Back to Promise

Money in defense budget to increase special ops forces


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.