How would one acquire an orc army?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

The size of Isengard's army and how it was acquired in relatively quick manner is probably the most interesting thing, but then, Saruman probably really took the "good old breeding program guidelines" from Morgoth or whatever, after all, he had the deep knowledge of the "arts of the Enemy". When you read about his machines etc., he is described as being very efficient in making things very efficient, so I have no doubt he was able to breed a lot of Orcs over a couple of decades (unlike the couple of months like the movies would have us believe).

The breeding question is one thing, but I would also wonder how those masses of Saruman's orcs were trained.

Saruman doesn't seem like a close-combat tactics sort of fellow. Did he use one or more of the "originals" he'd used to start breeding as trainers for the rest? Possibly, but then one would think the Uruk-hai, being notably larger than the Misty Mountains orcs, would have a different style of fighting. Maybe local Dunlendings helped out there. How long would it have taken to train thousands of troops in warfare, especially when you're having to do it secretly?