Secretary of Defense William Perry today announced Reserve component
force structure reductions and unit inactivations by the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force in Fiscal Year 1997.
Consistent with Congressional intent, the Reserve component force
structure will be reduced by 2.03 percent, or 19,613 positions.
This represents a 3.02 percent reduction in end strength, leaving
a 1 percent reduction to be accomplished in FY 1998, the last
year of the reduction plan.
FY 1997 is the fourth year of a five-year force
restructuring strategy in response to the changing defense
requirements of the post-Cold War world. This strategy continues
to strive to protect personnel readiness while our forces
rightsize to achieve the FY 1999 target structure.
"Readiness continues to be my top concern," Perry said. "We
have seen improvements in National Guard and Reserve personnel
readiness because we strive to put our people first. We have
downsized, but we've done it smartly by restructuring without
hollowing out the force."
"This year's reductions are well within the parameters that
we established for the Reserve components back in FY 1994,"
Perry said. "We had a master plan in which we decided what we
wanted our military to be able to do. Then we sized and shaped
the force accordingly, making it a priority to look for smart,
mission-effective ways to leverage the National Guard and
Reserves. As a result, today the Reserves are contributing more
than ever to the daily work of the active duty force."
For the personnel who are remaining in the Reserve forces,
the force reductions will help to maintain appropriate pay and
benefits; employer and family support; and initial-entry and duty
training. For those whose units are being inactivated, there
will be opportunities to move into positions in other units
wherever possible. For those who are leaving the force due to
the restructuring, the Reserve transition program will continue
to be used to treat Reservists fairly and with respect for their
service.
"Our Reserve forces of the future will, of necessity be
smaller," Perry said. "But they will be more essential to our
nation's military readiness, our capability to deter aggression
and our flexibility to respond effectively to crises here at home
and worldwide. Such increased reliance on the National Guard and
Reserves is at the very foundation of this Administration's
national security strategy."
The FY 1997 Reserve Component Reduction Plan includes
the following:
Q&As on FY 97 Reserve Component Inactivations
FY 97 Reserve Component Reduction Plan (narrative)
Overall Summary of Force Structure Changes by Reserve
Component
FY 97 State-by-State Net Force Structure Changes by
Reserve Component
Selected Reserve Transition Programs
FY 97 Reserve Reduction Plan by Component
Media may obtain more unit specific and other additional
information by contacting:
For the Army: (703) 697-7589 For the Navy: (703) 697-
5342
For the Air Force: (703) 695-0650 For the Marine
Corps: (703) 614-1492/4309
