Different tours of duty hamper morale

ALBUQUERQUE, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff told airmen at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico that varied tour lengths hurt combat zone morale.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace said overall morale is good but military personnel are bothered by inconsistent tours of duty which he finds to be the No. 1 morale buster.

The Army has a tour length of one year, while Marines are in country for seven months and Navy and Air Force tours are four or six months, the Armed Forces Press Service reported.

"It doesn't compute in peoples' minds and hearts," Pace said.