In an internal memo first obtained by the Baltimore Sun, the Army Reserve’s most senior officer, Lt. Gen. James Helmly, says the force is so hampered that it is "rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force."

Helmly writes in the memo addressed to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pete Schoomaker that the Reserve has reached the point of being unable to fulfill its missions or regenerate its forces for future assignments.

The Army Reserve has about 200,000 soldiers, nearly 52,000 of whom are on active duty in the war on terrorism, mainly in
Iraq.

About 50 have died there.

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Two officials who saw the original memo confirmed its contents
to The Associated Press.

In read in part, according to AP reports: "The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of the Army Reserve's inability under current policies, procedures and practices ... to meet mission requirements associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom."

"The Army Reserve is additionally in grave danger of being unable to meet other operational requirements," including those in classified contingency plans for other potential wars or national emergencies, "and is rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force.”

Helmly's memo is the type that rarely becomes public, although
some private defense analysts and members of Congress have openly
raised similar questions.