{"id":12916,"date":"2021-02-18T16:12:47","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T16:12:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/18\/army-taking-a-hard-look-at-what-end-strength-it-can-actually-afford\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:40:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:40:39","slug":"army-taking-a-hard-look-at-what-end-strength-it-can-actually-afford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2021\/02\/18\/army-taking-a-hard-look-at-what-end-strength-it-can-actually-afford\/","title":{"rendered":"Army \u2018taking a hard look\u2019 at what end-strength it can actually afford"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the Army faces tighter budgets in the coming years, keen observers wonder whether ambitious modernization programs will be curtailed to make way for end-strength growth, or vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like a much bigger Army, but what I have to do at my level is say, you know, what can we actually afford,\u201d Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said Wednesday during a virtual discussion hosted by the Heritage Foundation. \u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re taking a hard look at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service\u2019s studies suggest that more soldiers are needed to meet the demand from combatant commands. In recent months, McConville has expressed concern about the operations tempo<\/a> already placed on air defense and armored brigades, as well as the force at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to every single area and taking a look at where we could find the money to modernize the Army. I believe we absolutely must do that,\u201d McConville added. \u201cAt the same time, the end-strength we have is what we need to keep, and we got to make sure that every one of those soldiers that we send into harm\u2019s way is trained so we\u2019ve got to maintain the readiness also.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army leaders told Congress<\/a> in March 2020 that 74 percent of active duty brigade combat teams were at the highest levels of tactical readiness, an improvement over the poor readiness<\/a> metrics reported in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The active duty Army met its end-strength<\/a> goal last year of 485,000 soldiers. The service is now planning for a goal of 486,000 soldiers in fiscal 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeyond that, we project sustained growth of 1,000-1,500 Soldiers per year,\u201d said Lt. Col. Junel Jeffrey, an Army personnel issues spokeswoman. \u201cThis measured approach focuses on getting the right people with the right skills in the right jobs and is a key part of putting people first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t