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thedrifter
12-06-06, 07:18 AM
New top Marine strikes a chord
December 06,2006

When the Marine Corps’ newest commandant recently traveled to Camp Lejeune to meet with his troops, he left them with some interesting ideas about how the service may be changing in the future.Gen. James Conway — the 34th Marine to hold the post of commandant — last week visited the Marines and sailors billeted at the Wounded Warriors Barracks and met with other commands as well as the press.

During that time, Conway shared his plans and discussed the focus of his tenure as the Corps’ leader.

One major concern the general has is in the way Marines have been deployed. The issue isn’t where they go, but how much “down time” they have between deployments. Conway says he wants to achieve longer periods of time at home between deployments — a move that will go a long way toward ensuring a more stable home life for troops who will benefit from spending more time with their spouses and children.

That’s good news for both the Leathernecks and their families.

In the Nov. 30 Daily News’ article covering the commandant’s visit, Conway was quoted as saying, “We’ve got a number of folks that are gone for seven months and back as little as five before they turn around and do it again. I personally think that will have telling impact on our people. I think it’s already starting to.”

The commandant was right on the money with that one. Long periods away from home, interspersed with brief stretches spent with their loved ones, isn’t conducive to raising a family or keeping a marriage on an even keel. Even more importantly, with so little time between deployments to combat zones, it’s harder to adjust from the hyper-vigilance that accompanies combat to the normalcy of everyday life. That makes it hard on everyone involved.

Conway wants to give troops 14 months between deployments, which doubles the current baseline figure. In order to do that, troop strength will have to increase — or demands on the Corps will have to decrease.

Considering the current state of world affairs, it is doubtful the need for the Marine Corps’ talents will diminish. That means the way the government and the American people look at the U.S. armed forces will have to change.

Marines — indeed, all members of the military — don’t operate on automatic. Their jobs are stressful, and they need unconditional support from the people they serve. Even more, they deserve to spend time with the people they love.

Such an idea also could raise the level of readiness in the Corps because, as Conway noted, Marines would have time to focus on all aspects of their training, not just the functions applicable to deployment in the Middle East.

The new commandant seems to have his own unique approach to the job — one that values the individual’s relationship to the strength of the whole. During an unusually difficult period for members of the armed services, such concern from the Marine at the top will go a long way.
December 06,2006

When the Marine Corps’ newest commandant recently traveled to Camp Lejeune to meet with his troops, he left them with some interesting ideas about how the service may be changing in the future.Gen. James Conway — the 34th Marine to hold the post of commandant — last week visited the Marines and sailors billeted at the Wounded Warriors Barracks and met with other commands as well as the press.

During that time, Conway shared his plans and discussed the focus of his tenure as the Corps’ leader.

One major concern the general has is in the way Marines have been deployed. The issue isn’t where they go, but how much “down time” they have between deployments. Conway says he wants to achieve longer periods of time at home between deployments — a move that will go a long way toward ensuring a more stable home life for troops who will benefit from spending more time with their spouses and children.

That’s good news for both the Leathernecks and their families.

In the Nov. 30 Daily News’ article covering the commandant’s visit, Conway was quoted as saying, “We’ve got a number of folks that are gone for seven months and back as little as five before they turn around and do it again. I personally think that will have telling impact on our people. I think it’s already starting to.”

The commandant was right on the money with that one. Long periods away from home, interspersed with brief stretches spent with their loved ones, isn’t conducive to raising a family or keeping a marriage on an even keel. Even more importantly, with so little time between deployments to combat zones, it’s harder to adjust from the hyper-vigilance that accompanies combat to the normalcy of everyday life. That makes it hard on everyone involved.

Conway wants to give troops 14 months between deployments, which doubles the current baseline figure. In order to do that, troop strength will have to increase — or demands on the Corps will have to decrease.

Considering the current state of world affairs, it is doubtful the need for the Marine Corps’ talents will diminish. That means the way the government and the American people look at the U.S. armed forces will have to change.

Marines — indeed, all members of the military — don’t operate on automatic. Their jobs are stressful, and they need unconditional support from the people they serve. Even more, they deserve to spend time with the people they love.

Such an idea also could raise the level of readiness in the Corps because, as Conway noted, Marines would have time to focus on all aspects of their training, not just the functions applicable to deployment in the Middle East.

The new commandant seems to have his own unique approach to the job — one that values the individual’s relationship to the strength of the whole. During an unusually difficult period for members of the armed services, such concern from the Marine at the top will go a long way.

Ellie