ARMED FORCES: Chairborne Strength

After quietly poking around in 16 Army camps and indoctrination centers, the Senate Preparedness subcommittee this week concluded that the Armed Forces still have too many chairborne troops. Of 95,784 rear-echelon troops, the subcommittee reported that 40,093 (more than two divisions) are "engaged in purely housekeeping functions, most of which could be handled by limited-service personnel, women or civilians." Some of the remaining 55,691 men could also be fitted out with rifles and sent to line duty. The subcommittee's conclusion: "In other words, sitting at desks, working in kitchens, carrying messages, driving automobiles, operating motion-picture machines, running PXs and doing...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!