Frustration over leave priority simmers for tired soldiers in line for R&R

http://estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=17980


ARLINGTON, Va. — It’s not just the “saga of the 368th.” Troops, commanders and families back home are expressing confusion over the new “rest and recuperation” policy aimed at giving deployed troops in Iraq and surrounding countries 15 days leave.

Last week, that confusion plagued the 368th Engineering Battalion out of New England, in which 58 reservists thought they all would be going home for a few days of vacation. Turns out, planning officials had only given the battalion permission for nine soldiers.

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One mother heard from her daughter in Iraq that the program is available only to married troops or those with children.


Comment: Below is that mother's letter:


http://estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=17992

No R&R for single soldiers?

As a parent of a soldier who has now served five months in Iraq, with at least seven more to go, I was happy to see the 15-day leave for the “majority” of the 130,000 servicemembers who are deployed for one year or more. However, all articles I have seen on this newly approved program fail to mention that the single soldier will not be granted leave.

Is my daughter, Spc. Rachel Siddens, mistaken? Is she not eligible for this respite? Is it only if you have dependents that you qualify for some family time?

She has been overseas for 15 months, some out in the field and now this long deployment to Baghdad. It will be two years before she sees her family again. This seems awfully long considering the war was declared over on May 1.

Could someone verify and explain to me the restrictions of this leave policy? I am happy for anyone who gets a break to visit loved ones, and would like to see everyone given the opportunity for this gratis trip back to the States. I have already begun a letter campaign to my congressmen and senators to seek fair treatment for all servicemembers. God bless you all and thank you for your sacrifices.

Deborah Siddens
McKinney, Texas

those Repukes??? Good luck