The four armed services would see a reduction in both personnel and installations, under the proposed Defense spending bill President Obama submitted to Congress Feb. 13. The Army would lose 72,000 soldiers, with a projected end strength of 490,000; the Marine Corps would diminish by 20,000, to 182,000; the Navy would lose 6,200 members, to an end strength of 319,000; and the Air Force would lose 4,200 members, dropping to 328,000 members. The Army would also lose eight brigade combat teams; the Marine Corps would lose six battalions and four tactical air support squadrons; the Air Force would lose seven tactical air support squadrons; and the Navy would mothball seven cruisers. The budget also calls for two more rounds of base closures, with base realignment and closure commissions (BRACs) convening in 2013 and 2015. More details follow in this week’s Armed Forces News.
