Bush Signs Defense Bill

Service members will receive a 3.9-percent pay raise on Jan. 1, under the 2009 defense authorization bill which President Bush signed into law on Oct. 14. The measure also authorizes $66 billion to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army and Marine Corps strength will rise as well. The bill authorizes the Army to increase the active duty force to 547,400 soldiers; the Marine Corps will increase to 202,000.