RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,157590,00.html

This is simply atrocious and will affect the state of the Army no matter what. Yes, there are soldiers that love deployments for the extra money but 3 or 4 tours in 6-year period is too much. No draft will come about so what is the real solution?

I'm sure glad I joined the Navy. Oh, and I'm doubly glad that I'm now retired.

We have a saying in the Navy: "You choose your rate, you choose your fate." Translation: every job has its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage for being in the Army right now is 15 month tours. If you don't like that, then don't join or get out when your enlistment is up.

Then join the Navy!

quote:

Originally posted by clarkpaton:
I'm sure glad I joined the Navy. Oh, and I'm doubly glad that I'm now retired.

We have a saying in the Navy: "You choose your rate, you choose your fate." Translation: every job has its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage for being in the Army right now is 15 month tours. If you don't like that, then don't join or get out when your enlistment is up.

Then join the Navy!

Get out when your enlistment is up? Ever hear of STOP LOSS? Soldiers are often prevented from departing the Army when their enlistments are up due to mission requirements and the needs of the Army. You may be right about one thing, though......GI beans and GI gravy......gee, I should have joined the Navy!

Of all the services, the Army pulls the longest tours. I was in Iraq for a year, and that was a long time being away from my family; but 15 months? And then just a short time at home before you go back for another tour? That's a bit much.

I agree that 15 months is way too long. But what is the alternative given that we went to war with the army we had . ..Conscription won't fly, and wouldn't make that much difference in the short term if it did. It would take a year from now to get the legislation in place, then the draftees have to come in and be trained--another 9 months or so . .. Turth is, I think, we're fighting a war nobody planned for and as a result our forces are stretched. The Brits are still there, and probably could send more troops if needed, but somebody will have to request them, and so far nobody has.

My son is 3-4 Cav, 25thID. Having just come back from a 15 month tour - minus 3 months recuperation from injuries back at rear detachment, he is now 2 months into his 12 month "retraining" back at home base. Looking at another tour this Oct or Nov....you are F**king A right it's too long! How to correct this ridiculous injustice? Can you spell D R A F T? Come on...why should 1% take All the risk for all the rest of the suckers on the teat? America can get off it's *** or lose it.

I am coming a military spouse stand point. When our daughter was born he was finishing a tour in Iraq, now he's back there for 15 months.He won't be able to see his child until she is two. I think that, although only three months shorter, the 12 month tours were so much better. I would really enjoy six month tours but I'm sure that won't happen. This is a question for anyone to answer, is the R&R for 15 month tours the same lenght for the 12 month tours. If so don't you all think it'll make it a little easier for the troops to have a little longer R&R's??

Yeah, my enlistment is up in four months. But I'll be in the Army an additional year after that, most of which will be in Iraq, but they have you for 90 days after you get back, too, which in our case will be in the dead of Fort Drum arctic winter. Great, combat zone, followed by a winter on the Canadian border. Doesn't that sound like cruel and unusual punishment or something? Except we're soldiers, and have few rights, of course.

Long tours are bad. Stop-loss is worse. Okay, if you are a careerist, obviously you would reverse the order of those two statements. My point is, I really think they are shooting themselves in the foot. They are dissuading people from enlisting by these policies, but for fear that the numbers will plummet anyway if they don't keep on keeping on, they are maintaining tour extensions and Stop-loss.

If they'd even give a break to those who've deployed the most, maybe let them go home at the year mark, or make it so no one is in for more than six months past their contract, it would REALLY help morale. Come on, government, give us a break, here.

I don't buy the unit manning line anymore. They send us troops WEEKS before we deploy now, or after we are already over here. They are ONLY doing this because they need numbers.

WELL I AGREE 15-MONTHS TOURS IS TO LONG AND REALLY DOES PUT ALOT OF STRAIN AND STRESS ON SOLDIERS AND THIER FAMILIES. I HAVE HANDLED THE TWO YEARS MY SOLIDIER WENT BUT THEY WERE ONLY FOR 12 MONTHS. IT WAS NOT EASY BUT THEN AGAIN IT NEVER IS. BEING A SPOUSE TO A SOLDIER IS THE HARDEST JOB EVER. THE REASON I SAY THAT THE TOURS IS TO LONG NOW IS CAUSE THIS LEADS TO DIVORCE OR SEPERATION OF SOME THE FAMILIES. THE SOLIDERS NEED TO ONLY CONCINTRATE ON TWO THINGS WHILE OVER THERE AND THAT IS DO THERE JOB BUT YET BE SAFE TO COME HOME SAFE TO THEIR FAMILIES. BUT WITH THE LONG TOUR NOT ALOT OF SPOUSES CAN HANDLE IT AND THEY TEND TO MAKE THINGS WORSE OR JUST UP AND GO. YEAH SOME SAY THE MONEY SOUNDS GOOD BUT IF IT WAS ME I WOULD RATHER HAVE MY SOLDIER HOME THEN HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY.BUT WE CAN ONLY HAVE FAITHA ND PRAY FOR THERE SAFTY BECAUSE THEY SIGNEDA CONTRACT AND THIS IS THIER JOB. SUPPORT, COMMUNICATION, LOVE, FAITH IS WHAT WE NEED TO GIVE OUR SOLIDERS FOR THEY LEAVE SAFE AND COME HOME SAFE TO THIER FAMILIES. UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES THEY NEED TO ALL COME HOME AND HOPEFULLY WITH THIS NEW YEAR AND ELECTION IT'LL HAPPEN SOON UNTIL THEN WE JUST NEED TO BE THERE FOR THEM AND SUPPORT THEM LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
GOD BLESS ALL OUR SOLIDERS!!!!

despicable

Bless them, indeed for they sacrifice far more than any other Americans currently do. I find it astounding that so many people are oblivious of the need to provide more moral support to these folks that have answered the call to arms. With the 15 month tour being the new norm, why shouldn't these troops be given two R & R's (10 days each)?

