Military Expands R&R Program for Troops in Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

Military Expands R&R Program for Troops in Iraq
By Pauline Jelinek Associated Press Writer
Published: Oct 31, 2003




WASHINGTON (AP) - The home leave program for troops serving in Iraq is being expanded to fly more people out of the region every day and bring them to more U.S. airports, the military said Friday.

Beginning Sunday, some 480 soldiers, up from 280, will leave daily from the Kuwait facility where troops are gathered for departures.

"The expansion of the R&R leave program is an opportunity to get even more of our heroes serving in the region a deserved break," said the U.S. Central Command.

And they will have a choice of flying to Atlanta and Dallas as well as the previous destinations of Baltimore and Germany, officials said. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA5VPQPGMD.html

[Noordam]

1. Do the MATH

140,000 troops / 480 per day = 291 days until everybody gets ONE trip home. And with a two week leave that is only 6700 out of 140,000 home at any time.

No they are not really serious about this.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

2. They still have to pay their way home once in the states, too.

BTW, whatever happened to family separation/imminent-danger pay being cut on Sept. 30? What was its compensation?

[Noordam]

3. The ppl in Iraq still get it but

do not know about other sandy places like kuwait.