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Troops Tours In Iraq Will Be 15 Months
breitbart.com ^
| 04/11/07
| Pauline Jelinek
Posted on 04/11/2007 12:15:00 PM PDT by Froufrou
click here to read article
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To: rbmillerjr
Well, maybe if you spent money training the NG troops BEFORE mobilization you would not have to do so much post-mobilization training.
Most of the post-mob training for the NG is the same training AC units get before they deploy. An extra component for the NG is all the new equipment they have never seen before. Another time waster is that the Army has, until recently, refused to certify NG unit’s readiness and training levels so that each unit has to start out at step one post-mob, even if the unit has been training at and passing external evaluations at a higher level for years.
Personnel cost are in the military, as in the civilian world, is a, if not the, major component of cost of maintaining a unit. The problem is that congress and DOD refused to equip NG units at the same level as AC units. Yes they saved a lot of money, then not now.
As to performance in the field, show me a report where NG unit’s performance was markedly inferior to AC units. Even Michael Yon had good thing to say about the guard in Iraq.
N.B.: we count Brigades now, not Divisions.
41
posted on
04/11/2007 12:47:32 PM PDT
by
fireforeffect
(A kind word and a 2x4, gets you more than just a kind word.)
To: tobyhill
“I served my time in the military and in combat which I was extended for 6 months but when one makes an extension a big deal they lose focus of the real big deal, winning. I earned my right to be a keyboard commando.
Thank you for your service but 4 extra months in a counterinsurgency war is a huge deal. Soldiers and marines are patrolling on foot and vehicle down streets where they can be blown up in an instant - and they know that - it is a huge deal both psychologically stressful and to overall morale. It’s a shame that we don’t have a bigger military, which would alleviate this situation. Our troops will drive on but it is a big deal.
42
posted on
04/11/2007 12:47:41 PM PDT
by
rbmillerjr
("Message to radical jihadis...come to my hood, it's understood ------ it's open season" Stuck Mojo)
To: Parmy
If Clinton hadnt cut the standing force to 10 Divisions from 18, there wouldnt be such a stress on the military.
I'm not defending him - he certainly gutted the military, but quite a few cuts were being planned and made before he took office. What disturbs me is that the current administration doesn't seem to want to increase the size of the military - after 9/11, I expected a fairly large increase.
Either way, the news of the 15 month deployments should not be news at all - the administration should be able to put troops in there for 24 or 36 months, or however long is needed to get the job done. The media is going to go out of their way to find somebody who whines about the 15 months, I'm sure.
To: Steel Wolf
It could be worse, it could be 18 months.
44
posted on
04/11/2007 12:48:25 PM PDT
by
tobyhill
(only wimps believe in retreat in defeat)
To: tobyhill
Speak for yourself, if you’re in the middle of combat operations, you’ve lost friends to IEDs and abushes, perhaps you’d like to take those extra 3 months for them. Just DAMN.
It’s time to quit dumping on those that serve their country VOLUNTARILY.
Come with us to visit wounded soldiers dealing with horrific burns and new prosthetic arms and legs, and please tell them to their face, oh, it’s no big deal...
45
posted on
04/11/2007 12:49:04 PM PDT
by
brushcop
(Men of B-Co 2/69 3ID Outpost Bataan/Iraq: God Bless your efforts, stay safe.)
To: Vn_survivor_67-68; vigilante2
I know plenty of people who agree that we need the draft back.
Just guessing, but I think 6 month intervals may be better. May be more expensive, but I’m thinking of the troops and their families, that it’d be easier on them.
46
posted on
04/11/2007 12:50:07 PM PDT
by
Froufrou
To: SJSAMPLE
"This started before Clinton was in office and was called the peace dividend well before Clinton was elected." I was also active under GHWB and I remember that's when the early-outs started. The Air Force had personnel teams traveling the world trying to scare my year group (7-10) to accept early-outs rather than being involuntarily separated. It amazes me how so many FReepers buy into the lie that the drawdown began under Clinton.
To: rbmillerjr
My son is in a MP BN outside of Basra....Illinois Guard.
48
posted on
04/11/2007 12:51:01 PM PDT
by
mystery-ak
(My Son, My Soldier, My Hero........God Speed Jonathan......)
To: rbmillerjr
Thank you for your service but 4 extra months in a counterinsurgency war is a huge deal. Soldiers and marines are patrolling on foot and vehicle down streets where they can be blown up in an instant - and they know that - it is a huge deal both psychologically stressful and to overall morale. Its a shame that we dont have a bigger military, which would alleviate this situation. Our troops will drive on but it is a big deal.
I disagree. If we were losing 20 or 30 or 50 day, yes, I could see it being a big deal. But we are not - considering the fact that we have 150,000 or so troops in a country of 25 million - if the Iraqis wanted us out, we'd be losing 100+ a day easily. They don't, and because they want us there, we are losing very few troops every day - we can sustain the rate for years to come.
You do make a very important point - one that I agree upon - we need a bigger military.
To: Froufrou
He [Gates] said it did not affect the Marines, whose standard tour is seven months, nor the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which will continue to serve 12-month tours.This does pertain to our family with one son for sure and another up in the air.
50
posted on
04/11/2007 12:52:36 PM PDT
by
armymarinemom
(My sons freed Iraqi and Afghan Honor Roll students.)
To: Froufrou
well, that sucks. I am deploying next month.
51
posted on
04/11/2007 12:53:43 PM PDT
by
stompk
To: arbee4bush; mystery-ak
God Bless you both and thanks to your family members who serve. My precious daughter is on the USS Boxer in the Persian Gulf.
52
posted on
04/11/2007 12:53:52 PM PDT
by
mpackard
(Proud mama of a Sailor.)
To: Froufrou
The Troops deployments should be shortened, not lengthened.
This is a bad new policy.
They could get more voluntary months if the Troops got more breaks from serving over in that sheitehole.
Who the heck is designing this strategy?
53
posted on
04/11/2007 12:54:02 PM PDT
by
Radix
(You might find my other Tag Lines for sale on E-Bay.)
To: af_vet_rr
You’re talking in macro terms. I’m talking about the individual soldier or marine walking down the street not knowing whether the next car or bump in the road is an IED or not.
To these guys patrolling, this is no small deal.
54
posted on
04/11/2007 12:54:41 PM PDT
by
rbmillerjr
("Message to radical jihadis...come to my hood, it's understood ------ it's open season" Stuck Mojo)
To: blaquebyrd; rbmillerjr; armymarinemom; af_vet_rr
What worries me the most is not mentioned yet:
THE HEAT!
55
posted on
04/11/2007 12:56:28 PM PDT
by
Froufrou
To: balch3
This is entirely CLintons fault, and we should never let them forget it.We won't forget.
To: tobyhill
I'm in agreement with you. It is not all that big of a deal. That is the bottom line and the guys over there know it.....
It sucks for some of the small reasons.....but in the bigger picture 90% of the guys know their presence there for additional 3 months is necessary and worth it.
They're embracing the suck.....while changing the world.
To: Parmy
How many times does it have to be said, the peace dividend cuts started under GHWB and would have continued under who ever was elected in 92. It’s irrelevant anyway. Clinton has not been the Commander (in chief) for over six years.
To: balch3
This is entirely CLintons fault Is President Bush not responsible for the last six years?
To: rbmillerjr
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