Drawdown Won’t Compromise Mission

Marines Promise As the Marine Corps prepares to reduce its ranks to 182,100 four years from now, down from 202,100, manpower officials outlined the service’s commitment to maintain a strong force. "We must maintain the right number of Marines at each rank to ensure we do not become a hollow force and use natural attrition and voluntary separation authorities to achieve reductions," said Col. William Tosick, the head of Manpower Plans for the budget and programs office, during an April 24 briefing at Camp Pendleton, Calif. "Competition for accession, promotion, and retention will be tougher, but in numbers required to sustain the force." The reduction in strength will begin in October. As that date approaches, Tosick and his colleagues advised Marines to keep track of their personnel records and make sure they are up to date. Marines in high-demand military occupational specialties are more likely to feel the brunt of the reduction in force than those in under-strength career fields, the briefers told their audience.