Post by peterd on May 30, 2012 5:15:50 GMT -8
May 30, 2012: In 2010, the U.S. Army met a Congressional order to increase their strength to 570,000 troops. The army did this ahead of schedule, despite having told the politicians that the additional troops would not be needed by the time (several years later) they were recruited and trained. Then, when the politicians realized that the war in Iraq had unexpectedly been won (because politicians were listening to the media rather than the troops), they ordered a sharp cut in the new army strength. Army personnel strength must now be cut 14 percent over the next five years.
Making these cuts has proved more difficult than anticipated. That's because the continued recession in the United States, and an unemployment rate stuck at more than eight percent, means more soldiers are trying to stay in the army. Troops were also aware of that fact that the unemployment for civilians in their age bracket is about 18 percent, while it is 29 percent for recently discharged soldiers. Many troops choose to use their GI Bill benefits and go to college or trade school, but many more would prefer to stay in the army a few more years.
www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20120530.aspx
Making these cuts has proved more difficult than anticipated. That's because the continued recession in the United States, and an unemployment rate stuck at more than eight percent, means more soldiers are trying to stay in the army. Troops were also aware of that fact that the unemployment for civilians in their age bracket is about 18 percent, while it is 29 percent for recently discharged soldiers. Many troops choose to use their GI Bill benefits and go to college or trade school, but many more would prefer to stay in the army a few more years.
www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20120530.aspx