How Big Should the Army Be?
Considerations for Congress
Lawrence Kapp, Coordinator Specialist in Military Manpower Policy
Andrew Feickert Specialist in Military Ground Forces Kathleen J. McInnis Analyst in International Security Lynn M. Williams Analyst in U.S. Defense Budget Policy
September 2, 2016
Summary
Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution vests Congress with broad powers over the armed forces, including the power "To raise and support Armies"and “To provide and maintain a Navy.”As such, the size of the armed forces is a topic of perennial congressional interest and debate. Congress annually sets minimum and maximum strength levels for the active components and maximum strength levels for the reserve components.
The House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2017 authorized differing levels for active duty personnel in each of the services, but these authorizations diverge most significantly with respect to the Army.The Senate version of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act approved Army end strength of 460,000 soldiers, while the House version approved an Army end strength of 480,000. The Senate figure represents a decrease of 15,000 soldiers in comparison to the Army’s FY2016 end strength of 475,000, while the House figure represents an increase of 5,000.
Congress’s decision about the size of the Army for FY2017 will likely hinge on how it reconciles competing interpretations and judgments about key issues, including:
The current and emerging strategic environment; The role of the Army in advancing national security interests within that environment; How any additional end strength would be used by the Army;The results of a congressionally directed study on the future of the Army; and The trade-offs associated with various options to fund additional strength in the context of budgetary constraints.
In addition to the decision for FY2017, the debate about the size of the Army may well continue into the next Congress, as the Department of Defense plans further reductions in the size of the Army, proposing FY2018 end strength of 450,000.There will be also be a new President in January, and his or her policy priorities may revise the contours of this debate.
This report provides an overview of active duty Army personnel strength changes in recent years,outlines the different end strength authorizations in the House and Senate versions of the FY2017 NDAA, highlights the perspectives which have contributed to these diverging approaches in the respective NDAAs, and outlines some factors which Congress may consider as it determines the appropriate size for the Army. ........
