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| Panel Approves Troop Reductions, Not Benefit Cuts | |
| 2014-05-05 | |
| A House subcommittee on military personnel is backing the Pentagon's request for troop cuts next year but is not on board with making retirees pay more for healthcare. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel, said any changes to retirement or healthcare benefits needs to wait until the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission submits a report next February. For that same reason the subcommittee's budget also does not include a Pentagon requested cut in basic allowance for housing, or BAH, which Wilson said would translate into a 5 percent increase in housing costs for service members.
"America remains at war today and will continue at some level of persistent conflict globally with a ruthless and committed enemy for the foreseeable future," he said. The subcommittee's budget reflects the numbers requested by the service branches for 2015, including 490,000 soldiers, a reduction of 30,000, 184,100 Marines, making the Corps smaller by 6,100 leathernecks, and 310,900 airmen, which would be 16,700 fewer than in the active force now. The Navy's end strength, 323,600, would remain unchanged from 2014. Wilson said the budget also authorizes an extension of bonuses and special and incentive pays designed to retain critical skills. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 If the Services were really concerned about money, especially the Army and Air Force, the wouldn't be trying to gut the National Guard and Reserves. Especially on the Air side (Air National Guard and Reserves) as they have some of the best trained pilots/troops and equipment maintenance in the Services. |
| Posted by: tipover 2014-05-05 13:45 |