Army to Cut Nearly 50,000 Soldiers

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’re planning a career in the Army or planning to enlist, you should know that the service branch plans to reduce its soldier count by nearly 50,000 during the next five years.

Beginning in March of 2012, the Army will reduce its forces through buyouts, as well as voluntary and involuntary separations and retirements. The goal is to bring its service member strength to 520,400 active-duty soldiers by Sept. 30, 2016.

First to see reductions would be the Army’s temporary 22,000-soldier ramp up, which began three years ago in support of the Afghanistan troop surge. Phase two will involve jettisoning the 27,000 soldiers added during a manpower expansion initiated in 2007. With the troop draw down in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army feels it can manage with fewer service members.

The Army has sent a request to Congress asking them to reinstate a number of separation incentives (like the Special Separation Bonus) that were used in the 1990s but have since expired. In addition to financial, other incentives being considered include temporary reductions in the service obligation incurred for promotion to the senior field-grades, and the authority to conduct selective early retirement boards.

The Army’s goal is to retain as much experience as possible from the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. While involuntary separations will be needed to meet mandated end-strength objectives, the Army plans to do whatever it can to retain an effective force through competitive promotions, reclassifications and voluntary separations.

Other force reduction tools the Army has added in recent years include stricter retention criteria for enlisted soldiers, a Qualitative Management Program to separate retirement-eligible senior NCOs who fail to meet Army standards of behavior and performance, and ending selective continuation for certain officers who have been passed over for promotion two times.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:

Got any thoughts on the Army’s soldier cutbacks? Feel free to share them in the comments section.