" (Wong and Gerras, 2006) There are stated to be two "distinct realms" in the lives of soldiers serving in Iraq: (1) constantly scanning the area of Iraqi neighborhoods for suspicious activity, weapons locked and loaded for action and adrenaline pumping situations; and (2) life on the Forward Operating Base (FOB) -- catching up on sleep, pumping iron in the gym, and surfing the Internet. (Wong and Gerras, 2006) II. Factors that Drive the Need for R&R

The physical factors that influence the behavior of soldiers in combat includes those of "...combat existence: the weight of the pack, tasteless food, diarrhea, lack of water, leeches, mosquitoes, rain, torrid heat, mud and loss of sleep." (Wong and Gerras, 2006) There are further emotional factors such as exhaustion in combat.

III. R&R Activities

R&R activities are inclusive of simple ones such as catching up on sleep and being removed from pervasive fear of immediate and lethal attacks upon their lives. Furthermore, the creature comforts of comfortable...

March 2006. Online available at: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/pub645.pdf
Rest and Recuperation (R&R) Leave Policy and Procedures (2009) ARCENT. Online available at: http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/ctf-ia/documents/R&R%20Leave%20Policy.pdf