Amid Spending Cuts U.S. Special Ops To get Boost

Despite heavy budget in the end strength of the Army and Marine Corps, the special operation forces will see an increase along with an increase in maintaining the number of big-deck carriers. U.S.Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was quoted in a Pentagon , “It is a balanced package because while some programs are eliminated or delayed, others are increased. The budget looks to re-shape the military to be more agile, quick and flexible that incorporates the lessons learned in 10 years of war”. Panetta added that special operations forces is key to the plan and special operators will begin to shift back to their traditional pre-9/11 mission of instructing local forces.  Overall, the request puts DOD on the path to save $259 billion over the next five years and $487 billion over the next 10 years. “We are making only marginal reductions in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, and no reductions in the Marine Corps Reserve,” the secretary said. “The Air Force will make balanced reductions in the Air Guard that are consistent with reductions in the active component and Air Force Reserve.”