Armed Forces News

Instead of pushing for a permanent troop-level increase, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has authorized the Army to temporarily exceed end strength limits by 30,000. The Military Officers Association of America questions the numbers, stating that the Army already is some 17,000 over end strength, which would bring the actual increase to 13,000. Furthermore, says MOAA, the new plan calls for continuation of stop-loss policies through 2005, and assumes continued high (or even increased) retention rates. With stop-loss in place, it’s difficult to judge just how many troops would leave if they could. The association stated that MOAA and The Military Coalition have pushed Congress for end strength increases for the last several years, and now the active duty, Guard and Reserve troops are paying a heavy price. “Are another 13,000 troops above current levels, added over five years, going to solve that problem?” asks MOAA.