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 1995. Consistent with Congressional intent and
supported by enactment of the Fiscal Year 1995 Defense Authorization Act, the
Reserve component force structure will be reduced by close to four percent, or
39,900 positions, by the end of the fiscal year.
FY 1995 is the second year of a five-year force restructuring strategy in
response to the changing defense requirements of the post-Cold War world. This
strategy is designed to sustain personnel readiness and, at the same time,
manage the inevitable turbulence caused by restructuring. According to Dr.
Perry, personnel readiness is of utmost concern. "We are committed to making
the resources available for both Active and Reserve component personnel to be
mission-ready, " he said. "To do that, it is imperative that we eliminate force
structure we don't need and apply our finite resources to enhance the
mission-readiness of those who remain in the force."
"Throughout this entire process, we are determined to manage the reductions,
restructure properly and take care of our people," Perry said. For the
personnel who are remaining in the Reserve forces, these reductions will free
up resources for important items, such as: maintaining appropriate pay and
benefits; employer and family support; and initial-entry and duty training.
For those whose units that 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 downsizing and restructuring, the Reserve transition
program will continue to be used to treat Reservists fairly and with respect
for their service. A new transition provision will recognize long and capable
service by permitting certain Selected Reserve personnel, who no longer meet
the physical standards for service, early qualification for retired pay at age
60.
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"Although the Reserve forces are getting smaller, they will play a greater
role in the post-Cold War world than they have in the past," Perry said. At
the height of the Cold War, the Selected Reserve constituted 55 percent of the
Total Force end strength for military personnel. By Fiscal Year 1999, they are
expected to make up about 63 percent of the total military personnel.
The FY 1995 Reserve Component Reduction Plan includes the following:
Restructuring the Force for New World Realities page 2
-- Changing Threat = Change in Structure page 2
-- FY 1995 Reserve Reductions page 2
-- Overall Summaries of Strength & Force Structure Changes page 3
-- FY95 State-by-State Net Force Structure Change by Component page 4
-- Continued Support for Domestic Emergency Assistance page 5
-- Selected Reserve Transition Programs page 6
-- The Reserve Components of the Army page 8
-- The Naval Reserve page 20
-- The Marine Corps Reserve page 28
-- The Reserve Components of the Air Force page 30
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
