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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:59 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2008

Army aims to boost Hawaii soldiers by 10 percent

Associated Press

The Army wants to base an additional 2,000 soldiers to Hawaii as part of a broader effort to grow the service to meet demand for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The move would boost Hawaii's Army population, currently 20,000, by about 10 percent.

The announcement came in an environmental impact statement. The Army is expected to make a final decision in about a month after commanders review the environmental report.

Most of the Army's growth will be in Texas, Georgia and Colorado, states that are getting new combat brigades.

Hawaii would get additional combat service support soldiers, including military police and engineers.

Schofield Barracks' soldiers would increase by 1,700. Soldiers at Fort Shafter would grow by 300.