NorwichDad
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- Apr 6, 2010
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Army chief Gen. Ray Odierno said during a Fort Carson visit he wants 490,000 soldiers in uniform to meet the service's worldwide commitments -- 40,000 more than current cost-cutting plans.
The service's top general said he needs the extra troops because ongoing trouble in Iraq, tensions with Russia and other commitments on five continents.
Budgets passed by Congress require the Army to reach 450,000 troops by 2017, down from a wartime high of 520,000 soldiers on active duty.
Experts noted that the Army declined to specify where about half of the reductions would come from, which some say demonstrated Odierno's reluctance to slim the Army.
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/odierno-renews-call-for-more-troops-1.359548
The service's top general said he needs the extra troops because ongoing trouble in Iraq, tensions with Russia and other commitments on five continents.
Budgets passed by Congress require the Army to reach 450,000 troops by 2017, down from a wartime high of 520,000 soldiers on active duty.
Experts noted that the Army declined to specify where about half of the reductions would come from, which some say demonstrated Odierno's reluctance to slim the Army.
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/odierno-renews-call-for-more-troops-1.359548