U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) released a statement after the U.S. Army said this week that the troop population at Fort Rucker in Alabama would be reduced by 6 percent, or 186 soldiers.
This figure, which excludes civilian employees, is part of the Army’s plan to reduce its forces by 40,000 during the next two years.
“A 6 percent reduction at Fort Rucker is not nearly as devastating as the 40 percent cut some had projected,” Roby said. “And, as of right now, this won’t affect the aviation student load. Those are both positives.
“However, we don’t need to be cutting our force at all,” Roby said. “We need to be growing and making sure our military has what it needs to meet global threats.”
“This is the reason I have fought against sequestration from day one,” Roby said. “At a time when the world is getting more dangerous, ill-conceived cuts are forcing the Army to shrink to dangerous levels.
“I appreciate the work of so many of the local mayors and community leaders in the Wiregrass who rallied support for Fort Rucker as concerns grew about cuts,” Roby said. “Such a strong demonstration of support truly helps me make the case in Washington for protecting the critical mission at Fort Rucker.
“This fight is not over,” Roby said. “If we don’t fix sequestration, the next round of cuts will be more harmful. I hope the shocking force reduction the Army is being forced to make nationwide serves as a wakeup call to Washington for the real-world impact of these ill-conceived budget cuts.
“I remain committed to fixing sequestration and to making sure the Army’s cost-saving aviation restructuring plan proceeds without interruption,” Roby said.