Sequester Cuts Have An Upside For Fort Campbell Soliders

Fort Campbell is seeing waves of soldiers return from Afghanistan. Most don’t have orders to deploy again, and budget cuts mean they’ll stay at the post longer than expected. But that’s a change many service members like.

Members of the 101st Airborne’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team return to Fort Campbell on May 18. Image: Fort Campbell

Moving is a fact of military life. Soldiers are generally assigned to a single base for about two and a half years. But now, those serving at Ft. Campbell and elsewhere will spend up to four years at the same location.

Sequestration means the Pentagon will lose about 100 million dollars in funding for relocation of service members, according to The Army Times :

“The average enlisted stateside assignment will be lengthened from 30 months to as long as 48 months. The minimum standard for time on station under this initiative will be 36 months, said Col. Bob Bennett, Human Resources Command’s director of enlisted personnel management. The goal is to save money by stretching permanent change-of-station assignments beyond four years.”

The change only applies to bases in the continental US. Those already slated to move won’t be affected.

An informal survey by the Army Times shows many soldiers and their spouses like the idea of staying longer in one place. They say it allows them to put down roots and spend more time with family.

But others noted it’s a bad for those stuck at a post they don’t like and want to transfer.