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Gates Calls for Increase of 22,000 Soldiers
American Forces Press Service ^ | John J. Kruzel

Posted on 07/20/2009 4:42:31 PM PDT by SandRat

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today announced plans to add up to 22,000 soldiers to the U.S. Army’s ranks.

The plus-up of active duty troops will take the Army from 547,000 to 569,000 forces in what Gates characterized as a temporary increase of the Army’s “end strength” for three fiscal years.

“This is an important and necessary step to ensure that we continue to properly support the needs of our commanders in the field while providing relief for our current force and their families,” the secretary told reporters during a Pentagon news conference.

Gates pointed to escalating violence in Afghanistan and an added U.S. presence there, political turmoil in Pakistan and elimination of the so-called “stop-loss” policy of involuntarily extending a soldier’s length of service as reasons behind the decision.

“The cumulative effect of these factors is that the Army faces a period where its ability to continue to deploy combat units at acceptable ‘fill rates’ is at risk,” he said. “Based on current deployment estimates, this is a temporary challenge which will peak in the coming year and abate over the course of the next three years.”

Some 130,000 American forces are in Iraq and 58,000 are in Afghanistan, where an influx of deploying troops will bring the number to 68,000 by the end of this year, defense officials said.

“These additional forces will be used to ensure that our deploying units are properly manned, and not to create new combat formations,” the defense secretary said, adding that the decision was made after consulting with the Army’s top military and civilian leadership and with the backing of President Barack Obama.

Gates, who has described the defense budget as “zero sum,” said the cost of the Army increase would be absorbed in funding already allocated in the budget for the next two fiscal years.

“We will take that money from someplace that isn’t as high a priority as [adding] more soldiers and taking some additional steps to relieve the stress on the force,” he said. “This is a very high priority.”

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared alongside Gates today, and also weighed in on the decision.

“I’ve grown increasingly concerned over the last year and a half about stress on the force and our ability to meet the demands out there,” he said. “This temporary increase helps us address that concern. It will also help us get a better handle on [time at home between deployments] and boost the number of people we can deploy with the capabilities our commanders most need.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; frwn; strength; troop
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1 posted on 07/20/2009 4:42:32 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; freekitty; majhenrywest; ...
FR WAR NEWS!
If you would like to be added to / removed from FRWN,
please FReepmail Sandrat.

WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!

2 posted on 07/20/2009 4:43:03 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: SandRat

22,000 soldiers is a division. I presume he will have these operating as independent brigades.


3 posted on 07/20/2009 4:44:45 PM PDT by rmlew ( The SAVE and GIVE acts are institutioning Corvee. Where's the outtrage!)
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To: SandRat

Hope and Change to believe in.


4 posted on 07/20/2009 4:47:14 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: SandRat

I guess he’s forgotten there’s no draft.

I’m way beyond enlistment age, but I’d not be in any hurry to sign up for a stint under 0bama’s “leadership”.


5 posted on 07/20/2009 4:49:03 PM PDT by hotshu (Keep the Faith, that will be the only thing 0bama doesn't take from us.)
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To: SandRat

What a lapdog.


6 posted on 07/20/2009 4:49:36 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: SandRat

Start sending congressman and see how fast this nonsense stops.


7 posted on 07/20/2009 4:51:57 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: hotshu

I would not sign up either. zer0 can’t come up with a birth certificate, I could not come up with the time.


8 posted on 07/20/2009 5:01:03 PM PDT by reefdiver (So how's that HOPE & CHANGE working out for ya ?)
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To: rmlew

No new force structure with this increase. The numbers will just be used to ensure that existing units can be filled to authorized strength, especially those scheduled to deploy. Soldiers who are non deployable, at the end of their enlistment, and various other issues mean that its been tough to fill deploying units.

Army will grow to 45 brigades from current total of 43. Original plan was to grow to 48 brigades. Even that number is at least four light brigades short of what’s needed.


9 posted on 07/20/2009 5:05:45 PM PDT by centurion316
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To: SandRat

He may need to draft them.


10 posted on 07/20/2009 5:09:16 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: onedoug

What Rangle wants is a return to the Draft.


11 posted on 07/20/2009 5:10:04 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: hotshu

I am still within age range but would not pass a physical based due to a few minor problems. Being in a force at the command of the 0 is something is something I would have to be drafted for.


12 posted on 07/20/2009 5:16:10 PM PDT by wally_bert (My doctor says that I have a malformed public-duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fibre)
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To: SandRat
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today announced plans to add up to 22,000 soldiers.

Right...and they are going to start up increased recruitment by banning smoking in the military.

What A$$HATS...and they are responsible for out country's security???

GOD help us all.

13 posted on 07/20/2009 5:21:10 PM PDT by GoldenPup
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To: SandRat

jobs, jobs, jobs.


14 posted on 07/20/2009 5:24:59 PM PDT by dforest (Who is the real Jim Thompson? I am.)
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To: SandRat

Wow, Code Pink and all of the other anti-war groups will be hitting the streets in protest any day now. Oh wait, a Democrat is in the White House. Nevermind.


15 posted on 07/20/2009 5:29:25 PM PDT by Jackson57
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To: SandRat

What ever happened to Gen Jones (NSA) moment in Afghanstn where he said the brass would get a “WTF” answer from Obama if they asked for more troops? Gates and Jones should go to a local bar, have a drink and figure out how to win this war ‘cause Obambi hasn’t a freakin’ CLUE!!!!!!! And the new protest for increase in troops should be “NMK” - Not My Kid!!!!!


16 posted on 07/20/2009 5:38:53 PM PDT by matginzac
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To: SandRat
We need to create a military force made up by congress,the executive branch and the judicial branch and O on a white horse.They make the laws so they can fight the wars while we cheer them on.
17 posted on 07/20/2009 5:45:04 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: taxtruth

PS!They think we are their slave warriors for their dirty deeds.We are not!


18 posted on 07/20/2009 5:48:13 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: centurion316

Eligibility criteria may have to be diluted. :-(


19 posted on 07/20/2009 5:57:19 PM PDT by verity
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To: SandRat

20 posted on 07/20/2009 6:04:16 PM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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