By Richard E Walrath

Multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan have adversely affected  Army and Marine Corps units – ground forces are burning out and there is both an increase in mental health issues and a decrease in retention rates due to multiple tours of duty.

U.S. Army units have historically had a ratio of 1:2 – one year in theatre, two years out, but circumstances have caused a reduction and Army units are now deployed for 15 months with 12 months at home.  In comparison, British units deployed in Iraq have a 4:1 ratio – six months in Iraq and two years at home.

The Webb-Hagel Dwell Time Amendment, to the National defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, was unable to get the 60 votes needed in order to bring it to the floor, thanks to John the flip-flopper Warner, who earlier voted for it when it was introduced in July, but then voted against it. 

The media did their part by referring to it as giving 15 months "at home" after serving in Iraq.  At home?  No, I don’t think so.  Not in Iraq, but certainly not at home, unless every place seems like home when you’re not in Iraq. 

But I got the impression that this was deliberate–to make people think returning soldiers were going to be able to spend the next 15 months on leave at home.  A soldier gets 30 days a year paid leave.  He can go wherever he wants to, including home.  But the government is not going to be paying soldiers to spend 15 months at home.

Whether the media was deliberately trying to mislead and confuse people, I don’t know.  Then, there’s also the definite possibility that the TV heads and news reporters are just plain ignorant.  It happens all the time.

According to the Webb website

the Amendment states that if a unit or a member of a regular component of the Armed Forces deploys to Iraq or Afghanistan, when their deployment ends they will have at least the same time at home before they are redeployed. No unit or member of a Reserve component, including the National Guard, could be redeployed to Iraq or Afghanistan within three years of their previous deployment.

That sounds very obscure – what’s ‘home’?  Are they going to get paid?  So they’re out of work for 15 months and then they go back into the Army?  What do they do if their enlistment is up during, before or after the 15 months at home – go back and get their discharge?

Obviously if they’re regular Army I don’t think they’re going to send them "home".  What do they do if they get sick?  Are they covered for health insurance?  Do they go to Walter Reed? 

Those are all the questions that should have been answered by the media before the vote.