LAWTON, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma's Fort Sill will see a 3 percent increase in soldiers in the next two years but overall troop strength at the Army base will remain 30 percent below 2001 numbers.
The Army said Thursday the number of soldiers at Fort Sill will increase to 6,746 over the next two years in a plan that will cut 1,200 or more soldiers at six other domestic bases to reduce the active-duty force by 40,000 troops.
A total of 6,527 soldiers are authorized at Fort Sill and the Army says troop strength will increase by 219 at the base by 2017. But troop strength will be 30 percent below the 9,710 soldiers who were at Fort Sill in 2001.
Lawton Mayor Fred Fitch did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.