Washington ? Tens of thousands of American soldiers are expected to get brief vacations from the war in Iraq under the first large-scale R&R program since Vietnam.

The first 270 troops were flown Thursday out of the region en route to Germany and the United States, taking leave from deployments that are turning out to be longer and tougher than expected.

The program was ordered to provide relief for forces serving 12-month tours of duty in the hot, dangerous and sometimes primitive conditions in Iraq, as well as those in support roles in neighboring countries. That means it is available to the vast majority of the more than 130,000 troops deployed there.

“Fatigue in the force exists … especially where there is a lot of fighting going on,” said Gen. John Abizaid, head of all forces in the region as commander of the U.S. Central Command.

Abizaid cited the program Thursday in response to a complaint by Democratic Florida Sen. Bill Nelson that there was inequity in the length of service among deployed troops. Abizaid told the Senate Armed Services Committee that some troops have been getting leaves of a few days to countries neighboring Iraq to “get away from the combat zone … relax, take a shower, have a beer.”

The new rest and relaxation leaves announced Thursday will mean offers of 15-day vacations, some with paid transportation, for every soldier, sailor, airman or Marine staying in region for a year, said Marine Maj. Pete Mitchell, a Central Command spokesman.

The first planeload was on the way to Germany, where other forces are normally stationed. An unknown number of the 270 on that flight were to get off there and the rest were to continue to Baltimore, arriving today, Mitchell said.

The government pays for the flights to Germany and Baltimore. Troops continuing on from there to their homes or other places will cover that expense.

The program will start slowly, and eventually the military hopes to also provide flights to Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles. Eventually, some 750 people are expected to fly in and out of the Iraq region daily, said Army spokesman Joe Burlas.

U.S. soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division sit on a helicopter during a concert by Bruce Willis at Taal Afar airfield, 280 miles north of Baghdad. Thousands of U.S. soldiers will get brief vacations from service through a new relief program.