Rest and recovery benefits for soldiers during deployment

Rest and Recuperation: Examining the Benefit for Soldiers During Deployment

The focus of this work in writing is the examination of the difference between that soldier that takes rest and recuperation (R&R) and a soldier that does not take rest and recuperation (R&R) and specifically the effect upon the soldier's morale during work duty. It is reported in a U.S. Army Memorandum of March 2009 that rest and recuperation (R&R) Leave is a privilege, not an entitlement and is determined by the unit commander "subject to operational and mission constraints. In order to be eligible for the R&R Leave program there are certain requirements that must be met. Those requirements are stated to be as follows: (1) service members or DoD Civilians must be serving in an area that is dependent-restricted or designated for Hostile Fire of Imminent Danger Pay; and (2) service members of DoD Civilians must be in an area where official or unofficial travel is controlled and where ordinary/annual leave programs have been restricted for reasons of military necessity. ( ) There are other stated requirements as well including the authorization of one 15 day R&R leave if projected to serve 270 days boots on ground in theater or one 19 R&R leave if deployed for a 15 months tour. These leaves must be taken "in a single block of time" and not broken into separate period of leave.

I. The Forward Operating Base

The work of Wong and Gerras (2006) entitled: "CU @ the FOB: How the Forward Operating Base is Changing the Life of Combat Soldiers" reports that the Forward Operating Base (FOB) has become the 'home away from home' for the American soldier. It has evolved to a place where many of the stresses, frustrations, and discomforts commonly though endemic in the combat soldier's life are mitigated." FOBs are additionally stated to be "refuges from danger, places of renewal for physical needs, a respite from the mental stresses of battle and finally, a means for soldiers to stay connected with the world outside Iraq." (Wong and Gerras, 2006) FOBs offer the soldiers a change to "renew their fighting spirit and also find a psychological escape from the rigors of battle." (Wong and Gerras, 2006) There are stated to be two "distinct realms" in the lives of soldiers serving in Iraq: (1) constantly scanning the area of Iraqi neighborhoods for suspicious activity, weapons locked and loaded for action and adrenaline pumping situations; and (2) life on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) -- catching up on sleep, pumping iron in the gym, and surfing the Internet. (Wong and Gerras, 2006)

II. Factors that Drive the Need for R&R

The physical factors that influence the behavior of soldiers in combat includes those of "...combat existence: the weight of the pack, tasteless food, diarrhea, lack of water, leeches, mosquitoes, rain, torrid heat, mud and loss of sleep." (Wong and Gerras, 2006) There are further emotional factors such as exhaustion in combat.

III. R&R Activities