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R&R in Iraq scaled down

May-14-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

Further explanation of the R&R program.

[Link to Full Article]
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes

ARLINGTON, Va. — Though ground commanders in Iraq have the authority to deny their troops R&R leave, the U.S. Central Command program that grants deployed fighters leave time still is operational, officials said.

The program, dubbed Rest and Recuperation, "has never been canceled or suspended," said Army spokesman Hank Minitrez, in spite of units in theater being told otherwise.

"Basically, it's a commander's program," Minitrez said. "Yes, it's a CENTCOM program, but authority is delegated to commanders on the ground as to who goes on R&R and [who] is tasked to stay for missions. They define operational requirements."

The program, started in September to give 15 days of leave to troops deployed on 12-month orders in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, was curtailed in February as new U.S. forces began transitioning into theater to replace outbound troops. [...]

In February, because military-operated aircraft was needed to rotate troops, vacationing troops were instead put on commercial airliners out of Kuwait, Minitrez said.

The Army plans to return to using chartered flights in order to provide more consistent travel to troops and fly more of them out, he said.
Additionally, planners might stop using Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland as a hub for returning troops. Instead they will use Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport — two hubs closer to where most deployed troops seem to be traveling, officials said.

No time line has been established on when they might return to chartered flights, Minitrez said.


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