Washington, July 21 (DPA) US Defence Secretary Robert Gates announced plans Monday to temporarily increase the army by 22,000 troopers over the next three years.

The boost was needed because of the strain that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have placed on the military. The move would increase the current size of 547,000 active duty soldiers to 569,000.

'This is an important and necessary step to ensure that we continue to properly support the needs of our commanders in the field while providing relief for our current force and their families,' Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.