Army considers extending tours of duty

The Olympian ^ | Aug 25, 2003 | Dave Moniz

[milemark]

WASHINGTON -- For the first time since the all-volunteer Army began in 1973, a significant number of U.S. combat soldiers may have to start serving back-to-back overseas tours of up to a year each in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea, top Army officers say.

[milemark]

What is this, legit concern or media gloom/doom?

[Arkinsaw]

The longer away from the family, the more will seek to get out and the fewer will want to get in. Thats a true statement. How steep the curve actually is is what is debatable.

[Pukin Dog]

This is pure media doom and gloom. A total non-story. No facts, just a ton of speculation from 'sources' in order to generate negative buzz.

The only rotten thing is just how little discipline seems to be left in the Army. These people providing these off-the-record quotes are not helping.

[Salgak]

I'd call it legit concern. We've spent decades making the Armed Forces family-friendly as a way of keeping high-quality volunteers in.

But we're deploying them as if they were draftees. Morale is heading for the latrine, if it isn't already there.

We either need bigger numbers in the Armed Forces, or a lower OpTempo. GIs who come home to to find abandoned marriages and empty quarters (and I've SEEN that happen. . )
generally don't re-up. . . .

[y2k_free_radical]

legitimate imo-they need to increase the number of soldiers in the army

[y2k_free_radical]

did you ever serve in the military oh knowledgable one ?

[Pukin Dog]

22+ years worth, buddy. Enlisted Marine reservist, to Naval Aviator/Instructor. May I speak now?

[Salgak]

Well, considering his name. . . the Pukin' Dogs are one of the Navy's better fighter squadrons. . . VF-143, as I recall, out of Norfolk (Oceana NAS???)

Legend has it, that they got the name from someone who had either made an artwork or a cake with the squadron emblem on it. . . someone commented that it looked like a pukin' dog. . .and thus was a legend, and a name born. . .

[joesnuffy]

Dont change or make up the rules as you go along...and then expect soldiers to obey the rules imposed upon them...or punish them severely when they dont...

It is also up to the Pres and Sec Def to not "use up" the morale of their troops to suit an unclear political agenda (Bill Clinton) with no clear exit strategy or by providing loopholes for any priviliged class..

[LetsRok]

The longer away from the family, the more will seek to get out and the fewer will want to get in. Thats a true statement. How steep the curve actually is is what is debatable.

Eighteen to twenty-one year old enlistees should not have families.

[Arkinsaw]

Eighteen to twenty-one year old enlistees should not have families.

Limiting the military to single orphans might decrease the recruiting pool somewhat.

[LetsRok]

Limiting the military to single orphans might decrease the recruiting pool somewhat.

I mean single men, not mama's boys who can't live a few years away from their parents or teenage daddys.

[Arkinsaw]

I mean single men, not mama's boys who can't live a few years away from their parents or teenage daddys.

Don't worry, thats what you will get by natural attrition. We'll see how it works out.

[GUNDEK]

It is a war. Deployments and time away from home are generally up during a war. By the way I have plenty of military service should anyone want to question the validity of my comments.