Under President Barack Obama’s leadership, the size of the U.S. Army has shrunk by thousands — and new report has confirmed that it became the smallest it has been in 76 years in March.
“The Army’s latest headcount shows that nearly 2,600 soldiers departed active service in March without being replaced, an action that plunges manning to its lowest level since before World War II. During the past year the size of the active force has been reduced by 16,548 soldiers, the rough equivalent of three brigades,” The Army Times reported Saturday.
That puts the U.S. Army’s manpower total at 479,172 active duty soldiers — the smallest amount since 1940’s 269,023 soldiers, before the United States entered World War II.
This manpower shortage has Army leadership worried about the state of readiness of our defense. And that’s just the beginning.
“Without congressional or Defense Department intervention, the drawdown will continue for two more years, with endstrength hitting 460,000 soldiers in 2017, and 450,000 in 2018,” according to The Army Times report.
The plan for this steady force reduction was first announced in July 2015. And if those numbers are hit, it would mean a 20 percent reduction in the Army’s manpower from it’s peak of over 570,000 in 2010.
In April, “Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley sounded the alarm that the US Army is currently in a state of ‘high risk’ when it comes to being ready enough to defend the nation and respond to a large conflict,” the Military Times reported.
Gen. Daniel Allyn, vice chief of staff of the Army, echoed opinion to Fox News, saying “These are not cuts the Army wants to make, these are cuts required by budget environment in which we operate,” and that, “This 40,000 soldier cut… will only get us to the program force, it does not deal with the continued threat of sequestration.”
No problem. Isn’t that what to do when Russia, China, & middle east haters are building up their militaries? Only 2% of our 19-35 year olds have served in the military in the past decade. Instead they play video games and watch cage fighters. Like so many of our clueless citizens say, it’s all good.
Many of those fatties you mention playing video games are no where near fit enough to be in the Armed forces…..
That’s what boot camp is for. They work them into shape.
Elaine, what many don’t understand is that in boots people are supposed to be trained to do a very unpleasant and nasty job. Having talked to people who recently served, I was told that the D.I. in Marine Boot Camp is more like a nice pleasant uncle instead of acting like the mean SOB he’s supposed to be in order to properly train people. I’d be willing to bet the rest are pretty much the same. I’ve even been told by people recently discharged that when they do wrong they get time out like a bunch of little kids instead of being punished with extra duty. Having watched military reviews on U-Tube, I’ve noticed that compared to countries like China, Russia and Japan, our people, with the possible exception of the USMC look pretty much like a mob walking by. And who blames them? Their pride and morale has been destroyed by Obama, and before him Bill Clinton. We need someone as a C in C who will install that pride and morale. Don’t misunderstand, I served many years ago and still have pride in my service. Nobody respects the military any more than I, but even though I thoroughly support them I really feel sorry for them.
RC: The U.S. military is still great. It’s a positive thing to dismiss ignorant and abusive drill instructors. They offer no service to toughening and training recruits.The USAF recently rid itself of these types. The only problem with our military today is weak political leadership.
I get you, the Democrats are the worst thing for our Nation as a whole, especially our Military…
Many potntial recruits are in such bad shape the services won’t take them. They are too fragile to work into shape.
@ Mark: Fat can be lost during training. Attitudes and sloth are a different matter.
THe MAJOR SLOTH is the Moron in the White Mosque whose Promise for “CHANGE” has Resulted in Open Borders and preparing America for a Major Attack, while his promise for WEALTH redistribution has Enriched his WEALTHY Backers ( indirectly Itself) and Destroyed most of the Middle Class…… and to think that SLICK Willie was Impeached just for Misusing a CEEGAR and leaving Semen on a blue dress………….
There is no justice except for Buford T.
A couple thoughts. 1st the Army has 200000 more soldiers than the pre WW II Army which would have included the Air Force at that point. 2nd there hasn’t been a major attack in US since Obama took office (Remember 9/11) 3rd Republicans insisted on a government wide spending decrease which hurt the military.
furthermore with the women now allowed to front line duty what more can be done to lower our fighting forces ability. No sleight on women, but how can this move improve our strength w/ less troops? . Some one should advise the powers that be who decide to implement these illogical moves. Our current president depends on the secretary of state who is a blatant pacifist. This is not what is needed w/ all this unrest all over the world with the current saber rattling in KIm’s North Korea, Baltic States build up, China in he South China Sea And Russia strafing our ships in the Mediterranean. Not to mentioned our unsecured borders w/ Mexico. Que Pasa?
