A new, shortened deployment cycle scheduled to begin next year will not affect the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion’s coming fall deployment to Iraq, Fort Stewart officials said.

“Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the Army will transition to nine-month deployments, ‘boots on the ground’ policy,” Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said. “The 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters will begin deploying to Iraq later this year before the new policy is implemented. Because the division headquarters is deploying before the implementation of the new policy, it falls under the current policy of 12-month deployments.

“Although we don’t know at this time how long the 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters will be deployed, our soldiers and families should be prepared for a yearlong deployment.”

Army Secretary John M. McHugh signed the directive last week to shorten deployment cycles.

Read more in the Aug. 13 edition of the News.