Congress $700B defense authorization deal adds 20,000 troops, rejects Space Corps

[nitpicker]

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2017/11/08/congress-700-billion-defense-authorization-deal-includes-20000-new-troops-rejects-space-corps/

Congress’ $700B defense authorization deal adds 20,000 troops, rejects Space Corps

By: Leo Shane III ?  1 day ago

WASHINGTON — Congressional negotiators on Wednesday agreed on a $700 billion defense authorization plan for fiscal 2018, including a 2.4 percent pay raise for troops and a boost in military end strength of more than 20,000 service members. It also adds 90 new joint strike fighters to the military’s fleet and a third new littoral combat ship, but dumps controversial plans for a new “Space Corps” in favor of less ambitious bureaucratic changes within the Defense Department’s space programs.

The plan still needs final approval from the full House and Senate in coming weeks, and lawmakers will have to reconcile the cost of the measure with existing spending caps in place. The conference plan is roughly $85 billion above what is allowed under law for fiscal 2018, and no firm agreement has been reached yet on how to deal with that issue. But lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have maintained for months that a sizable boost in defense spending is needed to keep up with military readiness and modernization shortfalls.

The measure — which sets aside about $626 billion for base defense funding and $66 billion for overseas contingency operations — includes money to pay for significant end strength boosts for each of the services, in ping with requests from the White House. The compromise bill would add 8,500 new soldiers (7,500 in active duty, 500 each in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve), 5,000 new sailors (4,000 in active duty, 1,000 in the reserves), 5,800 new airmen (4,100 in active duty, 900 in the Guard, 800 in the Reserve) and 1,000 new active-duty Marines.

Under the measure, current personnel would see a 2.4 percent pay raise next year, 0.3 percent above what President Donald Trump had recommended. The 2.4 percent mark equals the expected pay growth based on private sector wages, and would be the largest boost for troops since 2010. It translates into about a $680 annual boost from 2017 pay for younger enlisted ranks, and about $1,080 a year for more senior enlisted and junior officers. A mid-career officer will see almost $2,000 a year extra under the plan.
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The conference committee also opted not to include any language in the measure related to transgender troops, who have been at the center of legal fights since Trump announced over social media this summer he intended to block transgender individuals from enlisting and dismiss outed members from the ranks.
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[Docreed2003]

1. So let me get this straight....

We’re going to buy more of the planes that can’t freaking fly in rain, more of the ships that had to practically be rebuilt because of shoddy construction, and add 20,000 troops we don’t need?? Seems about right. I can’t think of a better use for those funds, can you guys?