WASHINGTON — The number of soldiers forced to remain in the military past their enlistment period under the government’s “stop-loss” program will be cut in half within 15 months under a new plan that will virtually eliminate the practice within two years, the Defense Department said Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the military would use the involuntary retentions only in “extraordinary” situations and would turn to incentives to encourage people to extend their enlistments.
The announcement came on the same day veterans cheered a White House move away from a proposal that would shift responsibility for veterans care onto insurance companies.
Veterans groups feared the proposal could result in higher health care costs and cuts in service.
The number of soldiers forced to remain in the military past their discharge dates peaked at nearly 16,000 in 2005.
The number was just over 13,000 in January, the latest figures available.
Gates said the number has remained high because of growing demands for troops in Afghanistan.
The military will retain its power to involuntarily keep people in the Army under the new policy, but Gates said it was important to phase out stop-loss because it amounted to “breaking the faith” with soldiers.
“I believe that when somebody’s end date of service comes up, to hold them against their will, if you will, is just not the right thing to do,” Gates said.
Gates and Army officials said the planned reduction of forces in Iraq would allow a move away from the stop-loss policy.
The Army has said the policy was necessary in order to keep units together during deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan. Soldiers who leave just before their unit begins a combat tour force the military to fill gaps with untrained soldiers.
Army officers said that after stop-loss is significantly reduced, they can maintain “unit cohesiveness” by offering incentives.
Under the new policy, the Army Reserve and Army National Guard will mobilize units without resorting to involuntary retentions starting in August and September. The active-duty Army will stop relying on stop-loss in January 2010.
Gates said the regular use of stop-loss will be eliminated across the Army by 2011.
He acknowledged that some soldiers might continue to be involuntarily retained. But he hoped the numbers would be reduced to the “scores,” not the thousands now involuntarily retained.
The Defense Department also announced it would pay retained solders an additional $500 a month, retroactive to October.
