FACTS ABOUT BIPARTISAN WEBB-HAGEL

DWELL TIME AMENDMENT

September 19, 2007

**TITLE**

** **

*An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2008 to specify minimum periods between deployments of units and members
of the Armed Forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
Enduring Freedom.* 

## **SUMMARY & UPDATED LANGUAGE**

** **

The Amendment states that if a unit or a member of a regular component
of the Armed Forces deploys to Iraq or Afghanistan, when their
deployment ends they will have **[at least the same time at home before
they are redeployed]{.underline}**.  No unit or member of a Reserve
component, including the National Guard, could be redeployed to Iraq or
Afghanistan within three years of their previous deployment. 

The Amendment includes **[fair and reasonable waivers]{.underline}**. 
In event of an operational emergency posing a vital threat to national
security interests, the President may waive the amendment's limitations
by certifying to Congress that the deployment of the unit or member is
necessary.   The military departments also are provided waiver authority
for individual volunteers who seek to redeploy before the expiration of
the mandated time between deployments.

**[Updated language per conversation with Sec. Gates]{.underline}:**
After a conversation with Secretary of Defense Gates this week, Senator
Webb accommodated his concerns with implementation by adding a 120-day
enactment period. This will allow time for the Pentagon to plan,
organize, and implement the new rotation policies. Previously, the
amendment would have been effective immediately upon passage of the
National Defense Authorization Act.

The amendment also was modified to provide an **[exemption for Special
Operations Forces]{.underline}**. This exemption recognizes the often
erratic nature of their rotation cycles, unique operations, and special
requirements

## **RATIONALE**

** **

After four and a half years of combat operations, as the political
debate continues we must provide our troops and their families with a
more predictable operational tempo, with adequate time at home between
deployments.

 

We are burning out our ground forces.  We are seeing this in falling
retention of experienced combat veterans, soldiers and Marines being
recalled to active duty from the Individual Ready Reserve, and an
increase in mental health issues arising from multiple deployments to
Iraq and Afghanistan. 

## **CO-SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS**

** **

The amendment had 36 cosponsors when it was originally introduced in
July. A total of 56 Senators voted for its passage, including 7
Republicans. Momentum continues to build.

**Organizational Support and others:**

-   Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and its 368,000
    members *\["If we are not better stewards of our troops and their
    families in the future than we have been in the recent past, MOAA
    believes strongly that we will be putting the all-volunteer force at
    unacceptable military risk."* Vice Admiral Norbert R. Ryan, Jr, USN
    (Ret.), president.\]

-   National Military Families Association

-   Veterans for America

-   VoteVets.org

-   Major General Robert B. Newman Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia

## **KEY POINTS MADE IN REMARKS BY SENATORS WEBB & HAGEL**

** **

-   Regardless of your politics---whether you want to see troop
    withdrawal tomorrow or in years from now---**[this is about
    providing a safety net]{.underline}** for our men and women in
    uniform. Period.

-   After 4 ½ years of occupying Iraq, **[it is time for the
    availability of troops to dictate the operational tempo, and not the
    other way around]{.underline}**. We need to be proper stewards of
    our men and women in uniform. We cannot continue to burn out our
    troops in this fashion.

-   Extended, high-tempo deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan have
    adversely affected the readiness of Army and Marine Corps units.
    Their capability to respond quickly to other crises or contingencies
    around the world has been jeopardized.

-   **[The amendment's 1:1 deployment-to-dwell ratio for active units
    and members is a minimum floor]{.underline}**. DOD's historic policy
    and current goal is a ratio of 1:2. The Commandant of the Marine
    Corps has specifically reiterated this goal. Army units today deploy
    on a 0.75: 1 ratio, 15 months with 12 months at home. It is not
    unusual for Marines also to have less time at home than the length
    of their last deployment. By contrast, the British units deployed to
    Iraq have enjoyed a 4:1 ratio -- six months in Iraq and two years at
    home.

-   **[The authority vested in the Congress by the Constitution is
    clear]{.underline}**. Article One, Section 8 of the Constitution
    vests Congress with the power to "make Rules for the Government and
    Regulation of the land and naval Forces." There is extensive
    legislative precedent for Congress to act to protect the welfare of
    our troops. In 1951, for example, at the height of the Korean War,
    Congress mandated that all personnel must receive full training for
    no less than 120 days before being deployed.

-   **[In response to Friday's remarks by Secretary Gates and General
    Pace]{.underline}:** It is to be fully expected that the
    administration would oppose this amendment.  The intention of the
    amendment is to rectify an inequity brought about by administration
    policies.  Senator Webb had a personal discussion with Secretary
    Gates on Wednesday and modified the amendment to address his major
    concerns. It is an appropriate area for Congress to act, and we
    stand by the amendment.