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WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 20, 2009) - The Army
announced today that Soldiers affected by "Stop-Loss" will begin
receiving $500 per month soon, and the Total Army will gradually
reduce the number of those affected by the program that
involuntarily extends Soldiers beyond the end of their enlistment
or retirement dates in units deploying to combat areas.
Under a comprehensive plan to reduce Stop-Loss, the Army Reserve
will begin mobilizing units without Stop-Loss in August 2009,
followed by the Army National Guard in September 2009. The Active
Army will begin deploying units without Stop-Loss beginning in
January 2010, according to Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, Deputy Chief
of Staff for Personnel.
"The Army has used Stop-Loss since 2001 to ensure that units
that have trained together remain together in combat, and that they
have the qualified and experienced troops necessary for the full
spectrum of military operations," Chief of Staff of the Army Gen.
George W. Casey, Jr. said.
"With conditions changing in Iraq, a gradual restoration of
balance between deployments, and an increase in the size of the
Army, we'll now be able to begin weaning ourselves off of
Stop-Loss," Gen. Casey said.
There are approximately 13,000 stop-lossed Soldiers across all
three Army components. In the Active Army, there are 7,307; 4,458
in the Army National Guard; and 1,452 in the Army Reserve.
"Stop-Loss is a legal tool that has allowed the Army to sustain
a force that has trained together as a cohesive element. Losses
caused by separation, retirement, and reassignments can adversely
affect training, cohesion, readiness, and stability in deploying
units. Limiting the use of Stop-Loss balances the need for unit
effectiveness against the impact on individual Soldiers and their
Families," Gen. Casey said.
Before 2001, the Army used Stop-Loss in 1990-91 during Operation
Desert Shield and Desert Storm. At that time, Executive Order
12728, dated August 22, 1990, gave Stop Loss authority to the
Secretary of Defense to suspend any provision of law relating to
retirement or separation applicable to any member of the armed
forces determined to be essential to the national security of the
United States. This authority remains in effect.
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