Not surprised. Not only has our active duty declined considerably, by almost half since the 90s, but the military is having an incredibly difficult time recruiting. Larger numbers of recruits are morbidly obese or in poor physical condition, having medical problems, etc. If they want to increase recruitment they're probably deciding they have to increase pay.

But either way this is pretty bad for us if our tax revenues continue to fail in covering debts. At some point that bubble has to blow.