Dwell time is what the Army refers to time at the home base and with families. The Marines and Army are trying to increase dwell time.
Because of the draw-down of troop levels, the Army has been able to keep troops at home longer. The Army is giving most everybody over a year at home between seeing any tour of combat. This is being used to de-stress the troops. Eventually, they hope to give everyone at least two whole years before seeing combat. Time with families is very important to those in the military. As mentioned, this is achieved by not needing more troops in Iraq, and also an increase in overall Army levels. One thing also that led to this was the Army's willingness to find out who was eligible to send overseas, and actually send them. During the height of the Iraq conflict, troops would often spend less than a year at home. The Army was able to make more brigades and get better organized. The Army is hoping to come up with a guarantee of two months home for every month spend on tour.
Soon, the Marines will try to do something similar if it can. The hope is to give most every Marine at least 14 months at their home base after they have completed a 7 month tour.
Anytime we can get our soldiers to stabilize their homelife and be with their families for extended periods of time is a good thing.
It has been shown that a soldier that spends more time in a combat zone is less likely to re-enlist. And we need more soldiers to make long term commitments. The more experienced soldiers we have, the better.
The Navy has similar problems about keeping sailors who are on extended sea duty for over 6 months. That seems to be the breaking point. Sailors who are at sea for more than 6 months tend to also be lost to civilian life.
We need to come up with more ways to keep our military happy. You can do your part by always supporting the troops any way you can. Read some easy ways to show your support to the troops.
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Showing posts with label troop levels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label troop levels. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Obama, finally, commits Afghan troops
President Obama finally decided how many more US troops to send to Afghanistan. Presumably after a much thought out process. We respectfully disagree.
But before we elaborate, we will reiterate that sending troops into harms way is a difficult thing to do. And we never are happy to see our military in danger. But that is what the military is for. To do battle. Like it or not, our military's mission is to fight wars. Many would have you think the military is just a game, another business, a way to spread goodwill and cheer. Those may be by-products at times, but never, ever the reason the military exists.
By President Obama waiting, he has shown that he will make decisions based on political winds. Not on military recommendations. This long process was not to decide what was right. Only to appear to appease certain political factions. The proof of this is what he finally came up with. Basically exactly what General McChrystal asked for weeks ago. The right thing to do, would have been to call an emergency meeting and make the decision, post haste.
The danger was that we had over 60,000 troops in Afghanistan already. Wavering on more troops had to have an effect on the troops already there. Was their danger overlooked by waiting? Were they put in more danger each day more troops were delayed? If you were not going to send more troops, what was the fate of the ones there? Are they going to perform a half-duty, as they might be pulled out at any minute? I can see many troops, and rightfully so, thinking, what am I here for? There was danger in waiting.
The taliban have made gains while this debate has gone on. That in and of itself is bad news for the US and our troops.
We feel a delay put the current troops in danger. And what was accomplished by the delay? Nothing.
There was no need to wait. Either pull out existing troops, or send more. Period. President Obama has made MANY promises about doing the right thing in Afghanistan and not allowing it to fail. But instead of sticking to this promise, he has only delayed any favorable outcome. And there was no need for it.
We know that our military does the best job in the world. But they are human. They must be given the support of all leaders, from the President on down. Or get out.
President Obama had painted himself into a corner. He could not pull out. The only thing left politically to do was wait. And that was a bad idea for our troops.
A taliban-run Afghanistan is not an option. This is Obama's war from the start. And so far he has not done a very good job with it.
The delay in troops has only protracted the problem.
======================================================================
>VA Veterans Home Loans
>Teacher Resources, Teaching Articles, Teaching Tips.
>College Money, Financial Aid, Student Loans, Consolidation, Scholarships.
But before we elaborate, we will reiterate that sending troops into harms way is a difficult thing to do. And we never are happy to see our military in danger. But that is what the military is for. To do battle. Like it or not, our military's mission is to fight wars. Many would have you think the military is just a game, another business, a way to spread goodwill and cheer. Those may be by-products at times, but never, ever the reason the military exists.
