enginner Battalion here in Hawaii, part of PACOM, not 25th ID, they had a tasking for 112 personnel for Iraq, the Battalion has 230 personnel, so they did 6 month rotations. Also some Marine units do 6 months, some do 9 months, a few are there for a year. As for the Air force, the standard tour is 120 days, but the AIR force SP's do 6 months. It really depends on the unit you are in as well as the tasking you are fulfilling.

[Joe for Clark]

14. No army units that I know do less than 12 - I know it s the MOS

that really dicates. I understand why.

Now - my kid did 12 that went 14 and then 12 that went 15 and I do not know ONE marne unit that went more than a month over six - and not a kid in the army that did less than 12 months either.

I am sure there are - like I said - has to be MOS motivated.

Joe

[sanskritwarrior]

15. It's MOS motivated but also tasking and mission

motivated. Like I said I know that engineer battalion, I also know a CAB (combat aviation battalion) that only did 9 months in Iraq. I even know an Tank Company from Germany that deployed for 4 months and then redeployed back to Germany due to no mission in their AO (Mosul area). I'm looking for some links, but most of this stuff I have read in Army Times print format........

[Joe for Clark]

16. My kid - he did the relief in Mosul in 03 to the time they stuck his

ass in Baghdad. He is 3/2. They will resend the Strykers - no brainer.

I know those kids - they are going to break here - any human being would.

They are good kids - I know!!!

Troy got "blown up" - you know - his roomate got "literally" evaporated the week he was coming home.

Know what I mean? - not enough parts for a funeral - Evaporated.

I want those officers kicked out - they are dangerous with our kids lives.

Joe

[sanskritwarrior]

17. I know exactly what you mean

I am in 2/25 the 5th SBCT, I'm headed for my third tour at the end of the year. I was in OIF 1 for 14 months, I was home for a few months and then right back in for another year. I have lost friends and have a little bit of metal in me from an IED that was way too close. I do have to ask a question. Why are the officers dangerous with the kids? I'm an NCO (E-7), so I'm curious what you mean.

[Joe for Clark]

18. Because they forgot why they were there in the first place!

Man -

Troy is an E-5 there now - he doesn't get it yet. WHen My brother in Law got it - he bailed.

My Father was a Major - Uncle John was a general and Len was an admirial - really.

You know what they say - "Believing the army too much will get you killed".

I know it is true. Don't you!!

You know what you have to do - you LIVE THRU IT - that is your only cause!!

And you pray you don't have to live thru nightmares 10 years from now - you do that and you are sucessful.

ANd really - that is all there is.

Do I think officers have a lot to answer for - I KNOW THEY DO.

The way I was brought up - I know what fuck up these guys are - I don't think so - I know.

JOe

[sanskritwarrior]

19. I disagree with you

on several of those points, I'm an E-7 so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get.

I do believe your concerns are valid, I just feel differently. I don't hate the war any less, I have just worked with far far more fine officers than I have with shitbags.

As for believing in the Army, I do believe in it in many ways, but i'm not dumb enough to believe everything I'm told. God how I love it. It is definitely hazardous to my health, but I can't ever leave until I get my 20 in or I go out feet first caried by 12. We're all different.

[Joe for Clark]

20. There may be a point it is coming to -

and god - I do not want this -

But if it means my kids life - you have no idea how fast I will shit on those people.

And they deserve it.

And I can shit in multiple languages - so to speak.

They do my kid - and I will do them - and that is a fact.


Oh pick the languange - Bird, Brigadeer - or whatever.

You don't know me - we are very western European. They kill my kid - and you watch me. The rest of my life I will knock the living shit out of those people. And I will do it well.

I am westerern European too - and I am no saint. I am not not my Uncle.

Joe

Kill my kid - like a vendetta - in Portugesue.

[sanskritwarrior]

21. HUH?

ok......................

[Joe for Clark]

22. Huh - I think you should read better.

It is a word for for word thing.

You don't need to interpret anything. It is literal.


