Final answer:
Soldiers are typically required to review their ISOPREP before travel, and failing to do so could risk mission readiness and result in disciplinary action. The U.S. military emphasizes readiness, as reflected in the increased operational commitments, and overseas deployments are subject to congressional oversight.
Step-by-step explanation:
Soldiers are often required to maintain readiness for travel outside the United States as part of their duties. ISOPREP (Isolated Personnel Report) is a data collection tool used to assist in the recovery and identification of personnel such as soldiers in the event of isolation, potential capture, or detention during operations. Although there is no specific time frame provided, soldiers are typically instructed to review or update their ISOPREP within certain days before departure. Failure to do so could hinder the recovery process and potentially place soldiers and their units at risk by not having current information available. In such cases, a soldier may face administrative or disciplinary action, and a delay in their travel may occur until the ISOPREP has been properly reviewed and updated.
The importance of ISOPREP is underscored by the operational commitments of the U.S. military. For example, the slogan "One weekend a month, two weeks a year" has increasingly become outdated, especially with the operational tempo exemplified during conflicts like the Iraq War. There has been a shift towards requiring more commitment from reservists and National Guard personnel, as seen with the Army's top general in July 2012 stating the intention to increase drill requirements up to seven weeks per year.
Further, when soldiers are deployed for hostile reasons, presidents are mandated to seek congressional confirmation within 48 hours and obtain congressional approval for deployments beyond 60 days.