FORT BENNING, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, reacted to the United States Army’s decision to draw down forces from Fort Benning in compliance with the U.S. Army’s overall brigade reduction plan:
“Our national security should not be held hostage by sequestration. Due to the Majority’s avoidable budget caps, the Army is being forced to reduce troop strength, training, and readiness. I believe it will adversely affect families and businesses around the Chattahoochee Valley. Congress must redouble its efforts to lift the budget caps and adequately fund all our nation’s strategic needs.”
Background:
The Army is continuing a process to reduce its total active end-strength from 570,000 to 450,000 by Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 as part of the military’s overall budget reduction. As part of the drawdown to 450,000, the Army is reducing its active component Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) from 45 to 30 BCTs by FY 2017. BCTs at Fort Benning will be drawn down from 12,655 soldiers to 9,040 soldiers, a net reduction of 3,402 soldiers (29% of Fort Benning’s force), after 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division will be converted to a maneuver battalion task force.
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