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Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions

Rebuild Our Depleted Military

By Donald Moskowitz

 

February 07, 2018
Wednesday AM


The Budget Control Act of 2011 necessitated budget cuts for the Defense Department which had a huge negative effect on the readiness of our military.

I quote from Alan Dowd's article in the February 2018 issue of The American Legion Magazine.

" In 2011, the Air Force had 333,370 active duty airmen. By 2017, it had fallen to 310,000. In 2013, 31 squadrons stood down. In 2014 500 planes were to be eliminated. Just 12 percent of America's aging bomber fleet will be able to penetrate and survive enemy air defenses."

" In 2011, the Army's active-duty end strength was 566,000; by 2016, it had fallen to 476,000. Only 25 percent of the Army's combat aviation brigades are ready to deploy. Of the Army's 58 brigade combat teams, only three could be called upon to fight tonight."

" Before sequestration, the Marine Corps fielded 202,100 active-duty personnel; by the end of 2016 there were only 184,000 Marines. By the end of 2016; only 41 percent of Marine aircraft were able to fly. "

" Today's Navy has only 277 active deployable ships. According to former CNO Adm. Jonathan Greenert, we need a Navy of 450 ships. Fifty-three percent of Navy aircraft cannot fly. "

We need to fund the Defense Department with adequate budgets, probably on the order of $700 billion to $750 billion per year to rebuild our military and meet our national security requirements. President Trump is on board with the funding needs.

Donald Moskowitz
Londonderry NH 

 

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Received February 02, 2017 - Published February 07, 2018

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