Canada's top soldier promises not to extend combat rotations

[GAP]

Canada's top soldier promises not to extend combat rotations
Graham Thomson, Canwest News Service Published: Sunday, July 13, 2008
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - On one of the worst days yet for Americans in the Afghanistan conflict, Canada's new top soldier wrapped up a surprise, whirlwind visit to his troops in the country, delivering an upbeat message and making a promise to soldiers in the field: he will not extend the length of their combat rotations.

"Six months is enough due to the amount of risk they are assuming on a daily basis," said Gen. Walter Natynczyk, who arrived in Afghanistan under a cloak of secrecy last Wednesday, July 9, just one week after being sworn in as chief of defence staff.

Journalists embedded with the military were not allowed to mention Natynczyk's visit until he had left the country Sunday evening.
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[GUNS]

Question -Wouldn't extending the stay to nine months, increase the time between rotations? 

Which would mean less time overall in A'stan, over the duration(2011) of the mission.

I heard of people who upon returning, have put there name on the list for the next rotation.

Would one be less at risk doing six month or nine month rotations?

 

[Greymatters]

Journalists embedded with the military were not allowed to mention Natynczyk's visit until he had left the country Sunday evening.

My question is how does this last line contribute to the story?  Sounds more like whining.  God forbid they should print a news article without inserting some slanted viewpoint...

 

[RetiredRoyal]

i haven't been to afghanistan, but i did do a tour in cyprus in the 80's. It was nowhere near the same, but six months was plenty before you want to be around family, live normal for a a while etc...i would have gone back again after a 6 month repat..but i wouldn't have wanted to stay more than 6 months at a time.

Just my opinion.