Obama Agenda Focuses on Manpower, Families

The new Obama administration promises take steps to end stop-loss, support expansion of the Army and Marine Corps, replace aging ships, continue support for air tanker, transport, and unmanned vehicle programs, and review pending and existing weapons programs. The Army would gain 65,000 more soldiers while the Marines would see their ranks expand by 27,000. Support for the missile defense program would likely continue, but with what the new administration terms as a more “pragmatic” approach. Details are outlined in a statement on the executive branch’s Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/defense/.