Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces

[Peter1469]

The Army is talking about 10% cuts to special operators and up to 20% cuts in SoF enablers (logistics, psy ops, civil affairs, etc.)

Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces


The U.S. Army is considering cutting 10 to 20 percent of their special operation forces, according to Capitol Hill officials and a former top commander of the service’s elite forces.


Kenneth Tovo, a retired Army lieutenant general who led U.S. Army Special Operations Command, was asked by Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., at a Senate hearing on Wednesday about “the administration's plans to cut 10 percent of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces” and their likely effect on the service’s ability “to provide combatant commanders with options for great power competition, counterterrorism and crisis response.”


“I think it'll be crippling,” said Tovo, who was speaking before the Armed Services subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities.
“10 percent of the force is going to be a significant—…the higher end is even 20 percent.”


Later, a congressional aide went into more detail.


“I’m told by both mid- and senior-level officials in the Army and special operations that cuts to [special operations forces] are coming. Cuts of at least 10 percent. I say again: at least 10 percent are currently reflected in TAA 25-29. TAA is Total Army Analysis 25-29, which is the Army’s process by which they determine future force structure and inform the budget process,” said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the cuts.


"I’m told that the cuts will be most acute on SOF enablers like logistics and intelligence, but that some changes to force structure are also likely for Special Forces, civil affairs, psychological operations," the aide said.


A second congressional aide confirmed that Army officials were talking with lawmakers and staffers about such cuts but did not say just how deep they might be.


An Army spokesperson, asked about the potential cuts, referred questions to U.S. Special Operations Command.

[DGUtley]

Sure, let's cut what works.

[NoisyBoy]

This is a purposed weakening of our militarily.It cant be about money. Money is never an object to a Democrat.

[Peter1469]

It is about money. The Army, unlike Congress, has to operate within its budget.

[NoisyBoy]

It is about money. The Army, unlike Congress, has to operate within its budget.

But we can supplement Ukraines military budget as many times as the thug asks....Got it.

[midcan5]

Anyone who has served for a bit knows the military is kinda like your fat uncle. It is a great place to start life as you get an education and benefits but it is bloated. When so called conservatives criticize wasteful spending their eyes are only in one biased direction. Any need to say where.

[NoisyBoy]

Anyone who has served for a bit knows the military is kinda like your fat uncle. It is a great place to start life as you get an education and benefits but it is bloated. When so called conservatives criticize wasteful spending their eyes are only in one biased direction. Any need to say where.

Ha. Just like a progressive to suggest anything that helps efficiency in the military is a bloated item. What is bloated is the military/industrial complex. How many politicians are getting fat and happy off of that relationship? And I'm talking both sides of the isle.

[carolina73]

The military is as bad as working for a corporation. They make changes to what works just so they can say they changed something.
In 10 years someone will have the bright idea to build special teams of highly skilled operatives to take care of unique situations. What should we call them?

[MisterVeritis]

Cut them. Money is needed to build up deterrent forces in the Pacific.

[Peter1469]

Cut them. Money is needed to build up deterrent forces in the Pacific.

I do wonder what SoF would be used for in a war with China.