Keeping one American service member in Afghanistan costs between $850,000 and $1.4 million a year, depending on who you ask. But one matter is clear, that cost is going up.
During a budget hearing today on Capitol Hill, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, asked Department of Defense leaders, "What is the cost per soldier, to maintain a soldier for a year in Afghanistan?" Under Secretary Robert Hale, the Pentagon comptroller, responded "Right now about $850,000 per soldier."
Conrad seemed shocked at the number.
"That kind of takes my breath away, when you tell me it's $850,000," Conrad said
A Pentagon spokesman later said a more accurate figure is $815,000 a year.
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http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/28/one-soldier-one-year-850000-and-rising/