February 7, 2014

In January 2012, senior DoD leadership unveiled a new defense strategy based on a review of potential future security challenges, current defense strategy, and budgetary constraints.  This new strategy envisions a smaller, leaner military that is agile, flexible, rapidly deployable, and technologically advanced.  The plan would rebalance the military’s global posture and presence, emphasizing where potential problems are likely to arise, such as the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.   

As part of the strategy the FY 2013 Defense Authorization Act laid out plans to reduce military force levels by nearly 124,000 over the next five years.  With the continued impact of sequestration, the services asked for and received authority to accelerate those drawdown plans if needed.     

The bulk of the force reductions will come from the ground forces—the Army and Marine Corps. DoD plans to cut the active end strength of the Army by 14 percent and the Marine Corps by 10 percent.   

The overall current stated end strength targets for the services are:

• 490K Army — a reduction of 80K;
• 182K USMC — a reduction of 20K;
• 319.5K Navy — a reduction of 6K;
• 328.6K for the Air Force — a reduction of 4K.    

The Reserve components would also be reduced by 21.5K over the same period.  These force reductions could also be deeper depending on budget constraints and reassessments by the services and DoD.   

The reductions in force are projected to be completed by 2017, but the Army will now reach their stated initial active component end strength target of 490K by 2015 — two years earlier than originally planned.   

The reductions in force size will be completed by a combination of actions.    

First, the services will tightly control future accessions. Second, they will employ a variety of voluntary and involuntary tools authorized by Congress to reach their target end strengths.  

Involuntary tools include: Selective Early Retirement Boards — both the Army and Marine Corps have recently held SERB boards; and Reduction in Force (RIF) boards — the Army is scheduled to hold its first RIF board in March.  

Voluntary tools include: Voluntary Separation Pay; Temporary Early Retirement Authority; and the Voluntary Early Release Program.  

MOAA is sensitive to the budget reduction requirements imposed on the services, and does not oppose a force drawdown, but believes after almost thirteen years of conflict DoD must use all of the tools authorized with a strong emphasis on the voluntary incentive tools.   

The men and women who comprise the all-volunteer force have shown versatility, adaptability, and commitment, enduring the constant stress and strain of two overlapping conflicts. They deserve nothing less.