The —-in the white house should be relived of duty and court marshal for being AWOl
for almost 8 years–
Redhawk, you are so right. Except for one thing. Obama is anything but a moron. He knows exactly what he’s doing. His job from the start has been to thoroughly destroy our government, our Constitution, our armed forces, our national security, and our way of life, including our various religions. The only things he actually cares about are Barak Hussein Obama and Islam.
The rest of us simply don’t count no matter who, what or where we are.
We are in real trouble. The voting public just doesn’t just don’t give a damn. wake up -America
They are to busy looking at their I-phones and playing video games.
with our weak military, and most over seas and clinton wanting to do away with the second amendment taking guns away from Americans , the open borders , anyone who doe’s not think that isis has not taken full advantage of this is a half wit. They have cells all over the states, and well armed when hitlery dis arms the people isis will have no problem doing what ever they want to do our people will be sitting ducks for isis and low life criminals. clinton being the biggest traitor since Benedict Arnold
anyone who is not for the constitution and the bill of rites is a traitor the first and second amendment are two that clinton has said that our founding fathers had it wrong and she will rewrite the constitution if we give the traitor the chance, like stacking the courts with anti gun traitors. they will destroy the constitution and this Country being anti gun is being anti American and those of you who can remember history after all the British have done when they tried to take the arms stored that is when the shot that was heard around the world started the revolution and it will happen again. Most Americans are not ready or willing to give up with out a fight a revolution is brewing, it is in the wind and coming if things do not change soon this will be a bloody fight and something that I do not wish to live to see happen in my country but i do not feel that Americans are willing to give up their second amendment or first amendment rights with out a fight I pray that this never happens but can almost feel it coming GOD HELP US ALL wake up America before you wake up one morning and the United States you loved is a thing of the past and a distant memory scum like obummer and clinton and anyone who supports them is spitting on the graves of all who served and died for this Country Do not allow those brave men and women who died to have died for nothing Trump may be our only chance and if he doe’s do as promised then run him out as we should have done to obama also clinton should not be fighting to get in to the W.H but to stay out of prison where she and her type belong, if not in front of a firing squad I know it sounds harsh but when it comes to love of Country, duty , and honor, all of which seem to be disappearing today we must get our act together and the sooner the better
God bless America the greatest Country that ever existed on this planet
Don’t forget the kardasians and the alllll so important house wives, dancing with the stars and who’s got talent…..who really cares? This country is in big trouble.TThe non president that isn’t running this country is in fact ruining this country. The enemies of America are just biding their time because they know that there will come a time when America is too under manned to defend herself…. that’s when they will attack , from out side our borders and from the inside. Political correctness will prevent law enforcement from doing any thing to stop it. And who knows if all the lbgt types will lift a finger…might break a nail or just argue over toilet rights. Yup osama obama has done exactly what he said he’d do…. fundamentally change America.
Fundamentally destroy America and our way of life not just change it but for the worst , the best Country that ever graced the the face of this planet. being destroyed by money and power hungry traitors clinton is for money and power and obama is for islam what was that half wit thinking by giving iran our enemy’s nuclear capabilities these people are animals and have always been blood thirsty animals nothing has changed in thousands of years the difference is now they are oil rich, but still animals
they will use nuclear weapons without a second thought Trump is as rite as it can get by not wanting muslims in to the Country, they will say anything and to anyone to gain trust then stab them in the back it is their way. the world would be a better place without them
The title of this article is incredibly misleading. We have 250,000 more soldiers than we had in 1940, the most advanced military hardware in the world, and the most highly trained special forces. This is nothing but fearmongering. We have warehouses full of old planes and tanks we will never use because of the obscenely high military budget that’s caused our insane deficit. The military industrial complex wants people scared and wants people to think we need to spend even more on the military, when we have spent literally trillions on wasted production and irresponsible military spending.
We still are the most well defended nation on earth, no one is shrinking the military to some tiny size that can’t protect us.
Oblowhole lover, hopeless and clueless!
And people wonder why Trump is so well received by the rank and file American voters.
He see’s President Obozo for the buffoon he is and the damage he’s done to our country with the compliance and support of the elites in both parties.
TRUMP ISNT WHAT YOU THINK HE IS HE WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET YOUR VOTE JUST LIKE Obama DID
trump is not a gay, commie liar muslum
JUST ONE THING, TRUMP IS NOT LYING ABOUT ANY THING HE SAYS! DEMOCRATS AND ALL THE REST OF THEM ARE LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, POLITITIONS LIE, TRUMP IS NOT A POLITITION AND READ MY LIPS…DONALD TRUMP IS NOT A LIAR! DO YOU WANT YOUR COUNTRY BACK? IF THESE POLITITIONS IN WASHINGTON WOULD DO SOMETHING TO GET OBAMA OUT OF THERE, THERE IS A CHANCE THEY WOULD KEEP THEIR JOB! THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING! POLITIONS CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES! DONALD TRUMP IS NOT A POLITITION! IF HE IS PRESIDENT HE WILL HAVE VERY GOOD PEOPLE! TRUMP 2016
Russell,
Nice going you dipstick.
