Federal Daily News
Air Force, Army chiefs express confidence in face of troop reductions
The Air Force chief of staff said that the service branch will reduce its force by 10,000 airmen in fiscal 2013 in response to tighter budgets—but that troop strength will remain sufficient. Gen. Norton Schwartz discussed the reduction Jan. 27 at a Pentagon news conference, according to the American Forces Press Service.
“Confronted by a more complex and dynamic security environment as well as significant reductions in defense resources, the Air Force determined that the best path forward was to become smaller, emphasizing multi-role systems and common configurations,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz also said that should Congress approve another round of base realignment and closures, the Air Force would close bases, as well. No bases were closed in the last BRAC round.
Also on Jan. 27, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno detailed a similar scenario for reporters, saying that the Army will become “more capable” after its drawdown of 80,000 soldiers over the next six years, according to AFPS.
While the Army’s strength would drop to 490,000 soldiers in 2017 as part of planned budget cuts, Odierno noted that the future force would include troops with combat experience from a decade of war.