WAR DEPARTMENT
                           WASHINGTON
 
                                   January 8, 1942.
 
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
 
              1. During the Cabinet meeting on January 2d you gave me a 
rough rule of thumb regarding your desires as to the strength of the 
military forces, as follows:
 
     In Continental United States
 
          Trained Troops -    1,000,000 men
          Troops in training- 1,000,000 men
 
     Beyond Continental United States
 
          Such overseas forces as required.
 
     2. It is the War Department's desire during 1942 to:
 
          a. Reach the objective of ll5 trained Air Corps 
Groups, (87 combat, 15 observation, 13 transport) as 
early in the year as possible. (Previous final objec-
tive, 84 Groups; present strength, 54 Groups).
 
          (Total Air Corps strength - 1,000,000)
 
     b. Increase the ground forces by:
 
     4Armored Divisions to a total of 10 Divisions
     32 Triangular Infantry Divisions (motorized or 
     otherwise) to a total of 59 Divisions.
 
           Essential supporting troops, and additional anti-
aircraft and military police units for home employment.
 
     (Total ground troop strength- 2,600,000).
 
              3. Under the present agreed Defense Aid allotments of 
materiel, the 115 Air Corps Groups can be initially equipped.
 
                    For the new divisions of the ground forces, only the 
necessary training equipment (viz. about 50% of critical items) can 
be provided and this only if l05mm howitzers now set up for the 
British can be made available to the United States.