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| | Bloomberg.com: U.S. |
 | | The U.S. Army National Guard is ``facing daunting but not insurmountable challenges,'' Blum said at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee subcommittee for military personnel. |
 | | By next year, members of the National Guard and Army Reserve will represent about 43 percent of the force in Iraq, currently 155,000 troops, the Pentagon estimates. |
 | | The National Guard last year increased the bonus for first- time enlistees to $10,000 from $6,000, and to $15,000 from $5,000 for those who make a new six-year commitment to serve. |
| www.bloomberg.com /apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aF4qB_uoclr4&refer=us (513 words) |
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