The following was left in comments but I feel it should receive a wider viewing. I’m keeping the officer’s name out of the story. He/she is a Captain.

What each and every soldier should be asking Congress and the President is why the Army is serving 15 month tours while the rest of the military are serving greatly reduced tours i.e. Air Force 3-4 months (12 days off with freedom passes, another 3-4 days off, in addition), a few 6 month’ers, most do not even serve in Iraq, Navy 3-4 months rarely in Iraq (12 days off with freedom passes in addition) , Marines 6-7 months (15-18 days off) and Army 12-15 with some people having served 18-20 (15 days vacation for a year and a half tour). It is also important to note that many soldiers in the Army are on their second or third year long tour. It is true that the Marines tour more often but I have met Marines with 4 tours that have less time in Iraq than my two tours and I am scheduled for a third.

I will have 30 months of tour time in less than 5 years over 3 tours. It is also a fact that many of these other branches aside from Marines tour less often and get paid more money in special pays.

The 2 AF stationed with us for 3 months were receiving hundreds of dollars extra in “substandard living condition “pay for living in standard Army housing for 3 months. That is plain wrong. I have no problem with the other branches of the military but ask the country and our leaders what are they thinking?

The Army should receive a higher salary and other increased special pays ie: early retirement for the excessive amount of their family’s lives that they are missing. We would also like to see our families every 3-7 months, even if we tour more often. We would also like the extra pays and safe tours in Kuwait or other non combat places getting combat pay.

While my fellow soldiers suffer with the highest divorce, bankruptcy, family problem, mental illness, suicide, combat injury and death rates we are being nickel and dime’d by a government that has forgotten how much extra we are giving.

Why aren’t there articles in every major newspaper about this? Where is the outrage at the unequal treatment? Do our families, our children matter to anyone? Try being away from your children for almost 3 years out of five. If you are lucky enough to come back to a family, you come back a stranger far worse off than your fellow brother in arms in the other branches of service. Someone please recognize and nationally address this problem.

I am afflicted with the desire to serve my country in the Army, which should not mean that only Army soldiers should have to surrender their families and mental health to this cause. I am a father of a toddler and infant and I do not even know them. I would love to be able to see them every 4-6 months. How many divorces, suicides and deaths will it take? Where is the equity; where is the justice and financial recognition for the Army?

Until this changes senior Captains, NCOs and officers will continue to flee out of self preservation because we the Army of the United States of America have been forgotten.

Soldiers from the Romanian 151st Infantry Battalion, 15th Mechanized Brigade went through the 7th Special Troops Battalion’s Combat Logistical Patrol (CLP) Academy on Contingency Operations Base Adder, May 19 through June 11.

The Romanians attended the CLP Academy as part of an overall Humvee familiarization process. The training included master driver’s training and Humvee Egress Assistance training.

The U.S. Army is loaning 40 Humvees to the Romanians for use during their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“The basic object of their training is final preparation prior to their Soldiers actually going out on the road (in their newly acquired Humvees),” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan J. Dowling, CLP Academy officer-in-charge. “We let them rehearse their tactical training procedures, last-minute train and give them up-to-date improvised explosive device training, which is relevant to the areas they are responsible for.”

The “Black Wolves” had two interwoven objectives: to become familiar with their new Humvees and become familiar with improvised explosive devices (IED) and their capabilities. They conducted a CLP lane with simulated IED in myriad forms. The goal was to recognize the IED and execute their tactical training procedures.

“So far they did better than anybody that we’ve ever had go through the CLP lanes,” said Master Sgt. Harvey P. Thomas, CLP non-commissioned officer-in-charge. “This training went very well in spite of the language barrier. It made it a little more complicated, being that you couldn’t get instant feedback because you would have to speak through the interpreter.”

“This is routine. It is basically the same thing we have been doing since we got into Iraq,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Constantine Lonel, command sergeant major of the 151st Inf. Bn.

The “Black Wolves” left a positive impression on the staff at the CLP Academy.

“These guys are going to be successful because they understand how IED are built,” said Thomas. “They also quickly grasp emplacement.”

Lonel further explained that he was not surprised at the performance of his Soldiers. He said the majority of them were combat veterans, many with multiple tours in places such as Angola, Bosnia, Albania and Afghanistan.

MNF-I
Story by Spc. RJ Gilbert, 7th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

Why are so many small nations supporting the War on Terror? There are several reasons.

It pays to be a friend of the United States. Sometimes not all that well, but it pays.

The War on Terror affects everyone. Bosnia and Georgia, as two examples, know a lot about the effects of terrorism and have reason to oppose it.

Finally, the militaries of small nations lack the funding for training, equipment and deployment. By assisting us, they are able to obtain experienced and well-trained troops at a markedly reduced cost to themselves.

Oh, and as pointed out in other posts, it’s a good way to get problem units and officers out of the country and unable to organize coups.

Guardian

In addition to the 36 Bosnian ordnance experts already in the country, the army will send 49 soldiers from the 6th Infantry Division in August.

The Sarajevo-based Dnevni Avaz newspaper reported that the army commander, General Sifet Podzic – who is visiting Bosnian troops in Iraq – said infantry troops had been training for the last three months.

via Mudville Gazette

PERSIAN GULF (May 18, 2008) Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate Crystal Crawford, assigned to the "Blue Blasters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 waits near an F/A-18C Hornet on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the strike fighter is prepared for a mission. Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans

PERSIAN GULF (May 17, 2008) Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Jaimie Dickey installs a tailhook assembly on an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the "Kestrels" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Ashley Houp

NORFOLK, Va. (May 15, 2008) Ens. Virginia Teti, one of 14 graduating military medical students from Eastern Virginia Medical School, is promoted to lieutenant during a re-commissioning ceremony aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64). The students, members of the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force, advanced from ensign/second lieutenant to lieutenant/captain after reciting an oath of office led by Rear Adm. (ret) Philip Geib. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kitt Amaritnant

ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 19, 2008) Seaman Janell Vasquez steers the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). Iwo Jima is participating in the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group integration training. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chad R. Erdmann

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 19, 2008) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Olivia Dimas communicates with flight deck control aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer S. Kimball

SAN DIEGO (May 2, 2008) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Mandi Parks says goodbye to her daughter and her husband before deploying aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac

Army Resources Command, Military Awards Branch