2012

The goal of having 48 Army brigades in the active force won't be achieved until 2012.

Getting two more Army modular brigades soon is being done by accelerating a planned addition.

Getting another regimental combat team for the Marines looks more near term, too. I imagine this can be done by combining a couple additional battalions already formed since 9/11 and putting in the odds and sods that round out a regimental combat team. Or maybe the Marines will just build two more battalions with their annual increase in recruits. That isn't clear to me.

Regardless, any efforts to increase the time at home will still have to rely on reducing our combat role in Iraq over the next couple years. New active forces won't be on line for a bit and our reserves will still be a touchy source despite the change in mobilization policy for reservists.