Gates details plans for deployment, dwell time

Gates details plans for deployment, dwell time
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 27, 2009 17:49:20 EST

The Pentagon will be able to send two more brigade combat teams to Afghanistan by late spring, another by mid-summer and more troops once adequate infrastructure is in place, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

But Gates said he would be “deeply skeptical” of any proposals to increase troop strength in Afghanistan beyond 30,000 additional troops requested by Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander there, saying the Afghan security forces must take the lead in the nation’s security.

“There must be an Afghan face on this war,” Gates said.

Gates called Afghanistan, where 32,000 U.S. troops currently serve, America’s “greatest military challenge.” He also said that tough days could lie ahead for U.S. troops in Iraq, and that leaders will have to “have the courage to make hard choices” on major weapons systems spending, Gates said.

Gates also brought the committee good news for Army troops and families, providing for the first time a timeline for boosting rest and recuperation time back home. Soldiers now are deployed for 12 months and return home for 12 months; Gates said he expects to increase so-called “dwell time” at home for brigade combat teams to 15 months by October, to two years by October 2010 and 30 months by the end of fiscal 2011.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_gates_012709w/%2e