Sources: Marines seek increase in force level to 202,000

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps is considering plans to expand its ranks to 202,000 Marines, according to Marine officials.

The number could go even higher, one official said, with 202,000 being the baseline for growing the Corps.

Stressed by five years at war in Afghanistan and Iraq with no end in sight, the U.S. Army is also considering plans to add substantially to its ranks. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker told a panel in mid-December he wants to expand the Army by about 7,000 soldiers a year. It currently has 507,000 troops, up from its pre-war levels of 482,000. It has authorization from Congress to grow to 512,000 temporarily. The Army is looking to make that permanent and add even more, though the number Schoomaker wants has not yet been decided.

The Marine expansion would add at least 22,000 troops to its payroll. It now has around 181,000, but is only funded for about 179,000, according to Marine officials. They are seeking a major increase in funding and authorization for more manpower in the 2008 budget.

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