I AGREE John, and these idiot Democrates want too elect anothet Democrate that is three, four, five hell a thousand times worse than any president we have ever had (except for killbama). She has LIED, CHEATED, STOLE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, COMMITED TREASON AGAINST THE U.S., KILLED FOUR GOOD AMERICANS IN BENGAZI, LIED ABOUT HER ILLEGAL EMAILS WHILE TALKING TO CONGRESS AND IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. and is STILL LYING to ALL OF THE IDIOT Democrates while she is on her campaigns…How STUPID CAN ANYONE BE TO WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS POMPAS BROAD…OH THE DEMICRATES THATS WHO…
Thats the fault of our stupid leadership in congress they all need to be put in jail for putting our whole country in HARMS way
The GOP holds the Budget strings,yet they are the ones that beat the DRUMS of WAR and complain about the Down sizing–go figure–could it be some sort of Political ploy——isn”t everything else they do? They want to cut every Social program there is ,they deny Global Warming,even though the scientists say it exists—–and there main man is TRUMP–an OXY MORON—-that has gotten rich off of Bankruptcy courts and a reality TV show star—are we really looking at the Big picture—–or is just really the beginning of the end of America as we know it,with our own hands choking the life out of the NATION?
And just whom do you think can do a better job – Hitlery?
T – it is disingenuous of the GOP’s critics to make a blanket statement like “they deny Global Warming,even though the scientists say it exists” — which, by the way, has been officially changed to “Climate Change” by our President’s administration. The GOP is not denying there is climate change, just the cause of it which allows our President to rationalize huge expenditures on failed alternative fuel sources … but as usual, the Dem spin doctors teach their lemmings well — watch out, in nature the lemmings follow their leader right over cliffs to their deaths.
Global warming is all a lie. 12 scientists have been up on the polar ice caps for the past 12 years and we have more ice caps than we have ever had. For the past 6 years the world has seen more snow than in the past 100 years.
Amen to that Miami Red!!
He was a successful build er in new York decades before he did apprentice. Just because YOU didn’t know who he was doesn’t men he wasn’t out there kicking butt. What do u think the apprentice was for…….duh…to introduce him to the masses. It worked and was well played. By the way, bankruptcy is used to restructure and SAVE companies and jobs. Understand prior to judging. That is the risk business AND lenders take….bad debt write offs. It is factored into loan applications and terms. Please learn .
Dumb liberal speaking.
Obama is setting the US up to be attacked! We are so weak now the enemies should have no problem!
if we are attacked i hope they start with DC and get rid of the RAts
FROM THE TOP DOWN
long overdue
You are totally nuts! You, and many of the ill-informed here are clueless about the Military. First, the Draw-downs were planned by the Military. Second, Recruiters say they have lists of young people wanting to get into one of the Services; but, are being held up by so many Dino’s in the top ranks that refuse to retire. Those in the middle ranks can’t move up; to make room for new Recruits. How bad is it? One U.S. Base has at least 57; 3-4-5 Star Generals assigned to it. These extremely high paid Warriors of Old; are mostly sitting or standing around with nothing to do; and, often-times – – get in the way of Active Duty Commissioned Officers who do the Work daily. They also offer unwanted advice; and some are a pain in the butt.
Moving on: there is so much waste in the Military; that $200 Billion could be cut; and, through organizational restructuring; the Military would be much better prepared to do what it is doing now.
Little known; but, coming on strong is the Military’s engagement in militarizing Robotic Warriors. In fact; some are going to be field tested soon; if,it hasn’t happened already.
The days of G.I. Joe; muscling the Enemy on the Ground in Foxholes and hand-to-hand combat are long gone. Too many either don’t know; or, have forgotten; that our Military is increasingly relying heavily on Technology to maintain American Superiority. As an example; the Drone has been a low cost – – but highly effective instrument of War. Won’t be long that Battle Ready Robots will be deployed to see what they can do.
The Military has 9000 high maintenance Tanks just sitting. We have thousands of traditional aircraft doing the same thing; and, they Navy wants to moth-call three or four Ships; because their Technology is out-dated and too costly to retrofit; but Congress says no.
