Haven’t gone to war? You’re about to

[unhappycamper]

Army IDs 37,000 soldiers who have not gone to war


Haven’t gone to war? You’re about to
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 18, 2007 8:52:44 EST

Soldiers who haven’t been downrange yet had better hone their warrior skills because the Army wants to see more combat patches in the ranks.

The Army has targeted 37,000 active-duty soldiers who have yet to serve a combat tour after more than six years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Over that period, 59.4 percent of some 515,000 active-duty soldiers have deployed to the Central Command area of operations at least once, according to data compiled by Human Resources Command. Many of them have served three or four tours — some even more.

Another 33.4 percent have not served a war tour but are assigned to units with pending deployments; are not in deployable status because they are at basic training, school or other Army training; have medical or legal issues that keep them out of rotation; are serving as instructors, recruiters or drill sergeants; or are in transit or otherwise on hold.

But 7.2 percent, roughly 37,000 active-duty soldiers, have been identified by HRC as available for deployment and are facing transfer to operational units.

Soldiers charged with combing through the rolls at HRC indicated that many troops yet to deploy have been ready and willing to go, and many have volunteered but haven’t had the opportunity. But the assignments officers also acknowledged that some homesteading and deployment-ducking have taken place.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_allfight_071118p/