Reducing stress on Army topic of proposals

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- The stress from ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased a push for proposals that would temporarily expand the U.S. Army.

Top defense officials including Defense Secretary Robert Gates are evaluating proposals to expand the Army as a temporary measure that would relieve some of the pressure resulting from years of war and also reduce a dependence on stop-loss policies, or the controversial involuntary extension of a service member's active duty service.

According to Geoff Morrell, Pentagon spokesman, the temporary expansion proposals have also received support from some members of Congress including Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"I think he obviously has a great deal of concern about the stress that the Army has been under for a number of years now," Morrell said according to a news release.

"And he understands that his prescription that they reduce their dependence upon stop-loss to keep units intact when they deploy has created additional stress on the force."