Army to cut another 40,000. How will this affect the force? How will this affect you?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:19:14 -0400

It was just announced that SecDef Ash Carter wants to cut the US Army another 40k. How do you think this will affect the force? How will this affect you?

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 5:33 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:33:31 -0400

In a time with growing anxiety all over the world, why would anyone consider cutting our defense?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 5:53 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 17:53:06 -0400

This is not news. The Army was told to get to 450K troops by the end of 2017. The last announced cuts took us to 490K. Thus...by my quick beer coaster math...we had another 40K left to go. Part of a larger plan that hasn't been fleshed out yet. Wait to see what happens if sequester sets in.

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/07/07/army-plans-to-cut-40000-troops/29832955/

Army plans to cut 40,000 troops

The Army plans to cut 40,000 soldiers over the next two years, a reduction that will affect virtually all its posts at home and overseas.

Response by Sgt S.P. Woodke made Jul 7 at 2015 6:26 PM

Sgt S.P. Woodke — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 18:26:00 -0400

Well aint that a Forkin HOOT

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jul 7 at 2015 7:23 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 19:23:32 -0400

This will mean 18 month deployments rotations when the law makers finally decide to put "boots on ground" to fight ISIS.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jul 8 at 2015 1:53 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 01:53:33 -0400

This isn't good at all like unprotected sex you take the risk of getting burn!

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 8 at 2015 8:01 AM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 08:01:37 -0400

22 years and counting I have to move on in 2018. The fact is it's not up to me but I can only control my thoughts about it. I have seen this before and as we know it wasn't successful. The US needs to build it's force not reduce just my opinion.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 8 at 2015 8:47 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 08:47:34 -0400

This is a vicous cycle that will never be broken. Unfortunatly.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 8 at 2015 9:04 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 09:04:24 -0400

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member hard telling. I live in a military community that boomed during the wars and expansion, and BRAC, but we are settling back to pre-911 numbers, even less now it appears. Many have already lost their jobs. I work for the School District which is 75-80% military impacted kids... So the district is also sized for the post population. Interesting times and we shall see.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jul 8 at 2015 10:12 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:12:58 -0400

Just after the cut, they will realize they cut too much, then those who are set to retire will be hit with a stop loss.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2015 10:42 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:42:48 -0400

This will certainly cause extra pressure on the reserve forces to be ready to supplement the active side in time of need. Many reserve units have a tough time enough retaining good military men and women, acquiring adequate supplies/equipment/parts, and funding to train. Adapt and overcome...

Response by CW2 Thomas Martin made Jul 8 at 2015 10:42 AM

CW2 Thomas Martin — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:42:49 -0400

This is a normal war cycle. It is sad but true. I believe they are going to flush out more experience and knowledge to make these cuts which will hurt the skills of the force in the long run. Especially while we adapt to fight a group like ISIS. If we do engage in direct combat, maybe it will delay or reduce the cuts by big Army. Either way, I know some good guys that are hanging up their hat.

Response by SGT Robert Hawks made Jul 8 at 2015 10:59 AM

SGT Robert Hawks — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 10:59:18 -0400

I have seen this before 40,000 seems like a lot but I lived thru worse. In 1991 there were over 700,000 soldiers on active duty. In 1997 the number was 450,000 on active duty a loss of 250,000 positions. This does not even take in how many civilian jobs where loss due to down sizing. It was a bad idea then and it is a bad idea now with the Cold War starting to revive its ugly head.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2015 1:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:22:24 -0400

It'll continue to gut the service and make us into a paper tiger. We are publicly cutting our force while the "bad guys" grow bolder. We may not technically be at war, but I see two, possibly three more right on the horizon. WTH is Washington DC thinking?

Response by SSgt Scott Schwerman made Jul 8 at 2015 1:26 PM

SSgt Scott Schwerman — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:26:12 -0400

Marine Corps finally stopped cutting.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jul 8 at 2015 3:22 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 15:22:37 -0400

This is no time to be cutting back on the size of the military. The world functions best when the United States is a superpower capable of projecting power anywhere on the face of the earth. Big wars have not yet withered away into the dustbin of history.

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made Jul 8 at 2015 4:37 PM

SSG Melvin Nulph — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 16:37:23 -0400

I really see us setting ourselves up for trouble. Don't shake up a hornets nest then set back and think you'll not be stung.
I would wait until we are not fighting any place in the world, with members deployed in harm's way for a few years and have a built up ready reserve that's mission ready for what ever the world situation may be at the time.
"Not really, I believe in a strong ready force & would never draw down the size of the military", when there is so may more ways to save a big money with the all of the goverment waist going on. You never get rid of the strong so the weak can keep on waisting...