Personnel bills continue to squeeze Army modernization accounts, prompting the Defense Department to seek congressional permission to raid ammunition, tactical vehicles and armor programs to cover paychecks in the final months of the fiscal year. Tina Jonas, the Pentagon comptroller, submitted a six-page reprogramming request on July 18 seeking authority to cut $608 million from Army and Marine Corps procurement and operation and maintenance accounts to finance a range of personnel bills -- including the equivalent of paying 25,000 soldiers...
