UPDATE 10:15 AM –
Governor Sam Brownback today issued the following statement in response to the United States Army announcement of force strength reductions at Ft. Riley and Ft. Leavenworth:
“The U.S. Army today confirmed what Kansans already know: Ft. Riley and Ft. Leavenworth will continue to play a critical role in the training and development of our troops. Installation leadership, community support, and service members have worked tirelessly to ensure that both forts remain essential components of the Army.
“As expected, the Army is being forced to make difficult decisions due to federal budgetary constraints and today announced that Ft. Riley will face reductions of 615 active duty soldiers and Ft. Leavenworth reductions of 60 active duty soldiers.
“Although no cuts would be preferable, many other installations fared significantly worse. The limited reductions to the Kansas Army installations are a credit to the remarkable commitment of local communities and those serving on our Kansas installations.
“While today is an important step for Ft. Riley and Ft. Leavenworth’s communities as well as the state, we must remain vigilant in our support during this time of budget uncertainty. If sequestration is not corrected, the Army will be forced to make further substantial cuts, which could negatively affect Army bases in Kansas.
“Through my Governor’s Military Council, I will continue to work with our Congressional Delegation and local communities to support our bases, installation leadership and the brave men and women along with their families stationed at Ft. Riley and Ft. Leavenworth.”
Sources indicate that we should expect a reduction of about 615 soldiers at Ft. Riley and 60 soldiers at Ft. Leavenworth when the Army announces its cuts later today.
No word on which units and how many civilian jobs may be cut at this time.
This is a developing story and we will update with information when it becomes available.
By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the midst of a war against the Islamic State that the Obama administration says will last many years, the Army is moving ahead with big troop cuts. And they could grow even larger unless Congress and the White House find a way to stop further across-the-board spending reductions this fall.
Army leaders were notifying members of Congress Wednesday with details of how they intend to reduce the active-duty force from 490,000 soldiers to 450,000 within two years. The size of the reduction was announced months ago, but congressional delegations have been waiting for word on how the cuts would be distributed and timed; troop reductions can inflict significant economic pain on communities reliant on military base populations.
If a new round of automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, goes ahead, the Army says it will have to reduce even further, to 420,000 soldiers.
