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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi military improving, but still plagued by absenteeism |
| 2005-07-24 |
| The Iraq Army continues to be plagued by absenteeism and equipment shortages, but at a far lower level than that during 2004. A U.S. Defense Department report said Iraqi military and security forces have achieved significant progress over the last year. The report said this has included the easing of equipment shortages and absenteeism. "Although there is variance in the rate of absenteeism, AWOL [Absent-without-leave], attrition, and desertion among the Iraqi Army, rates have diminished significantly and are now around one percent for some divisions," the report said. "Still, unitsthat are conducting operations and units that relocate elsewhere in Iraq experience a surge in absenteeism." The report said the Iraq Army has obtained 60 percent of its equipment authorization. The army has more than 100 percent of its AK-47 assault rifle requirements. In all, the army has 76,000 troops. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #5 The Special Forces soldiers at Balad talked frankly about the pace of progress and challenges they face with training the new Iraqi forces. They recounted that many Iraqi soldiers and police officers are apparently losing much of their salaries to corrupt superiors who skim the payroll, leaving the soldiers and police to steal from civilians. This can be attributed to culture and custom and it's bound to disturb many people in the west. from Michael Yon's online journal Not going to reduce absenteeism if you keep stealing their pay. |
| Posted by: Hupavith Gletle6588 2005-07-24 09:15 |
| #4 being an all volenter force will make a huge differance in the long run.Instead of an army of reluctant conscripts they will have an army of dedicated,professional patriots. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-07-24 08:34 |
| #3 During the American Revolution absenteeism was also a problem (as well as equipment shortages, of course). In doing genealogical research I commonly find reference to it. Actually, I find it during the Civil War as well. I don't have any statistics, and maybe it only seems common because it's one of the few things for which documents were created. On the other hand, maybe it really was common, and it was because being on home ground made it easy. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2005-07-24 08:16 |
| #2 Yes, but corruption is starting to take hold again like a cancer. It needs to be cut out early and rechecked often to avoid undermining the health of the body. |
| Posted by: Hupavith Gletle6588 2005-07-24 08:12 |
| #1 ...units that are conducting operations and units that relocate elsewhere in Iraq experience a surge in absenteeism." In other news: Water = wet Pope = Catholic Bears = well, you get the idea. By the standards of this part of the world, the IA is turning in a stellar performance. Bear in mind that the Jundis (Iraqui for private) are for the most part semiliterate dirt farmers (in my A. O. at least) who are still getting used to the idea of honorable military service. They are in addition busy fighting a conflict that is halfway between a civil war and an insurgency. In this light, the AWOL/desertion numbers are fantastic. |
| Posted by: N Guard 2005-07-24 06:56 |