WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 – All soldiers in the U.S. Central Command area of operations will serve 15-month tours in the region beginning immediately, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced today.
“Effective immediately, active Army units now in the Central Command area of responsibility and those headed there will deploy for not more than 15 months and return home for not less than 12 months,” Gates said, during a Pentagon news conference.
This policy applies to all active duty Army units with the exception of two brigades currently in Iraq that have already been extended to 16 months. The policy does not apply to Marine Corps, Navy or Air Force units serving in Central Command. It also does not apply to Army National Guard or Army Reserve units deployed to the region.
The 15-month tour applies to active duty soldiers serving in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and all the countries in the region. U.S. Central Command stretches from Kenya to Kazakhstan and Egypt to Pakistan.
Gates called this policy an “interim change.” The goal for active duty units is 12 months deployed followed by 12 months at home station. Ultimately, the Army would like to see soldiers deployed for 12 months and home for 24 months.
“My objective was to set clear guidelines that our commanders troops and their families could use in determining how future rotations in support of the global war on terror would effect them,” Gates said.
Upon taking office in December 2006, Gates learned that even the sustaining the level of deployed Army forces needed before surging five brigades into Iraq would require active duty units to flow into Iraq before they had spent a full 12 months at home. He said this reality was a significant factor in his decision to recommend to President Bush that defense officials increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps over the next five years by 62,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines.
The deployment change is intended to provide better clarity, predictability and sustainability in how the Defense Department deploys active duty Army forces, Gates said.
He said the changes produce clear, realistic, executable, and long-term policy goals to guide the deployment of active duty forces. The change will also allow the Army to support the 20 brigade goal of the surge as long as it is needed, he said.
“Without this action we would have had to deploy five Army active duty brigades sooner than the 12-month at home goal,” Gates said. “I believe it is fairer to all soldiers that all share the burden equally.”
The secretary said he realizes his decision will ask a lot of Army troops and their families.
“We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and their commitment to accomplishing our mission,” he said. “In the end, this new approach will better allow the Army to better support the war effort while providing a more predictable and dependable deployment schedule for our soldiers and their families.”
Article Opinions
Shelly wrote:
Does this include Army special forces and Army Rangers whose tours are typically 3-6 months long??
Posted on 04/11/07 17:08:52
E Zaid wrote:
The Army's war has long been over, as a former soldier of the US Army, I feel that this war is a lost cause. This country has been killing and fighting each other for centuries! Do we (the US Army and US) really think we can change their way of life? Let me be the one to say, hell no! My husband is on his 3rd tour in the last five years, and now I am being told, that after him being there for 3 months already, I now I must wait another whole 12 months till he is home! How about this Gates....is your wife or son or daughter currently serving in Iraq? Are you constantly worrying about whether or not, you are going to ever see your loved one again? I don't think so! It is a shame my 3 year old daughter does not hardly know her own father! Why? Because her dad is one of the thousands of honorable soliers out there fighting for our lives! I think that the US needs to pull out of Iraq. If they are extending their tours in Iraq, then their RR needs to be extended as well. What is two weeks? Two weeks, thats it? Thats all we get! It should be at least a month, now that the tours have been extended. I love my soldier and I want him home, and this only means a greater chance of him doing just the complete opposite! Another Christmas, another birthday, another 90 days I won't have my husband home, where he belongs. The US needs to get a grip. We have not won this war, and guess what? We never will.
Posted on 04/11/07 18:08:53
Ssgt Thomas wrote:
This is how the Army solves problems! This is what we call "progress". Need more troops? Naahh! We'll just EXTEND the ones we got their! Sounds like a plan to me!
Posted on 04/11/07 18:30:31
R. Gonzales wrote:
How about the thousands of US Army soldiers who have not done one tour in Iraq? How about sending some of these soldiers? When so many have done two, three and even four tours already. I am an Army spouse on a second tour. I work on post where I have to hear Air Force personnel cry and complain about 6 month tours, and now my soldiers will have to be there for 15. Yet the AF still gets special treatment, no extension for them. Why not? I know my soldier and I are in the Army together I just ask the Officers in charge to tell us, the families to truth from the start. Just flat out state from the start you just don't know how long our soldiers will be deployed. At least that would be the truth. I as an adult understand, but please tell me how I am to explain to my children. Last I would just like to send a thank you to Sec Gates for requiring me to try to tell my sons the situation and requiring me to crush theirs hopes of seeing their mom soon, and at the same time breaking their hearts. Thank You so much Sec Gates!!
Posted on 04/11/07 23:42:35
Paul pool wrote:
im 17 years old and ive wanted to get into the army for a long time sense i was little but what is the real truth about the army cause i still havent signed in yet and i dont want to make a mistake.
Posted on 04/12/07 02:16:22
OGRE 1-26 wrote:
This dose put a lot of us troops in a real messed up situation.For myself and the reat of my combat team beacuse we are not even suppose to be in iraq right now and then we get told we are going to stay even longer now i have to tell my wife and she in turn has to tell my son. H e is five years od he dose not understand what i am doing over here he thinks that iraq is in the united states mind you i live in germany. In the almost 4 yrs ive been in the army over 2 are spent in iraq. I know if we pull out then its a mistake but keeping us away from our loved ones longer is just as bad. this is going to turn into a civil war im gunna have spent half my military career in combat if i make it that far.
