Congress passes defense authorization bill

[spindrifter]

By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, October 1, 2006

WASHINGTON — Just hours before the start of the new fiscal year Congress put the finishing touches on its 2007 defense budget plans, specifying money for new electronic jamming devices and mandating all military vehicles in combat zones be equipped with the anti-bomb devices.

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http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=40449

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The highlights in a sidebar on the right of the page are interesting--ranging from

. $69 million for anti-explosive jammers, which can be carried by dismounted patrols, and $41 million more for new disruption devices for vehicles.

to

. Expands current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies to include a closer examination of the experiences of guardsmen and reservists, and funds pilot programs researching early diagnosis of PTSD.

and

. Increases the 2007 active-duty Army end strength by 30,000 to 512,400, and increase the Marines end strength by 5,000 to 180,000.

. Increases the 2007 Army National Guard end strength by more than 17,000 to 350,000.

But I don't get

Repeals recent changes by the Air Force and Navy mandating nondenominational prayer from military chaplains.

[ShortnFiery]

1. I just don't see people tripping all over themselves to go

to the recruiting office and sign up. :shrug:

BTW isn't that Back Door Draft (stop gap measures) playing out to an horrendous end?

[spindrifter]

2. Well--the ARmy made its recruiting goal

for the year...so they are getting people in. What I'm finding alarming is the level of increase--Army, Marines and National Guard. That does not bode well.

[ShortnFiery]

3. Do we REALLY know that The Army made it's goal ...

Since they no longer publish the paperwork, should we take their word for it? :shrug: