Harvey: Troops could be kept past their duty expirations(STOP LOSS AGAIN)

[MADem]

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=40430

Army secretary says officials ‘sensitive’ to stress on forces


YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Do not expect a change in the number of active-duty soldiers kept in service worldwide due to stop-loss over the next year, Army Secretary Francis Harvey said at Yongsan Garrison on Friday....Drawing down present levels of deployment is not planned, meaning from 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers could be kept in service past their commitment expirations, Harvey said.

Soldiers can be kept in the Army starting 90 days before a deployment and ending 90 days after they return, meaning they potentially could spend an additional 18 months in uniform.

However, Harvey said he believes that neither stop-loss nor combat deployment of some units for the third and fourth time have hurt morale....“We are very, very sensitive to the amount of stress on our forces,” Harvey said.

Deployed units have a higher overall retention level than those not deployed, Harvey said. He cited as a prime example the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, which has served three deployed tours and re-enlists at very high rates....How long the Army can put units on so many deployments and still keep high retention levels is something Harvey said he would follow closely.

While overall retention remains high, junior officers have been leaving in larger numbers since the beginning of the Iraq war, according to Army figures. In response, the Army has been offering additional financial and educational incentives.....

[radfringe]

1. CNN Saturday late afternoon/early evening...

first the mea culpa... wasn't able to catch the former general's name in this CNN segment....sorry

I came into middle of the segment while channel surfing... maybe some DUer caught it and has more details?

what I did catch - the former General said he had repeatedly asked for more troops and bush turned him down...

[Vinca]

2. Time for the Young Republicans to step up to the plate,

don't you think? Time for them to stop the cheerleading and start donning the khakis. Put your physical safety where your big mouths are.

[MADem]

5. Oh, hell no--the Defense Authorization only gives the poor bastards

a two percent pay raise, the lowest in 12 years. And we weren't getting blown up in unarmored or poorly armored HUMVEES 12 years ago...
The Young Republicans think they're worth WAAAAAAY more than that!
Way to support the troops, Monkey!!

[Xipe Totec]

3. PS: And they'll be too busy to vote in November

Can't be pulling everybody off the firing line just to cast a ballot...

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

4. I feel for them and their families!