**GAO-09-256**                      Published: May 04, 2009. Publicly Released: May 04, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

To ease the pace of overseas deployments, the President announced a plan in 2007 to grow the Army's end strength by about 7 percent by 2013. GAO was asked to evaluate the Army's management of this growth. Specifically, GAO determined the extent to which the Army has (1) made progress in growing the force, (2) awarded cost-effective bonuses to attract and retain enlistees, (3) maintained the quality of its enlisted force, and (4) directed growth in its officer force to areas of need and determined whether trade-offs it has made to alleviate shortages will have long-term effects. GAO reviewed the Army's growth plans, bonuses, waivers, and officer promotions, and interviewed Defense and Army officials.

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## Topics

National Defense

Armed forces reservesArmy personnelAttrition ratesCost analysisCost effectiveness analysisData collectionData integrityEmployee incentivesHuman capital planningMilitary cost controlMilitary enlistmentMilitary forcesMilitary officersMilitary operationsMilitary personnelMilitary personnel retentionMilitary recruitingMilitary reenlistment bonusesMilitary reserve personnelMilitary trainingNational GuardPersonnel recruitingQuality assuranceStrategic planningWaiversProgram goals or objectives