In a change of Pentagon policy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday that all active duty Army soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan will now serve their tours for as long as 15 months, an increase over the standard year-long deployment.In an acknowledgement of the strains the U.S. military surge in Iraq is having on the military, Gates told reporters that the new policy will be effective immediately on all units in the Central Command area of responsibility. The troops will continue to return home to their stations for not less than 12 months rotations. The rule will apply to all except for of two brigades currently deployed that have already been extended to 16-month deployments.
"Without this action, we would have had to deploy five Army active duty brigades sooner than the 12-month at home goal. I believe it is fairer to all soldiers that all share the burden equally," Gates said, adding that the policy will prevent troops from being informed mid-service that their tour is extended and will provide the Defense Department's capacity to sustain the deployed force.
Gates said the move will also create the capacity for commanders to extend the military surge in Iraq for at least a year, although he said any such decision to do so will depend on conditions on the ground. He did add that he wished the pace of political reconciliation among Iraqis was moving quicker.
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