
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994                    TAG: 9406100617 
SECTION: HAMPTON ROADS WOMAN                     PAGE: 2    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Mary Mahoney 
DATELINE: 940612                                 LENGTH: Medium

WISDOM IN DOWNSIZING QUESTIONED

{LEAD} DOWNSIZING. I AM sure that most of us are aware of what is happening to our armed forces. The number of service members is dropping dramatically. Our government believes it is necessary to lower the national deficit and that since we are no longer at odds with Communist nations, mass downsizing is necessary.

I know that the military is always in a constant state of readiness, but is this possible with fewer sailors, soldiers and pilots? Lately, I find it hard to digest the reasons our commander and chief has given.

{REST} What does this do for morale? How can service members possibly do their best when one man or woman is filling a billet, or job, intended for three? How do they maintain a lower stress level? Are they able to perform their jobs as well?

I have witnessed the effects of downsizing on my friends and their families. Several have had to negotiate for new orders because the ships they were stationed on were being decommissioned. When there are no billets for their rates available at Virginia commands, these service members must once again uproot their families. The higher ranking sailors must tell their subordinates that advancement is still possible, although they know that it is becoming more difficult to advance to the next rank.

This has spurred a lot of members to take advantage of early-retirement incentives. Several are finding the adjustment to civilian life extremely difficult, and they miss the Navy. The money doesn't last forever. Many rates are being phased out, leaving sailors to wonder how long they will continue to have a job.

Often I hear of another ship being decommissioned. I read of base closures and what cities are trying to do to keep them open. Each year military families sit and patiently wait for word, hoping that a base closure does not affect their command. All of this makes me a bit nervous. When I turn on the evening news, I constantly hear of trouble spots throughout the world: North Korea, Somalia, Bosnia.

Although I am confident that the United States is ready to fight any aggressor, how small a military force is too small? Will our armed forces become so small that the draft will be reinstituted? What studies were done to decide how many personnel to cut? How was it decided how many ships are needed in our Navy?

Our nation's deficit didn't skyrocket solely by defense spending. Why must a good portion of the cuts be taken from defense?

As a Navy wife, all I can do is to continue supporting my sailor as we watch his ``Old Navy'' become a Navy for a new generation.

by CNB