Army Man Power and the War on Terror

Introduction

Army manpower is a key factor in the military's ability to fight the war on terror, including sustaining the combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, manpower is a subject that is often misunderstood and misreported.  How does the status of Army manpower affect the nation’s war on terror?   What if the manpower demands of concurrent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have sapped the country’s ability to deploy to the next hot spot on the globe?  What if recruiting shortfalls leave combat units half filled?  What if frequent deployments for long periods cause professional soldiers to leave the service?  And what if mobilization demands on the Reserve and Guard mean that those forces are used up and unavailable for a new contingency not yet on the radar?  Political debates about the pros and cons of intervening in Syria, Darfur, or Iran, or even prolonged presence in Iraq, become academic if the reality of the manpower situation is that no troops are available for the next conflict.  This paper provides background material on Army manpower that is meant to inform journalists who might cover the issue.