Army: 15-month tours likely for all who deploy until at least June, 2008

[babylonsister]

Army: 15-month tours likely for all who deploy until at least June, 2008
Top officials say measure needed to sustain troop levels, ensure one year at home
By Michelle Roberts, The Associated Press
Mideast edition, Wednesday, August 15, 2007


FORT HOOD, Texas — All U.S. soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan between now and at least June 2008 will likely be facing the extended 15-month deployments, a top Army commander said Tuesday.

Commanders are assessing the situation on the ground now, but Gen. Richard Cody, the Army’s vice chief of staff, said it will take until at least June to shrink average deployments back to 12 months while maintaining the 158,000 troops now deployed in the region.

“It’s going to take a while to get off the 15 months,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

He faced questions at every meeting with troops and commanders about the extended deployments and sought to reassure them it was a temporary measure designed to get enough soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan while giving them at least a year to rest and train between deployments.

“It was supposed to be interim and is not and will not be permanent,” he said in a meeting with leaders of the 4th Infantry Division, which is preparing to return to Iraq late this year.

Many members of the division are on their second and third deployments to Iraq.

During a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas, last month, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said the continuing war in Iraq has put so much pressure on the Army that even limiting deployments to 15 months can’t be guaranteed.

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http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=48099

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. OH BOY!!! Where Can I Sign Up??

An extra 3 months vacation in beautiful downtown Iraq/Afghanistan.

And even better, I hear they actually pay you a bonus if you're willing to take off in the next 30 days.

I guess the downside is you can't actually spend the money until....and IF....you return.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Continuing War has put so much pressure on the Army

another bush legacy that will cost us trillions and decades to fix. Our kids have to stay in Iraq for at least 15 month tours because bush has spread our military too thin. What a brilliant fucking strategist.