During the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, Senator Collins explained that the 94th Military Police Company, which includes reserve soldiers from Maine, has been mobilized for 2 ½ of the past four years, having served over a year in Iraq and 9 months in Bosnia before that. Upon learning that the deployment of this unit has been extended for a second time, Senator Collins has asked Pentagon officials to ensure that they are able to return home as quickly as possible and that they receive additional compensation for their extended tours of duty.
"The extended time in the Middle East has been devastating to the families and demoralizing to many of the soldiers who serve in this unit," said Senator Collins. She asked whether the Pentagon is considering additional compensation to members of the units whose service abroad has been extended.
General Myers responded to the Senator by saying the Pentagon is authorized to provide these soldiers with additional compensation and plans to do so.
Senator Collins also pointed out that the Department of Defense has repeatedly redeployed the same units over and over again, which suggests that we have the "wrong mix of skills" in our armed forces. She expressed concern about the military's ability to recruit and retain skilled reservists and guard members in the future if the current rate of deployment continues.
Both General Myers and Secretary Wolfowitz responded to Senator Collins by conceding that certain skills, such as those possessed by members of the 94th Military Police Company are in short supply and that the military is working on a plan to train an additional 100,000 active duty troops to fill some of these roles.