Troops’ deployment burden unprecedented

[unhappycamper]

Troops’ deployment burden unprecedented
By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Thursday Jan 14, 2010 5:33:32 EST

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Martin Jr. has been fighting insurgents in Iraq or Afghanistan longer than the entire three years the Korean War lasted.

At age 34 and finishing a fourth combat tour, he has seen five of his men killed since 2003. Four died this year, including two on Martin’s birthday in May. Thirty-eight cumulative months in combat have left him with bad knees, aching shins and recurring headaches from a roadside blast, ailments he hides from his soldiers.

~snip~

For many, the fighting seems without end, a fatalism increasingly shared by most Americans. A USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted late last week found that 67 percent believe the U.S. will constantly have combat troops fighting somewhere in the world for at least the next 20 years.

President Obama is sending 30,000 more troops here, expanding a war that by the end of 2010 will be the nation’s longest.

~snip~

With a growing number of injured or wounded soldiers, painkillers are now the most abused drug in the Army. One in four GIs admit to illicitly using narcotic medication during a 12-month period, according to a 2008 Pentagon health survey.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/gns_iraq_afghanistan_multiple_deployments_011310/

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. Share the burden- Bring back THE DRAFT!

Make it mandatory for all

http://peaceoftheaction.org/

[TexasObserver]

2. Recommend. Our small force of war trained soldiers is worn out.