Ga.-based Army unit to serve third tour

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - The Army's 3rd Infantry Division, which helped lead the charge to Baghdad at the outset of the war, will return next year and become the first Army division to serve three tours in Iraq.

More than 3 1/2 years into the war, the Army and Marine Corps are straining to keep a steady flow of combat and support forces to Iraq while giving the troops sufficient time between deployments for rest and retraining.

Both services are far short of their goal of providing two years between deployments; the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry, for example, will have spent barely more than 12 months at home when it returns next year. The same is true for the division's 1st Brigade, which officials have said is scheduled to deploy again in January.

The 3rd Infantry, based at Fort Stewart, Ga., is among several units — totaling 57,000 troops — identified by the Pentagon on Friday for deployment in a fresh rotation of forces starting in January. The announcement does not presume any change in troop levels, nor is any major change expected for at least several months.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_iraq

[AzDar]

1. WHY??? n/t

[lcordero2]

5. because they are trying to kill off all of the people that are

getting ready to retire and cripple the remaining to keep the medical and pharma industries going. Remember, half of the people that went to the first Gulf War are either disabled or applying for disability.

[Little Wing]

2. I'd be interested in taking a trip down to Parris Island one weekend

and seeing what the graduating battalions looked like compared to when I graduated.

[partylessinOhio]

3. Huh?

Democrats in Congress, are you going to stand for this?

[Ladydawnelle]

4. I was also stationed at Ft. Stewart

Years ago and not with the 3rd but with the 24th. Regardless, I KNOW those soldiers would MUCH rather be safe home in Georgia than on yet another tour IN Hell's Wasteland!

BRING THEM HOME!!!!

[michreject]

7. I was with the 3rd ID

but never in Ft. Stewart.

[Ladydawnelle]

8. Where was the 3rd when you served?

I was scratching my head when I first read about the 3rd being at Stewart cuz I never remembered them being there. But I've been out for decades so I'm sure much has changed. Except for my regard for those that still serve! My only problem these days is how can ANYone with ANY sense not SEE that this is an illegal war upon a country that had NOTHING to do with 911!!!

Makes me a bit worried that those volunteering at this point are basically just haters and mercenary types. Of course there are always those that can't survive on the outside that need more education or training and can't afford it w/out the military's help. (which is what I think John Kerry was TRYING to say but say badly) Poor JK he is just a man out of step at this point in time. But a good man none the less.

jmo

WES CLARK IN 08

[michreject]

9. I was in Germany

71-72 Kitzengen.

[Subdivisions]

6. Damn! I was just mentioning this over in this

thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2620642