Haven’t gone to war? You will; Army IDs 37,000 soldiers who have not gone to war

Soldiers who haven’t been downrange yet had better hone their warrior skills because the Army wants to see more combat patches in the ranks.

The Army has targeted 37,000 active-duty soldiers who have yet to serve a combat tour after more than six years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

--
Soldiers charged with combing through the rolls at HRC indicated that many troops yet to deploy have been ready and willing to go, and many have volunteered but haven’t had the opportunity. But the assignments officers also acknowledged that some homesteading and deployment-ducking have taken place.

“Certainly in a population of 37,000 you’ll have soldiers who say, ‘I’ll avoid this at any cost,’” said Col. Louis Henkel, deputy director of the Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate at HRC.

“Does that mean the Army will give them cover? No,” Henkel said.

---eoe---

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_allfight_071118p/