Can the Army Fill Its Ranks?

It’s not clear how the continuing decline in manning will impact operations, though service officials insist that the Army will be able to meet all of its requirements with fewer troops, indicating that a potential restructuring of brigade combat teams could help. Other efforts are underway to bolster recruiting efforts, like resurrecting the classic “be all you can be” marketing slogan and the service’s Future Soldier Preparatory Course. But experts are worried about the potential strain on the force.

End strength is supposed to be tied to requirements,” said Katherine Kuzminski of the Center for a New American Security think tank. “And so the question becomes: if the end strength is reduced, are the requirements reduced?”

Read the full story and more from the Army Times.