Army Considers Shortening Combat Tours in Iraq and Afghanistan due to Recruitment Concerns

Strategic Insights -

The Army is exploring the possibility of reducing the length of combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan from 12 months to a shorter duration, senior officials say, as the service struggles to recruit and retain soldiers. Despite concerns from some officials that the 12-month tours are necessary to meet operational requirements, others argue that the prolonged deployments are affecting morale and recruitment. The proposal to shorten combat tours comes as the Army aims to maintain its current troop levels in Iraq through 2007, with around 138,000 troops currently deployed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Army is considering shortening combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan from 12 months to 6-9 months, in an effort to improve recruitment and retention, said Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau.
  • Senior Army officials acknowledge that 12-month tours are having a negative impact on morale and recruitment, with the Army's ability to recruit and retain soldiers expected to decline further unless combat tours are shortened.
  • Army war planners and combat commanders are concerned that demands of the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan will require 12-month tours for now, but acknowledge that the assessment may change as security improves in those countries and an Army plan to increase the number of brigades that can be deployed to combat zones comes to fruition.
  • The 12-month tours allow troops to gain more expertise about local conditions and insurgents, and pass that knowledge on to their replacements, but are also causing a strain on troops and their families.
  • The Army's all-volunteer force is a major concern, with senior officers worrying that the volunteer forces and their families will draw the line on lengthy deployments.
  • Senator John Kerry's campaign promise to end the "backdoor draft" and reduce long overseas tours of Reserve and National Guard soldiers has kept the issue of combat tours in the public eye.
  • The Army plans to complete a restructuring to increase the number of combat brigades to 43, and perhaps to 48, from the current 33, which will provide more opportunities for shortening deployment.
  • The Army is committed to a single deployment term regardless of whether a soldier is in a combat or a support role, and must make similar changes to increase the ability to deploy units that perform combat service and service support duties.

Statistics:

  • The Guard set a goal of 56,000 recruits for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 but is likely to end up with about 51,000, missing its signup goal for the first time since 1994.
  • The Army currently has around 138,000 troops in Iraq.
  • The Army plans to maintain this level through 2007.

Sources:

  • Pentagon and Army officials
  • Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau
  • Senior Army personnel officers
  • Top Army Reserve and National Guard officials
  • Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld
  • Senator John Kerry
  • Army officials
  • Pentagon and Army war planners
  • Combat commanders
  • Joint Staff