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The Army Wants You. 30,000 More of You.

Pentagon says Army is overstretched

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 25, 2008 5:39 AM CST
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(Newser) – The US Army wants you, and about 30,000 of your friends, if it's going to fight effectively in Afghanistan and Iraq and complete other missions around the world, reports the Washington Post. Increased demands are being made on troops in places like Africa, Korea, and cyberspace, and while the down economy is boosting recruiting efforts, officials say current growth plans are insufficient.

"We are already stretched now. You can't do what we've been tasked to do with the number of people we have," says the undersecretary of the Army. "You can see a point where it's going to be very difficult to cope. Logistics issues in Afghanistan are just stunning."


US soldiers get special forces training. The pentagon says the Army is stretched and needs at least 30,000 additional recruits.
US soldiers get special forces training. The pentagon says the Army is stretched and needs at least 30,000 additional recruits.   (AP Photo/U.S. Army, Staff Sgt. Corey T. Dennis)
A soldier torches an area used by Iraqi insurgents as a hiding place with a flame thrower. The Pentagon says the Army is undermanned and needs 30,000 new recruits.
A soldier torches an area used by Iraqi insurgents as a hiding place with a flame thrower. The Pentagon says the Army is undermanned and needs 30,000 new recruits.   (AP Photo/U.S. Army, Sgt. Whitney Houston, HO)
US soldiers take cover from snipers in Baghdad. The Pentagon says the Army is undermanned and needs 30,000 new recruits.
US soldiers take cover from snipers in Baghdad. The Pentagon says the Army is undermanned and needs 30,000 new recruits.   (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Jan 29, 2009 3:39 AM CST
Now that the economy is in the tank, maybe the Army will benefit from the jobless rate. Try recruiting on Wall Street. Perhaps that was the Republican plan all along...
Shannonals
Dec 27, 2008 3:29 AM CST
Hopefully the new ongoing cabinet will ensure VA hospitals are kept uptodate

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Iraq • Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Pentagon • Donald Rumsfeld • cyberwarfare • recruitment • US Army • troop levels • homeland defense • Nelson Ford • intelligence-gathering • Fort Stewart

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