THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140400
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Nearly 16,000 positions in Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps reserve forces from coast to coast will be eliminated and hundreds of units will close in the next seven months, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
The reductions are the third in a series of five major cutbacks designed to adjust the military to new defense requirements in the aftermath of the Cold War.
``In the future we will have a smaller force structure, but it will be one that is highly ready and well-equipped,'' Defense Secretary William Perry said in announcing the cutbacks.
National Guard and Reserve forces, which peaked at 1.2 million people in 1989, are to be cut by about 15,900 this year to 975,100. The Pentagon's goal is to eliminate another 21,700 by Oct. 1, 1998, to reach a final force of 953,400.
The active duty force, also cut sharply, now stands at about 1.5 million.
Here is a breakdown of the 1996 National Guard and Reserve cuts announced Tuesday:
Army Reserve - Reduce 900 positions, to 211,500.
Army National Guard - Add 800 positions, to 416,000.
Naval Reserve - Reduce 4,400, to 112,400.
Marine Corps Reserve - Reduce 400, to 42,200.
Air National Guard - Reduce 5,700 to 113,600.
Air Force Reserve - Reduce 5,300, to 79,400.
Perry said the reductions will free up money and other resources for priorities such as troop pay and benefits, family support programs and troop training.
Under the plan, Virginia will gain 1,302 National Guard and Reserve positions.
The changes will affect all 50 states, although not all will see a net decrease in National Guard and Reserve positions. Alabama, for example, will have a net increase of 670 positions, Colorado will gain 612, and Kansas adds 705.
The biggest reductions will mostly be in the more heavily populated states: California will lose 1,074 positions. Other losers are Texas, 2,679; Ohio, 1,747; North Carolina, 1,657; New York, 1,615; Georgia, 1,539; and Illinois, 1,464.
The Army National Guard will have a net increase of 800 positions but will close 229 units or parts of units. Some people from demobilized units will be transferred.
The Army Reserve will close about 100 units, the Naval Reserve about 150 and the Marine Corps Reserve just two. by CNB