Citing recruiting woes, Army will shed up to 28,000 troops in next year

In a stunning admission to a House Armed Services Committee panel Tuesday, the Army’s number two officer acknowledged that the service will likely be understrength by at least 7,000 soldiers when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Martin also confirmed that the Army notified a House military personnel panel that it expects to have between 445,000 and 452,000 soldiers at the end of fiscal 2023, a 28,000-soldier drop from the original end end strength the Army projected for 2022.

Army Times published an investigation Monday that explained the roots of the looming end strength shortfall, the service’s efforts to address it and what long term efforts it might take to fill the ranks.