This is war and our spouses are Soldiers. I knew before they deployed that this could happen, it's just a shame that we've come to rely on a 12 month tour and that our families were not adequately prepared last year for the possibility of extension, no matter how remote the possiblity. The military does a great job making sure we know the KIA and WIA process, and thank God the vast majority of us will never have to endure this process personally, but we are prepared for it just in case. Our families should have also been prepared for the possiblity of an extension, even though it was a far off notion last year, it's always a possiblity. Wives looked at me like I was insane when I mentioned that I was emotionally prepared for a 14-18 month deployment.
But like I said, this is war. We need to be grateful that our Soldiers aren't deployed indefinitely like they had been in WWII.
Even though the troops were initially pissed off, they are now more determined than ever to get to Baghdad and take care of business. They are the best of the best. It only makes sense to send in seasoned troops that have a great success record with few casualties incurred. Our Stryker Soldiers will mop up the terrorists in Baghdad, just like they have done in Mosul. We've got solid leadership and seasoned Soldiers. Moral is great. Of course they are all dissapointed in not coming home, as we are not having them come home. Guess what? They aren't bank tellers or florists!
As far as the military being stretched thin, not so, as there are plenty of troops that have not been sent over to Iraq or Afghanistan. Yes, there are many that have seen multiple deployments, but that is the bad luck of the draw when going to a new assignment. Retention rates have never been higher as the Soldiers feel tremendous pride and a sense of accomplishment from doing the job that they've spent years training for. New recruits are still coming in and recruiters have been meeting their goals. Naysayers have pointed out that the Army has lowered it's recruitment standards, but they don't mention that these standards are very high. There is so much negativity and misinformation surrounding our military. The troops feel this from way over there, yet they are true professionals and are highly trained and well equipped.
Why the last minute chain jerk for the 172nd? What was it, two or three months ago the prime minister put umpteen thousand Iraqi police and military on the streets of Baghdad. It hasn't worked out the way they expected for at least two months. I don't understand the last minute thing.
While seeing my son off last week I was able to talk to a number of company grade officers. Two things struck me. Experienced E5 and 6s are bailing, especially after 2nd tours. And, Captains are leaving in droves. So much so the Major promotion rate is running 96-97%. Not scientific, I know, but I did sense some problems in the retention of some good folks.
Something else I wanted to ask. If there were these indications that it was going as hoped in Baghdad, why didn't DOD just move up the deployment of a Stryker Bde. already in the cycle? Were there none ready to go or close to ready?