Pentagon Ends Time Limit On Guard, Reserve

Stretched Thin In Iraq, Army Abandons 24-Month Limit On Time Citizen-Soldiers Must Serve

(CBS/AP)  "He said that most people over there are kind of unhappy about it, but they're going to do what they have to do," Rod Stroud said.

Sgt. Stroud had hoped to be home from Iraq in time for his daughter Mikayla's ninth birthday. Mikayla, who'll turn 9 on April 18th, is holding up "for the most part pretty good," her grandfather said. "He does get a chance to communicate once in a while. He spoke to her Monday evening."

In Warren, Spc. Christopher Kliner's parents left up their Christmas tree expecting he'd be home in March.

"We'll still have a celebration even if he comes home in the summer or a later date," said his father, Robert Kliner. "We'll still have Christmas for him."

In Eden Valley, Julia McCann, mother of Sgt. John McCann, said she was proud of her son for volunteering to join the Guard but that the extension "really ticks me off."

"He's got three children at home and they miss their dad," she said, adding that she believes the 1st Brigade Combat Team has already done its duty. "Let someone else do their duty and go over there."

About 640 Iowa National Guard soldiers who were hoping to come home this spring have been ordered to stay in Iraq several more months.

Florida Guard officials say that they expect to contribute as many as 500 additional troops to duty in Iraq. The Florida National Guards currently has 1,000 men and women on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Tennessee's National Guard probably won't join the initial troop surge in Iraq planned by President Bush. The state's top military official, Major General Gus Hargett, said that no new Tennessee units have been alerted for deployment.

Meanwhile, the Marines announced that two infantry units — the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment — will stay in Iraq 60 to 90 days longer than scheduled. That will enable the Marines to have a total of eight infantry battalions in western Anbar province, instead of the current six, by February. Once the 60- to 90-day extension is over, an additional two battalions will be sent in early from their U.S. bases.

Also, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which combines infantry with a helicopter squadron and a logistics battalion, totaling about 2,200 Marines, will stay in Anbar for 45 more days.

Those extensions conform with Bush's announcement that he was ordering 4,000 more Marines to Anbar.

The military tries to avoid extending combat tours and sending forces earlier than planned because it disrupts the lives of troops and their families and makes it harder for the services to get all troops through the education and training programs they need for promotions. But in this case it was deemed unavoidable.

[rharrin1]

I'm sure you will see the draft come back.

[olgreyghost]

"Governor, because of this great natural disaster that has befallen our beloved State of (fill in the blank) you must call out the Guard!"

"Hand me those papers and I'll sign them right now. How long will it take them to respond?"

"About three months, sir."

"THREE MONTHS?!? Those people need help now!"

"They're coming from Iraq, sir. Besides, if everybody in the affected area has followed government guidelines then they should have a three-day supply of rations on hand for such emergencies as this one. They'll just have to stretch them out for a little while."

"Oh...okay. Well, get my helicopter so I can get my picture in the papers looking over the disaster area."

"Your helicopter's in Iraq also, sir. War is hell..."

[gunnerv1]

Read the contract before you sign/join/enlist. once you in, they own you body and soul. I was there for over 20 years '64-'86 and I loved every minute of it. I they would have quit sending me back to hawaii (Homeport) I would have stayed for 30 or more years. I was tired of Hawaii.

[gunnerv1]

Don't like it, then don't join!

[gunnerv1]

Did the same thing in Korea

[rafterman1]

"But in this case it was deemed unavoidable."

No, it wasn't "unavoidable". It was completely avoidable. But since ol' George and company consider American soldiers as nothing more than cannon fodder (or a convenient photo op), this is no surprise.

[luvny-2009]

Ah yes and lets not forget Jenna and little Barb