Recruiters, drill sergeants and instructors without a combat patch listen up: get ready for a trip downrange. In a move aimed at spreading the deployment burden, the Army has instituted a new set of policies that will make it more difficult for soldiers in non-deployable jobs to remain out of the combat zone. "There aren't a lot of them, but these soldiers know who they are," said Lt. Col. Richard McNorton, an Army Human Resources Command spokesman. "We have their Social Security numbers and we know exactly who they are and why they have not deployed, and we are working to ensure they have an opportunity to serve in a combat zone."

"Ninety-three percent of the Army has deployed, is preparing to deploy or are exactly where we need them to be," he confirmed. "It's that other 7 percent that we are focused on getting deployed." "A few years ago, you could get by without that combat patch, but now a soldier really sticks out if their spotted without that patch," McNorton said. But those days are over. Soldiers without deployment history -- or even with limited combat tours -- may not re-enlist for a second tour with a non-tactical, non-deployable unit.

What better way to insure Esprit de Corps? To quote Robert Heinlein from his controversial book "Starship Troopers" "Everybody works, everybody fights." Or at least deploys. There is bitterness at those who have managed to avoid deployment to a war zone but that will soon be fixed. Should everyone have to deploy?

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