New barracks, no MRAPs in 2009 Corps budget

New barracks, no MRAPs in 2009 Corps budget
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 4, 2008 19:28:00 EST

More than $2 billion for new barracks construction is included in hefty budget increase the Marine Corps will need to help the expand the force by 5,000 to a total of 194,000 active-duty Marines by the end of next year, according to the White House proposed budget for fiscal year 2009.

As part of the five-year plan to grow the Corps to 202,000, the White House has asked for a 14.5 percent increase in total spending for active-duty personnel costs, from this year’s base appropriation of $10.3 million to a total base appropriation of $11.8 billion next year.

Also reflecting the growing force is a proposal to increase the number of officer candidates to 517 in 2009, a 28.6 percent increase from the 402 officer candidates slated for this year.

The construction budget of $2.04 billion is roughly double that from last year, and the coming building boom will focus on housing for enlisted junior Marines.

Meanwhile, the proposed budget also suggests the Corps’ is halting its large-scale purchase of ground-force vehicles. No new MRAPs were included in the budget and the Corps is slated to buy only 94 Humvees in 2009, a big drop after buying more than 5,000 during the past two years.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/02/marine_budget_080204/