WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Army officials have told a Senate panel that the Army is under serious strain and must reduce the length of combat tours as soon as possible. Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, said "the cumulative effects of the last six-plus years at war have left our Army out of balance."
Casey told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that cutting the time soldiers spend in combat is an integral part of reducing the stress on the force. He said he anticipates the service can cut combat tours from 15 months to 12 months this year, so long as the president reduces the number of Army brigades in Iraq to 15 units by July as planned.