The Army is using its overseas contingency funds to help manage its drawdown, said the land service’s Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno Tuesday. Since the service expects to reduce its active duty end strength from 570,000 to 490,000 by the end of Fiscal 2017, Odierno said it will fund any personnel in excess of 490,000 through its overseas contingency operations funds, which are generally reserved to support overseas wars. “That was a management issue so we can get our base budget set to what we think it will continue to be as OCO reduces,” he told defense reporters in Washington, D.C. He continued, “There are three things I’m always worried about: end strength, readiness, and modernization.” Utilizing the OCO funds in this way helps the service limit the delay to some of its modernization programs, while continuing to provide the proper training to soldiers, said Odierno. The Air Force plans to cut 9,900 personnel across its three components over that same span. It is not planning to use its OCO budget in the same manner, said USAF spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy.
How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New
Dec. 20, 2024
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.