How many agree that our Troups deserve a Rest from War, maybe a Vacation?

Question

As we rotate our troops from Afganistan and Iraq, our government should not only give them time off but a vacation to recooperate. What do you think?

My son is in the Army. From what I see he comes back and is shuffled around, in class, and no real break. But maybe it is because he is an officer. Yes he gets a block leave but he uses it to move stations or get to training bases.
By vacation, I meant time off not a party.
And yes, they chose this life but someone has to do it.

Answer 1

We do get vacations. 30 days paid leave every year. Block leave is always scheduled after deployments.

Answer 2

And who are you to decide what the troops want? Maybe they just want to get back to regular normal life instead of being shuffled to those "fun" activities. Maybe they just want to cook dinner, take the trash out, play catch with the kids, etc. Those are all the things they didnt get a chance to do while they were in Iraq. Maybe they just want to have some peace and quiet.

While I cant speak for all troops, I can speak for my husband and a few others. My husband just wants to get back to normal, back to life as it was before he left. He has been deployed twice and that is all he wants....to be a dad again. It is a nice thought, but maybe they should have a choice if they want a vacation, or "just" time off.

Answer 3

For Air Force at least, we get 2 weeks leave during a 365 day tour in Iraq... they even pay for travel!! :) I am going to the Bahamas and I'm really excited about getting out of here for a little while.

However, as far as "block leave"... yeah... I got tasked for this deployment in August, had to leave for training in September (no time for leave as was outprocessing/preparing) and after training came here. Maybe in an ideal world you get a month before you go, but I would think that my situation is more the norm nowadays. And as far as having a year before you deploy again, that is crap... most of the people that are here just left 4-6 months ago. And let me tell you, if you think that is "enough vacation for them", let me come into your office and shoot bullets over your head and blow up your friends and you tell me if that's enough vacation time for you.

By the way, I have 70 days of leave saved up because a lot of us don't have the opportunity to take those wonderful days of leave...

Answer 4

They do get time off. No units have been over there for 4 years straight. They come home, they have 30 days of paid vacation, and if they are in a needed position they might have to go back in 6-12 months, for most it will be much longer.

Answer 5

You get block leave before and after deployments, you get two weeks during deployments, you get 30 paid days a year. Then you get roughly a year before deployments. I think that is enough vacation as they are active duty military.

Answer 6

I think they should have read their contracts better before signing up. It is the military after all, not a vacation resort. Everyone in the military is there voluntarily. No one forced them to sign up. I hear so much complaining about soldiers having to put their lives on the line. What did you think you would be doing when you signed up?

Answer 7

we do get leave and vacation, 30 days per year. keep this in mind the war is far from over and we can't just take time off to get away you know? just my opinion but we need to stay the course and beat the guys to submission.

Answer 8

Hey I like our military but I chose my path in life and they chose theirs and they are in the war because of that path in life, so all I can say is do your job as best you can and try to come home safe, get your deserved pay and be on your way. Not on the tax payers dollar no way.

Answer 9

As units re-deploy back to the states from Iraq, I beleive they get extensive time off. However, they are redeploying the same people too many times over and that has already taken its toll on our military.

Answer 10

i dont agree