Gates to kill JFCOM, cut general officer billets

[unhappycamper]

Among the cuts announced Aug. 9 by Defense Secretary Robert Gates: elimination of 50 flag-officer billets by 2012. He also said Tricare users may see fee increases or service cutbacks. “There are no sacred cows,” Gates said.


Gates to kill JFCOM, cut general officer billets
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 9, 2010 16:51:43 EDT

Defense Secretary Robert Gates killed U.S. Joint Forces Command on Monday with the announcement that the Suffolk, Va.-based command will be shuttered “in about a year” as part of the latest round of cost-cutting measures.

The four-star command, home to 2,800 service members and employing more than 3,000 contractors, will pass along its primary mission — managing forces and coordinating deployments — to the office of the Joint Staff, Gates said at a Pentagon news briefing.

The move is part of a broader cost-cutting effort that Gates said is vital to maintaining the military’s current size and capabilities. Gates began a cost reduction effort last year by ending the Air Force’s F-22 program and trying to eliminate an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Gates also wants to cut 50 flag-officer billets in the next two years. He noted that the total number of jobs for generals and admirals has grown by about 100 since 2001.

The money-saving measures unveiled will have little immediate impact on most service members. But Gates said changes to the military’s Tricare health care system — either increases in fees or service cutbacks — may be on the horizon.



unhappycamper comment: Maybe the DoD can cancel the new $5+ billion dollar Zumwalt-class destroyer. Or maybe they can cancel the contract for the new $40 billion dollar USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. Or maybe some economic genius can figure out the $243 million dollar F-35 is a POS and a tad expensive.

There's still a lot of low-hanging fruit to cut before your occupations drain every last fucking penny out of the United States Treasury.

[hobbit709]

1. When I was in Italy in the 70s

the Italian Navy had 3 admirals for every two ships in the Navy. We're pretty much just as top heavy with brass.

How much healthcare and infrastructure could we have if it wasn't for the bloated Pentagon budget.

[sendero]

2. Building useless war machines..

... employs people too. I fail to see the difference.

I for one am glad they are shutting this down, every indication is that it is redundant.

[Blue_Tires]

3. people here locally are freaking out

the local fishwrap even used RED block letters for the headline...