The much heralded F-35, has been a joke, 8 years in development; and Billions in Costs; and the damn plane still isn’t Mission Worthy. They Reputation of the the plane is now so bad that no Branch of the Military wants it.
There is so much more; but, let me asked this departing question: do we really need 167 Golf Courses around the world; when maintenance costs are high; and seldom used?
Boeing Aircraft has a Cash Cow in the F-35. They, and other Military Corporate types are killing our Budgets with delays and, in too many instances – – faulty designs of equipment. Frankly, the MIC is one of the four Horsemen of our Economic Demise. The other three are: Health Care, the Financial Sector; and Higher Education. They are robbing us blind.
You go Donald. The Generals and so on that you mentioned that will not retire are the ones that sit on these companies boards that build this equipment to keep us at war for more than 14 years now. This should all be a crime. The only thing I see wrong with your statement is no war can be finished without ground troops to sweep up the martars. Robots will not be able to discern the difference.
Donald, thank you for laying this out. I have been trying to explain this in a nutshell to my hard headed older brother. Good man, but he too, is a dinosaur to accepting the difference that technology, or lack of it, can make. However, in saying this, I do still believe at times we will still see a need for human boots on the ground, for some time.
287 million guns have been sold in this country since obozo took office. Just as a Chinese general once said years ago that china will never invade the us because there is a gun behind every blade off grass. If all those people are patriots then we will be safe.
Bob says, It was Japan not China.
Don’t worry kiddies they are massing UN troops inside our borders. They a mercenary’s who speak little
English. They have alread been flexing their muscles in Nevada, and Oregon. BLM soldiers.
What about Paul Ryan and his band of Rhinos who have enabled the Demos. Well they will all go down the tubes.Alsong with lance and B. Chrystal. All lose their money
I’m surprised he doesn’t have our troops parading around in high heels, twirling parasols. Wait, doesn’t he have R.O.T.C. students wearing them already?
The same idiot mentality is the cause of WW II and the attack by Japan upon the Dec 7, 1941. They saw our small army
and decided that their best chance to beat us was to attack and cripple our Navy. They did not take into consideration
our ability to recover and respond as fast or as hard as we did. But that was a long time ago before our manufacturing
was crippled by Wall Street, The Banker and a corrupt IRS and environmental groups that have weakened our ability to
build any thing in the United States. Today we have “outsourced” every thing including our ability to make toilet paper
all in the name of profit plus to escape the over regulation and corruption we see in our Government.
By closing our military bases, for a supposed cost savings, that has been wasted by every administration since the
Base Realignment program started we are far weaker today than we should be considering the environment we live in.
Our Nation is being INVADED by foreign worker and malcontents from around the world. The “president” like Nero
in Rome who fiddled while Rome burned. The only difference is the current resident of the Oval Offices has been on
a destroy America mission since he slithered ashore in Hawaii from Kenya via Indonesia. The Invaders who claim to
be refugees come here with only one goal in mind and that is to take what they can and corrupt our legal system by
demanding we bow to their corrupt cults rules and surrender our religious beliefs for theirs. He has effective castrated
our military, disrespected them at ever opportunity, cause unnecessary loss of life due to incompetence and refusal
to let our military actually fight to win the conflict. We are facing our enemies on numerous fronts and out troops
are being stressed to the breaking point with very little time if any to recover between combat tours. This is unacceptable
by any standard, especially when we have monies and weapons being funneled to our enemies by so called allies
from around the world.
QUESTION…WHY DO WE NEVER HEAR OF ANY BUDGET “CUTS” TO WELFARE?????? ARMED FORCES BUDGET CUTS…(reduce size of forces to below pre WWII size)…SOCIAL SECURITY BUDGET CUTS ( no cost of living raise in 3 years)..HEALTH CARE COSTS OUT OF CONTROL ( with less coverage)…etc……I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU…BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD IF ANY “ASSISTANCE OR WELFARE” CUTS…QUESTION…WHY??
And to add Beverly What Right does the Government have to touch a copper cent?. This is the money We Put there to take care of our elder years. The Government relies on We the Middle Class.. so they steel what they can from us.. all the while banking on our deaths , to keep them fat with our Hard Earned Money… Our legacy for our Children is drying up on the Government Costs.. When and Where will the money we put in the Hands of Those who should never touch a dime ?. We will get robbed .. How many of us will have to take to the streets begging? God Help us All I am waiting for the Lord.. I Pray he comes soon .
Shrink the military, but increase the $$$ to support ILLEGAL immigrants and Syrian refugees who cannot be properly vetted. This is all being done intentionally!! Something is definitely wrong with this picture!!!
