Army may handle future deployments differently in Afghanistan

Army Reserve units such as the Decorah-based 322nd Engineering Battalion have been getting sent on year-long deployments to Afghanistan.  But that practice may be changing in the future.

Because the deployments have gone on for so many months, the Army has been sending soldiers back to the United States for a two-week break during the middle of their deployment.

That practice is expensive, however, so Army officials have begun more often to order six or eight-month deployments in Afghanistan.

As a result, any R & R for the soldiers is being done inside Afghanistan and for just several days, instead of several weeks.

The Army called on the 322nd Engineers to help with this transition.  A number of soldiers in the unit built several buildings for an R & R facility within FOB Walton.  The buildings are equipped with dining areas, computers and exercise equipment.  Soldiers will come in from the field, live in the facility for several days, then head back out on deployment.

Dining hall

Exercise equipment

Computers

Supplies for the R & R facility