Haven't Yet Deployed? Start Packing Your Bags

The Army’s assignments branch is reaching out to soldiers who have not deployed to combat in an effort to take some of the strain off of those who have deployed more than once, according to an American Forces Press Service news article.

More than half of the current 522,000-plus active-duty Army force has deployed to combat. Nearly a third are pending deployment, are in a deployable unit or still going through their initial training. But, 7 percent, or about 37,000 soldiers, have not deployed and are not scheduled to deploy. Those soldiers hold “institutional” slots in the Army at training posts, such as drill sergeants, or in recruiting commands. Now, the assignments branch is tracking and monitoring those soldiers and, when it is practical, will swap them out with other soldiers due for second or third deployments.