By President Obama waiting, he has shown that he will make decisions based on political winds. Not on military recommendations. This long process was not to decide what was right. Only to appear to appease certain political factions. The proof of this is what he finally came up with. Basically exactly what General McChrystal asked for weeks ago. The right thing to do, would have been to call an emergency meeting and make the decision, post haste.
The danger was that we had over 60,000 troops in Afghanistan already. Wavering on more troops had to have an effect on the troops already there. Was their danger overlooked by waiting? Were they put in more danger each day more troops were delayed? If you were not going to send more troops, what was the fate of the ones there? Are they going to perform a half-duty, as they might be pulled out at any minute? I can see many troops, and rightfully so, thinking, what am I here for? There was danger in waiting.
The taliban have made gains while this debate has gone on. That in and of itself is bad news for the US and our troops.
We feel a delay put the current troops in danger. And what was accomplished by the delay? Nothing.
There was no need to wait. Either pull out existing troops, or send more. Period. President Obama has made MANY promises about doing the right thing in Afghanistan and not allowing it to fail. But instead of sticking to this promise, he has only delayed any favorable outcome. And there was no need for it.
We know that our military does the best job in the world. But they are human. They must be given the support of all leaders, from the President on down. Or get out.
President Obama had painted himself into a corner. He could not pull out. The only thing left politically to do was wait. And that was a bad idea for our troops.
A taliban-run Afghanistan is not an option. This is Obama's war from the start. And so far he has not done a very good job with it.
The delay in troops has only protracted the problem.
======================================================================
>VA Veterans Home Loans
>Teacher Resources, Teaching Articles, Teaching Tips.
>College Money, Financial Aid, Student Loans, Consolidation, Scholarships.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Obama finally (?) decides on Afghanistan troop level...
Barack Obama is now ready to "finish the job" in Afghanistan.
We wonder what he has been waiting for. Supposedly he wants to make a well thought out decision. Not really. That's what he has military commanders to do. And they had already assessed the situation and made their recommendations. But Obama's delay is probably due more to political pressure on the left. He wants to at least appear to appease them.
We say "appear," because during the campaign, as well as just a few months ago, Obama promised to get the Afghanistan done and finished. It was the war we must win, in his own words.
Funny how health care does not get the same careful consideration. No, we must act now or the world will collapse. I would not trust senators to craft a health care bill, nor would I trust them to craft any Afghanistan strategy. They are neither doctors, nor military leaders.
It looks like the final tally for extra troops will be around 30,000. This is 15,000 short of the 45,000 Gen. McChrystal asked for.
With that in mind, how much heart does Obama have for actually, "finishing the job" ?
==========================================
>VA Veterans Home Loans
>Teacher Resources, Teaching Articles, Teaching Tips.
>College Money, Financial Aid, Student Loans, Consolidation, Scholarships.
We wonder what he has been waiting for. Supposedly he wants to make a well thought out decision. Not really. That's what he has military commanders to do. And they had already assessed the situation and made their recommendations. But Obama's delay is probably due more to political pressure on the left. He wants to at least appear to appease them.
We say "appear," because during the campaign, as well as just a few months ago, Obama promised to get the Afghanistan done and finished. It was the war we must win, in his own words.
Funny how health care does not get the same careful consideration. No, we must act now or the world will collapse. I would not trust senators to craft a health care bill, nor would I trust them to craft any Afghanistan strategy. They are neither doctors, nor military leaders.
It looks like the final tally for extra troops will be around 30,000. This is 15,000 short of the 45,000 Gen. McChrystal asked for.
With that in mind, how much heart does Obama have for actually, "finishing the job" ?
==========================================
>VA Veterans Home Loans
>Teacher Resources, Teaching Articles, Teaching Tips.
>College Money, Financial Aid, Student Loans, Consolidation, Scholarships.
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