General Casey: Increasing dwell time is a priority

Casey: Increasing dwell time is a priority

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Apr 3, 2009 11:48:35 EDT

FORT HOOD, Texas — Soldiers fighting overseas could eventually have longer stays at home, depending on supply and demand and if the Iraq drawdown continues on schedule, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told soldiers at Fort Hood.

On Thursday, Casey spoke to soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and other units recently returned from Iraq. He predicted time at home will get to be an average of 14 or 15 months, then next year increase to almost two years, and to 2½ years the year after that.

“We are focused on trying to increase the amount of time the soldiers spend at home, but it’s a function of supply and demand,” Casey said in a story for Friday’s online edition of the Temple Daily Telegram.

In January, the Army met a goal set in 2007 to increase the size of the Army by 74,000. The Army originally set 2012 as the deadline to reach that goal. As of January, the active duty force was at 547,000, Casey said.

Peering into the eyes of 400 soldiers fresh from the war in Iraq, he saw combat stress, which often doesn’t manifest until the mission is accomplished and the soldier is back home with his family, he said.

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Casey: Increasing dwell time is a priority