DRAFT! DRAFT! DRAFT! It's the only way to ensure that we have the forces to meet the challenges of the 21st Century and beyond while dealing with the clashes between civilizations and the threats to our internal security. They are lining up around the world to take us on militarily, economically, and ideologically. If the U.S. and the rest of the free world don't start conscription we will be numerically, ideologically, and combatively overwhelmed by the idiots of the world. What a price to pay for the lack of leadership being rendered by our politicians and military leaders. I love you too!

quote:

Originally posted by JimSorber:
Bless them, indeed for they sacrifice far more than any other Americans currently do. I find it astounding that so many people are oblivious of the need to provide more moral support to these folks that have answered the call to arms. With the 15 month tour being the new norm, why shouldn't these troops be given two R & R's (10 days each)?

quote:

Originally posted by TPCAT:
I agree that 15 months is way too long. But what is the alternative given that we went to war with the army we had . ..Conscription won't fly, and wouldn't make that much difference in the short term if it did. It would take a year from now to get the legislation in place, then the draftees have to come in and be trained--another 9 months or so . .. Turth is, I think, we're fighting a war nobody planned for and as a result our forces are stretched. The Brits are still there, and probably could send more troops if needed, but somebody will have to request them, and so far nobody has.

Well yes, someone messed up big time with the number of troops needed to maintain the peace (or war, whatever it's called now days...)

quote:

Originally posted by 13498584:
DRAFT! DRAFT! DRAFT! It's the only way to ensure that we have the forces to meet the challenges of the 21st Century and beyond while dealing with the clashes between civilizations and the threats to our internal security. They are lining up around the world to take us on militarily, economically, and ideologically. If the U.S. and the rest of the free world don't start conscription we will be numerically, ideologically, and combatively overwhelmed by the idiots of the world. What a price to pay for the lack of leadership being rendered by our politicians and military leaders. I love you too!

And we could finance it by burrowing more from China...

Well at least we will be prepared for a non-civil war attack should a nation assault the U.S.... Ummm, wait...

The 15-month tour is the symptom. The cure?
1) Be more selective in where and when you choose to go to war... and a lot more intelligent about intelligence
2) if going to war, then Draft-Draft-Draft
3) if no Draft, then instead of all the $billions to the Halliburtons and Beltway consulting firms how about some of those $billions to enlistment bonuses? Guaranteed 4-yr college scholarships? Graduate degree scholarships to officers who re-up?
4) 2 & 3? Draft and big bonuses for enlisting and re-ups?
5) All the above, esp #1

Well guys, I'm about to enlist, not sure why I'm compelled to do so after reading all of this stuff. I still want to serve my country. George W. Bush should be put in prison for crimes against his own people, it's F**king ridiculous what hes doing to the troops, it's not fair. I say if he wants to continue occupying Iraq he needs to strap on some kevlar, grab an M4 and get his *** in the mixer so he can fight "our war"; more like the US Army's war with his name on it. And to whoever said they should reinstate the draft, your darn right they should! I'm all for a reinstatement of the draft. It would put some backbone back in America and show the world that were here to stay a soverign nation and WE MEAN BUSINESS. Oh, btw, if you want out of Iraq vote Ron Paul, he wants to bring the troops home were they belong, not in a retreat, but like it should have been done by bush years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by 12038371:
My son is 3-4 Cav, 25thID. Having just come back from a 15 month tour - minus 3 months recuperation from injuries back at rear detachment, he is now 2 months into his 12 month "retraining" back at home base. Looking at another tour this Oct or Nov....you are F**king A right it's too long! How to correct this ridiculous injustice? Can you spell D R A F T? Come on...why should 1% take All the risk for all the rest of the suckers on the teat? America can get off it's *** or lose it.

I completely agree, 146,000 american troops in Iraq with an American population of over 300,000,000 americans. hmmm, looks like our fellow citizens are really letting us down concidering that probably 150,000,000 of those americans are able-bodied and of the age. DRAFT, DRAFT, DRAFT!!!!!!

I totally agree 15 months is too long we need to shorten the time there besides what are we fighting over there. too me and only me the war in Iraq should no longer be considered a war its just a struggle between a group of crazy dumb ****ers we are not fighting a country no more we are just figth groups of crazy fantics who are killing for there beliefs. Eaither shorten the tour or slowly pull some of us out like britain did a few months ago, but no we have to wait till bush is out of office i guess.

Most tours have been 15 months in lenght from the start i was in the 1st ad in 2003-2004 and it was an extended 15 month tour so whats new gosh the army must be worn out ...i really feel for families ......not a good situation at all get the iraqis up n running is the key .....to the other comments about the draft and population of usa .....dream on ......