Posted on 04/12/07 04:18:59
frustrated wife wrote:
My husband's tour has already been extended. He has been there now 17 months. Does this include him at this point? Or does he get to come home? They have been telling him since October--2 more weeks, 2 more weeks.
Posted on 04/12/07 10:57:56
Evie Casasnovas wrote:
We Call this a solution, " NOT" you don't know who you are dealing with in IRAQ they all look the same. Can't tell the bad good and the urgly. Let get back to basic and think this thought. We forget that these soldiers still have the duty of father, husband, friend etc. I know they is a saying in the ARMY if we didn't issue it to you it not needed. We need these Soldiers back with there families ASAP Also Our Goverment need to provide the Care that they family needs while these Soldiers are deployed These families needed help with stress and outreach services to all Deployed Soldiers. Let help out at home too. I am a Assistant Director of A Pre-K Program and It break my heart when a child come to me crying because he or she misses his or her DADDY or Mommy. Soldier Still have Family Please don't forget. Our Prayers are alway with them.
Posted on 04/12/07 12:30:51
JD wrote:
Everyone when they sighned into the military gave away their rights to complain about doing what they said they would do. I have been out of the marines for almost a year now and am planning on going into the Army. This does not affect my descision one bit because if you didnt know what you were getting into when you got into it, regardless of the what, why things happen, then what all of a sudden makes you think you were done wrong, 4, 16, or over 20 years of service we are theirs to do with what they want because we gave them that permission. Questions on the why and when past that sighning of the "dotted line" is ridiculous.
Posted on 04/17/07 12:53:30
jessica wrote:
i hate this idea... no offence but thats so tough... 15-18 months for sure is outragous.. why is it only the army? not only do we need our family and spouses home but mentally after awhile they need home too. Its horriable because now we will lose more lives then we already have... I hate this
Posted on 04/18/07 02:19:41
T. wrote:
Medevac and other units have been pulling less than (much less than) 12months at home between deployments since the ground invasion took place. Yet you haven't heard any special news announcements about them. I for one want to win this war and not give up on all who have sacrificed for it, just becuase some want to use it for political gain. Let the Generals decide our Military plans not the politicians.
Posted on 04/19/07 18:31:10
kanye west wrote:
bush doesnt care about black people
Posted on 04/23/07 06:19:00
LYN wrote:
REMEMBER WWII? THEY DIDN'T WAIT. MOVE IN, WIPE THEM ALL OUT. COME HOME. I MISS MY SON WHO IS IN IRAQ
Posted on 04/27/07 08:10:40
Dina wrote:
I believe that Bush doesn't know how to save face and admit to the American people he screwed up. We the people are the ones who put him into office and now he isn't listening to what the people want. These men and boys (Army) are willing to give their lives for a lie, Bush's lie. Yes, what we did was good for the Iraqi people but the "why" we went in in the first place was wrong. Now we are there, the Iraqi people no longer wish for us to be involved so why is Bush insisting we must stay? Iraq is a "fledgling" nation just like the US was once. No one came here telling us what to do or interfering until we "got it right!" So what right do we have doing this to other countries? No wonder other nations are pissed at us, because we think we "know it all," and the right way things should happen. The government needs to stop funding this war and bring our troups home.
Proud mother of two military boys!
Posted on 04/27/07 20:45:04
kathy wrote:
It's not Bush - both sides of the parties said "we have to go in". Well, we went in and now they want a pull out. Not only would a pull out hurt Iraq but America too. People seem to forget Kennedy and his crew screaming "something must be done".
Posted on 04/29/07 09:23:14
dj wrote:
fuck u
Posted on 04/30/07 16:32:45
dj wrote:
fuck u
Posted on 04/30/07 16:32:51
Laura wrote:
I am a wife of a new soldier. Army life is a little new to me and the thought that I will have to experience 15 months without my husband after already having to experience 22 weeks with out him because of BCT and AIT is depressing. But I want to let all of the families whos husbands, wifes, sons and daughters, who have already been to Iraq or who are currently serving in Iraq that have to deploy again that I hope my husband keeps one of your family members home. I think that if we (US) are going to deploy out soldiers that we need to give the "old soldiers" a little time to breath and give the "new soldiers" time to serve. My heart goes out to the families who have had to live with deployment over and over again. Please just bring our Soldiers Home...
Posted on 05/01/07 08:30:40
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Posted on 06/20/07 23:50:24
Ron wrote:
Just go AWOL if U don't wanna deploy - I did! I refused to get killed for Bush and his oil barons. The war is bogus. Its for OIL!!!
And POWER. Another step for global dominion.
Posted on 07/17/07 11:09:27
New guy wrote:
Can I ad
Posted on 09/24/08 00:20:49
Jon wrote:
For those of you who dont like your husbands(or wives) in the military putting your opinions on here will get nothing done, your better off adressing your congress man and if you dont like it that much have him/her dischared from the military once their time to re-enlist comes up. And for those of you who are going AWOL, you sign up for the military then when u get called to do what you do you go and put the burden on other soldiers. Be a man step up to the plate if you join the military be prepared to fight for your country!
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