Tanya from Colorado Springs

My name is Tanya and I am a high school student in Colorado Springs. I come from a military family. Both of my parents are in the Army. In November, they will both leave for Iraq again. The army has the longest tours and they will both be gone for a year. It is hard on me and my relatives when they are gone. I have to bounce from house to house.

My idea is to make tours shorter and limit the total number of tours soldiers must complete.  If the tours were only 6 months instead of a year, my parents wouldn't have to miss both Christmas and my birthday.

Ideas in Action:

• Issues: Responsible Redeployment from Iraq

Filed in: Make Your Mark > Foreign Affairs