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Army to Shorten Combat Tours

Three years between deployments

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2008 7:40 AM CST
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(Newser) – The Pentagon aims to trim tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 15 months to a year with an eventual three years between deployments, the Army's top general told the Senate Committee on Armed Services yesterday. The change will be made after the military reduces troop levels this summer, Reuters reports, and commanders believe it possible even with a pause in the drawdown.

Army chief of staff Gen. George Casey, who has frequently said fighting two wars simultaneously has left the Army "out of balance," told the committee the switch is necessary to reduce the strain on troops. "If Gen. Petraeus is able to execute the announced plan of getting to 15 brigades by July, it would be our goal at that point to return to 12 months," Casey said. Fifteen-month tours have been in effect since April.

U.S. army soldiers from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in the volatile Diyala province, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq. The pentago intends to reduce the length of troop deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
U.S. army soldiers from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in the volatile Diyala province, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq. The pentago intends to reduce the length...   (Associated Press)
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey gestures during an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey gestures during an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)   (Associated Press)
U.S. Army soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment take position during a night patrol in the Azamiyah neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq. The Pentagon intends to reduce the length of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
U.S. Army soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment take position during a night patrol in the Azamiyah neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq. The Pentagon intends to reduce the length...   (Associated Press)
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Iraq • Afghanistan • Pentagon • Robert Gates • David Petraeus • Carl Levin • drawdown • Gen. George Casey • troop levels • deployments • Senate Armed Services Committee

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