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The U.S. Congress typically funds the Active Army manpower program to support a 482,400 force. The Congressionally authorized end strength, however, is now 502,400 with authority to grow to 512,400 through FY09. With 123,000 Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers activated, the Army currently has 616,000 Soldiers on active duty...

Sheesh--the military--particularly the Army--does a terrible job of publicizing what is going right. This article is a great example. Hidden in the above numbers is this:

The United States Army finished the fiscal year ending on 30 September 2005 with an actual "end-strength" of 493,000 soldiers. This is an increase of 10,000 over the fiscal year 2004 authorized end-strength of 482,400.

The Army missed it's recruiting goal for 2005, but re-enlistments were higher than expected to explain the increased strength. Congress has authorized a new end-strength for the Army of 502,400 this year and an increase to 512,400 to be met by fiscal year 2009.