Gates considers accelerating build-up

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The strain of providing troops for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is prompting the U.S. Army to accelerate plans to expand its active-duty force.

Instead of taking five years to ramp up the force to 547,000, Army Secretary Pete Geren told a Pentagon news conference he favored completing the task in four years, The New York Times reported Friday.

Geren's boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates indicated he is likely to approve the acceleration plan.

"My questions have focused principally on whether they can do it in terms of recruitment and whether they can do so without lowering standards," Gates told the Times.

In a report Friday, the Los Angeles Times said moving aggressively to retain personnel is one of the ways the Army will attempt to build a larger force in a shorter time.

A final decision on whether to speed up the growth plan may depend on whether the army makes its recruiting goals for the 12-month period ending Sunday, the newspaper said.