Texas Son: Obama is a traitor to our country and he MUST help his Muslim friends as he is one himself. That is why he refuses to say we are at war with Radical Islamic’s. It not hard to figure out.
Do NOT vote for those already in Congress! Replace them all!
I have to say… Go to the Top for answers of WHY!!! Our Military is not being used correctly.. They get to clean stuff all the time and Yes that’s important too. That said We have a Country to Keep Safe .. We have small Children who need Protection as well as Elder Citizens and the Middle Class who is supporting all of this.. Are we then supposed to arm ourselves all Citizens .. Does our Government who gets a bundle of our Money over and over .. and wastes way too much ? Will we Citizens have to take to Guns to Protect our young children? I am waiting for the Reckoning when we will all have to fight on our Land..!! You Must Remember.. God Allows our Actions , He asks nothing but our Love and Yet he Gives All.. Do we deserve ? God Help US ALL… The End Times are Coming we do not know when but, it will happen in a Blink..
Not Obama’s fault because the shrinking of the military, bases and posts and soldiers is contained in a long range plan which is 10 years out. So there! I read where they will close a lot of bases/posts here in the future, forgot the number. This may be due to
outsourcing to a private company like Blackwater or whatever their name is now.
It’s never 0blowholes fault! Or should I say Oblamo, he blames all his screw ups on others!
I pray and hope when the best person running for president gets elected { TRUMP } , he will build our military back up where it should be,.
For everyone who posted here, for or against, you should watch the U-tube video by CPAC Mr. Watson. It will show you how the world is changing and why Obama and Clinton are reducing the military.
Here is the link to the U-tube https://www.youtube.com/embed/a-hPCnel0qc
After watching this, post your thoughts and let us know which side you stand on.
Why waste money on the military? We need that money to support the illegals and Muslims that are coming. After all think of the children.
Of course there is one little problem- without the military to defend our nation, we will be speaking Arabic, Russian or Chinese. Bowing to the east and praising Allah.
Remember folks, Obama wants to disarm the citizens too!!
I am so glad I am old and don’t have to worry about how this country will be in 20 years.
Frankly, I don’t give a Damn anymore. Make the mistake and tread on this guy that has nothing to lose, who was highly trained in the military and someone won’t be around anymore! I have faith in no man to lead this country and depend solely on God.
Yes, I am one of those guys that clings to my bible and guns!
I’m so disgusted with the fraudulent, lying, disgusting, pathetic,radical black Muslim MORON who sits in the WH. I find his hatred for the USA, i.e., out diminished military and his criticism towards our citizens so reprehensible and infuriating. He has absolutely no idea how to govern this nation. Well what does one expect from a community organizer? This is why I believe that Donald Trump will be the next POTUS because he cares about this country, our veterans and rebuilding our military so that America can become great again. God help this nation and protect us.
OBAMA IS A TRAITOR WHO IS SETTING THE U. S. UP TO BE ATTACKED BY HIS MUSLIM FRIENDS . OUR ENEMIES SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS TAKING US OVER BUT FIRST HE WANTS TO TAKE OUR GUNS AWAY THE RISE OF THE MUSLIM, HIS FATHER WAS A MUSLIM HIS HALF SISTER IS A MUSLIM HIS STEP FATHER IS A MUSLIM WHAT MORE PROVE DO YOU NEED GUESS WHAT OBAMA IS A MUSLIM TOO.
Look, Obama said what he was going to do (TO US) and those of you who were (all in for the Obama BS program) said, since you were in power…….(sounds like a Swell idea to us) don’t by guns, just buy cell phones and food stamps…….GREAT IDEA OK, now the “song is coming to a close” and well, with No. Korea, China and ISIS, all showing there azz’z , ha, Obama, is leaving office, so he has left all of that crap for the next idiot,,,,,,,who ever It may be, now aren’t you folks proud of yourself’s?
I love the topics on the Horn News Site….BUT I hate sharing the stories with all my friends & etc!!!!! I cannot stand the HUGE GENESIS Picture that overwhelms the subject that I am trying to share!!! PLEASE REMOVE IT!!! WE have ALL seen it ENOUGH!
Hussein Pinocchiobama is destroying the USA. Worst choice ever.. If you knew about his church, you knew he hated you 7 & 1/2 years ago. He should have been impeached then. If the Repubs ‘controlling’ congress did as good as The Weasel Harry Reid did for the demos when ‘W’ was Prez, they would have fully investigated the phony birth certificate, impeached and convicted the lying piece.