|
 WASHINGTON (AP) - Army National Guard combat units that go to Iraq or Afghanistan through much of the next two years will be on active duty for longer than 12 months despite the Pentagon's pledge to try limiting deployments to a year, Army and Guard officials say.
The effort to shorten tours of duty to a year — they're now roughly 18 months — was designed to ease the strain on troops and their families, in part by jamming more war preparation into the soldiers' routine monthly training exercises at home.
However, Army and National Guard leaders told The Associated Press that efforts to transfer more training to the states so soldiers can train at home won't be done in time to benefit the thousands of troops going to war this year and in 2008. That is because states don't have the equipment, soldiers or plans they need to do the extra training, officials said.
|