Increase special operations forces and civil affairs

Money in defense budget to increase special ops forces

Updated: Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 | By Robert Farley

On April 6, 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled a defense budget recommendation in which he stated that "to grow our special operations capabilities, we will increase personnel by more than 2,800 or 5 percent and will buy more special forces-optimized lift, mobility, and refueling aircraft."

The ensuing 2010 budget proposal from the White House incorporated his recommendation.

And finally, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010, signed by President Barack Obama on Oct. 28, 2009, provided nearly $9 billion for special operations forces, an increase of $308 million to address its unfunded priority list, including improved surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air and ground vehicle modifications.

We rate this one In the Works.

Sources: Department of Defense Web site, Defense Budget Recommendation Statement by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates , Arlington, VA,  April 06, 2009 White House Web site, "A New Era of Responsibility," the Obama Administration's proposed 2010 budget House Armed Services Committee Web site, H.R.2647: FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act
Summary Washington Post, 2010 Budget Details: Agency by Agency , by Ann Scott Tyson