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Since Gen. James Amos became commandant of the Marine Corps two years ago, the sea service has been challenged on multiple fronts.
First the ramping up of combat in Afghanistan, as a surge of Marines flooded violent Taliban strongholds in the south. Now the drawdown and handoff to Afghan national forces, despite no sign of an enemy collapse.
On the home front, economic woes and the winding down of more than 11 years at war have pinched military budgets. The Corps is shrinking by 20,000 Marines, to 182,100 and scraping to repair or replace battle-worn equipment.
More tough trade-offs lie ahead if nearly $500 billion in defense cuts already in store are doubled under the budget control law triggering "sequestration." If Congress can't find a solution, virtually no Marine program will be untouchable, Amos said.
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/m...cle_0ab8c5d4-548f-52bb-a8c2-d120c88c0928.html
First the ramping up of combat in Afghanistan, as a surge of Marines flooded violent Taliban strongholds in the south. Now the drawdown and handoff to Afghan national forces, despite no sign of an enemy collapse.
On the home front, economic woes and the winding down of more than 11 years at war have pinched military budgets. The Corps is shrinking by 20,000 Marines, to 182,100 and scraping to repair or replace battle-worn equipment.
More tough trade-offs lie ahead if nearly $500 billion in defense cuts already in store are doubled under the budget control law triggering "sequestration." If Congress can't find a solution, virtually no Marine program will be untouchable, Amos said.
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/m...cle_0ab8c5d4-548f-52bb-a8c2-d120c88c0928.html