OUR ARMY

I've written before (here and here) about the tremendous strain our ground forces are under and now we have the same assessment from the Army's Chief of Staff:


Army chief seeks more forces, reserves

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
Dec 14, 9:09 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army's top general warned on Thursday that his force "will break" without thousands more active duty troops and greater use of the reserves.

Noting the strain put on the force by operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker said he wants to increase his half-million-member Army beyond the 30,000 troops already authorized in recent years.

"Over the last five years, the sustained strategic demand ... is placing a strain on the Army's all-volunteer force," Schoomaker told the commission in a Capitol Hill hearing. He added, "At this pace ... we will break the active component" unless reserves can be called up more to help.