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U.S. to increase size of army by 22,000

by albertacowpoke | July 21, 2009 at 02:46 am

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Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, announced on Monday that the U.S. Army will increase its overall strength by 22,000 soldiers.

The U.S. Army has an overall strength of 547,000. 130,000 are still serving in Iraq, while the strength in Afghanistan is expected to rise to 68,000 by the end of the year.

The pace of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has swollen the ranks of injured and stressed soldiers, reducing the number of troops available for deployment, Gates noted.

Gates said the increased numbers will help reduce the pressures of multiple rotations, easing the unpopular practice of keeping soldiers on active duty past their enlistment dates.

This is an interesting development, since troops shifted from Iraq were to supplement the surge in Afghanistan. Apparently Iraq is also far from completed.

The U.S. recently launched Operation Strike of the Sword in Hellmand Province, an operation which is intended to win the hearts and minds of the Afghanistan people.

The United States will temporarily increase the size of its army by 22,000 soldiers to deal with demands placed on the force by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Monday.

The U.S. army currently has a total troop strength of 547,000. Roughly 130,000 are serving in Iraq, while the troop numbers in Afghanistan will rise to 68,000 by the end of the year.

It's the second time since 2007 the army's size has been increased.

The pace of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has swollen the ranks of injured and stressed soldiers, reducing the number of troops available for deployment, Gates noted.

Gates said the increased numbers will help reduce the pressures of multiple rotations, easing the unpopular practice of keeping soldiers on active duty past their enlistment dates.

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Paschen

at 05:11 on July 21st, 2009

Why does the US want more Soldiers?

Even with injured and other factors this Army is to large as is and should be down sized not increased.

Roy C

at 07:51 on July 21st, 2009

Lots of unemployed young men need jobs, but this cannot go on.

Why are there troops in Germany still? And why so many in South Korea?

albertacowpoke

at 08:00 on July 21st, 2009

It makes one wonder why there is an increase now, since the shift to Afghanistan was to come from Iraq. I don't know the exact number of troops left in Germany, but I do believe the majority provide logistics support to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rhein/Main Airbase in Frankfurt would be a major transportation hub.