Joe

[sanskritwarrior]

24. Take this for what it's worth

what you do with your own life is fine. I'm not a NARC, but threatening or insinuating that you will cause harm to Federal military personnel is not the wisest course on a message board populated by freepers. What you do in your own time off the boards is cool and none of my business. I'm just trying to look out for you. I know times are tough, I dread my deployment, my half-sister is there now her 2nd, my mom has not had both of us home from Iraq at the same time since before the war started.

[VegasWolf]

10. "There's plenty of Oil in those bloody fields boys! Git R' done!" nt

[ProudDad]

23. Man, oh man.

there are going to be a lot of post-Iraq PTSD time bombs on the street after this 2nd longest (at least I hope it ends as the 2nd longest) war in U.S. history.

Watch your backs, folks...

[lpbk2713]

25. Next month will be four years since Shit-for-Brains told us *Mission Accomplished*

He was lying to us then and he is still lying to us today. The whole operation is just like its creator, a miserable failure.

[Lasher]

26. I remember how bad I wanted to go home after just one 13 month tour overseas

That was way back in 1969 - 1970. I would have gone nuts if they would have extended me. These soldiers are paying a price even if they are lucky enough to avoid becoming casualties. :cry:

[Brundle_Fly]

27. wasnt the *

saying that if the funding bill wasn't passed this is what would happen? and its happening before the deadline they stated, thus it WAS THEM, not the dems.

but god knows how they noise machine will spin it.

asshats, all of them.

[Zambero]

28. How much more "Supporting the Troops" can the troops withstand?

This ballyhooed "support" has always been a cheap euphemism for supporting how a chickenhawk-led administration deploys its military forces, with ZILCH regard for the men and women who are asked to make the sacrifices. In this instance, Bush/Cheney are merely running out the clock so that they can conveniently hand off their fiasco to the next administration. This is politics for politics sake, with tragic consequences. The military forces that will be put in harm's way for extended periods will experience measurably greater casualties, psychological impacts, and family related issues -- all for the sake of advancing the administration's notion that their failed war is "winnable".

[saigon68]

30. It's just Bullshit

Another reason to "Re-Up for the Bennies"

[19jet54]

29. Punishment....

... "W" is punishing America for his low ratings - he does follow polls! :evilgrin:

[Heidi]

31. Kick.

:kick:

[deadparrot]

32. 15,000 troops could stay longer in Iraq

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is considering a plan to extend the tours of duty for up to 15,000 U.S. troops serving in Iraq, a defense official said Monday.

The idea is among options being considered in response to a request in the last couple of weeks by Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the idea has not been approved.

Because Petraeus believes the troop increase President Bush announced in January has produced some momentum in fighting violence in Iraq, Petraeus wants to maintain troops at that level past the summer, the official said.

Defense officials are looking at the idea of a maximum 120-day extension for five active duty brigades that would otherwise come home in the coming months — four ground units and one aviation combat brigade totaling roughly 15,000 troops, the official said. The plan would have to be approved by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_troops_iraq

[Kagemusha]

33. And according to Bush, it's all the fault of the Democrats.

Of course according to Kagemusha, Bush is full of it on this issue. Bush is the Commander in Chief after all.

[Monkeyman]

34. I have a Marine Buddy who is IRR he fears being called back in

[Homer12]

35. So this is before the budget is passed that he says he is not...

...going to sign and blames the democrats for going on vacation and then he goes on vacation and says it hurts him that he is going to have people in the armed forces stay in Iraq longer by extending their tours ALL because he won't sign the budget that has a non-binding troop redeployment from IRAQ.

Bush really is a Major League Asshole and King Idiot.

[Homer12]

36. So this is before the budget is passed that he says he is not...

...going to sign and blames the democrats for going on vacation and then he goes on vacation and says it hurts him that he is going to have people in the armed forces stay in Iraq longer by extending their tours ALL because he won't sign the budget that has a non-binding troop redeployment from IRAQ.

Bush really is a Major League Asshole and King Idiot.