Army Will Study Accelerating Growth To Ease Troop Strain

[sabra]

Source: WSJ

WASHINGTON -- The Army's new top general asked its personnel officials to look into whether the Army can add soldiers more quickly in coming years, to reduce the strain on the force caused by multiple rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gen. George Casey, who was sworn in last week as chief of staff, asked senior Army officials to explore whether 10,000 soldiers a year could be added to the overall force, up from the current growth rate of about 7,000 a year, officials said.

The request by Gen. Casey underscores the concern among senior generals that a recent push to beef up the U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan could lead experienced soldiers, weary of multiple deployments, to leave the Army. Increasing the force size at a faster pace could give current troops a bit of a break next year and in 2009.

"He's asking at what pace can we reasonably (grow)? Can we grow faster?" said an official familiar with the plans. No final decisions have been made on whether to accelerate growth, the official said. Under its current plan, the force would total about 547,000 soldiers by 2012, up from 507,000 today.

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[babylonsister]

1. Need more warm bodies, though recruitment is down, from what I

understand. But perish the thought of mentioning the "d" word. I can't see how considering a draft could make this mess any worse than it already is. The only positive might be to stop the madness.

[acmavm]

2. The best thing that could happen to us right now is if these

arrogant idiot bastards would ramp up the draft.

Then you'd see some marching in the streets especially if they drew the number of some of our rah-rah war supporters from the site that shalt not be named. Time to level the playing field.

This administration knows that there is no way that their 'base' is gonna sign up. That must drive them nuts because we all know that 'their kind' don't fight in wars, they stay here and give directions.

[saigon68]

9. Maybe they can recruit some sadists from the prisons

Kind of like a dirty dozen plot

They could call it the "DIRTY THOUSANDS"

[Ganja Ninja]

3. Calling all college republicans!

Uncle Dick needs you. It's vital you complete the mission in Iraq. We're just starting to make progress. Nows your chance! Take the battle of ideas to the streets of Iraq.

[gratuitous]

5. And calling all the chickenhawk war-mongers

Your country, your war, and your cause need you now more than ever. Today, Rush. Today, Sean. Today, Bill. Begin today urging your loyal listeners to sign up, put their keisters on the line to save America in its existential struggle against whatever it is you're struggling against.

How odd that more loyal listeners to the war-drummers aren't signing up to fight.

[LiberalFighter]

13. I think the character in National Lampoon would be the perfect candidate

Remember the episode where he was hit by a golf ball during ROTC drills?

[Solly Mack]

4. Why not end the senseless wars?

just a thought...

[Kolesar]

6. Double the pay and defund the nuclear subs &warheads, "Star Wars", supersonic interceptors, ...

... ineffective spy satellites (CIA budget), and the "new" aircraft carriers under development.

[High Plains]

7. Better yet, how about a non-imperialist foreign policy...

...that doesn't depend on being the planet's most hypertrophied military machine.

[annabanana]

8. " Accelerating Growth " The phrase makes me cringe. .

What does it really mean? Less training time? Fewer resources per person?

[MGD]

10. Lowering recruitment standards some more, involuntary call up of prior service members,

more aggresive use of the stop loss policy; increasing the size of enlistment bonuses and increasing recruitment activity in economically depressed areas of the country.

[TexasLawyer]

11. and probably recruiting mercenaries from other countries

[MGD]

15. School of the Amerrica's style perhaps

[kineneb]

16. added fertilizer?

I read the title and somehow visualized the military using Miracle Grow. Sounds like they are desperate.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Time for cloning

Question is who will they use as their model? Bush?

[bemildred]

14. I understand the Navy and Air Force still have a lot of people in them ... nt