WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Army will add 28,000 soldiers to its ranks by Sept. 30, 2017, officials announced today. The troop increase was directed by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017.
"The Army is hiring. The added end strength will allow the Army to increase manning in its tactical units, enhancing overall readiness," said Maj. Gen. Jason T. Evans, Director, Military Personnel Management. "The increased manning also provides additional promotion opportunities and retention incentives for our existing Soldiers and more opportunities for those who are fit, resilient and possess character who want to join the Army."
Across the force, the active component end-strength authorization increased by 16,000 to 476,000; the Army National Guard increased by 8,000 to 343,000, and the Army Reserve increased by 4,000 to 199,000. This 28,000 increase means the total Army will number 1,018,000 Soldiers.
The Army will conduct a responsible increase with a focus on quality; Soldiers who are resilient, fit and have character. The Army will use a variety of personnel management tools to meet the troop strength requirement, including enlisted accessions, recruitment, training, and retention along with officer accessions and retention. For example, the Army will raise its enlisted accessions mission to 68,500, an increase of 6,000 soldiers in the Active Component from the original mission through FY 17. Additionally, the Army will increase the enlisted retention mission to 17,500, an increase of 9,000 Soldiers in the Active Component from the original mission through FY 17.
With respect to officers, the Army will create additional accession and retention opportunities to increase officer strength by 1,000. And the Army will continue to leverage internal controls to increase retention of quality officers.
The increased manning of the Army will enable it to better meet the challenges of an ever-uncertain security environment, Evans said.
"We see a strong Army as a key factor in maintaining the security of the nation," he said.
For additional information please contact Lt. Col. Randy Taylor at randy.l.taylor20.mil@mail.mil or (703) 692-1281.
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