The Army opted to "flat-line" its end strength at 1,018,000 in the fiscal year 2018 budget request in order to preserve readiness, but the service's chief of staff believes it should have as many as 1,114,000 soldiers across the force. At a June 6 hearing of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, Gen. Mark Milley told lawmakers he envisions the active component, currently at 476,000 soldiers, "in and around the [540,000 to 550,000] range." As for the Army National Guard, authorized...
