thedrifter
11-15-06, 03:15 PM
November 15, 2006
Conway: more time at home between deployments
Times staff
The Corps’ new commandant, Gen. James Conway, wants to “right-size” the Corps to give units more time at home between deployments, according to a message he released Monday. More: •Conway’s message to Marines • Participate in the forum discussions: Gen. Conway’s priorities; Remembering Hagee
In a message called “Passing the colors” released to all Marines the day he became the 34th commandant of the Marine Corps, Conway wrote that he wants to bring the service back to a 1:2 “deployment-to-dwell ratio,” meaning that if a unit deploys for seven months, it would be at home for double that time — 14 months — before deploying again.
As the Iraq war has stretched on and units have gone back to Iraq for their second or third tours, time between deployments has shrunken to just a few months due to the heavy operations tempo.
Conway also said the Corps’ focus areas will be to “rededicate ourselves to our core values and warrior ethos,” improve quality of life and “achieve victory in the long war.”
He wrote that his priorities will be more fully described in the Commandant’s Planning Guidance, which will be released soon. Conway tasked all commanders with reviewing the guidance with their Marines, sailors and civilians within 30 days.
Ellie
Conway: more time at home between deployments
Times staff
The Corps’ new commandant, Gen. James Conway, wants to “right-size” the Corps to give units more time at home between deployments, according to a message he released Monday. More: •Conway’s message to Marines • Participate in the forum discussions: Gen. Conway’s priorities; Remembering Hagee
In a message called “Passing the colors” released to all Marines the day he became the 34th commandant of the Marine Corps, Conway wrote that he wants to bring the service back to a 1:2 “deployment-to-dwell ratio,” meaning that if a unit deploys for seven months, it would be at home for double that time — 14 months — before deploying again.
As the Iraq war has stretched on and units have gone back to Iraq for their second or third tours, time between deployments has shrunken to just a few months due to the heavy operations tempo.
Conway also said the Corps’ focus areas will be to “rededicate ourselves to our core values and warrior ethos,” improve quality of life and “achieve victory in the long war.”
He wrote that his priorities will be more fully described in the Commandant’s Planning Guidance, which will be released soon. Conway tasked all commanders with reviewing the guidance with their Marines, sailors and civilians within 30 days.
Ellie