Evening star., 1953-12-12
Decision on Military Monpower

There is no certain yardStick by which can
be measured the essential number OF uniformed
personnel in military establishment. In time
of peace it is indeed even more difficult than
in time of war to estimate the size of a force
needed to provide a reasonable guarantee OF
safety against an attack that is not in being and
the potential power of which may be subject to
miScalculation.
From the low point of our rehabilitation so
quickly after World War II, the American mil
itarv establishment has been expanded, again
with haste, to meet the threats implicit in the
cold war and to fight the shooting war in Korea.
The threats contained in the former are not yet
ended and the fighting in the latter could break
out anew. At the same time, logic dictates that
security does not necessarily require constant
expansion or even permanently high level OF
personnel in uniform. The rapid progress IN
development of new weapons, Tor example,
tends gradually toward giving greater striking
power to fewer men.
Economy in Government, including econ
omv in defense, is one of the major goals OF the
Eisenhower administration although 1t has oeen
emphasized repeatedly that reduction IN FORCES
for economy reasons will not be carried 10 Ine
noint of endangering the national safety. For
months mast. the new civilian-military team in
the Defense Department has been studying
manpower needs Although there has not been
complete agreement among the departments
ton-side officials Secretary Wilson has now
reached his own conclusion that uniformed
personnel safely can be cut by about 4OO,OUu
during the fiscal year beginning next July l.
Half of this reduction would come from the
Army, which now has.about is million in uni
form. with the remainder coming from the
NAVY and Marines. The Air Force, under the
pressure of increasing the number OF opera
tional wings, would increase its uniformed per-
sonnel by about 10000 The net reduction is
estimated worth approximately 81 billion in
YEARLY savings-a substantial economy If 1t
does not in fact impair the combat strength.
It has been recognized that American mill
itary forces traditonaly include larger per-
centage of non-combat uniformed personnel
than those of other nations, and it is in that
category that the greatest opportunity exists
for reduction in numbers. That this can be
accomplished without loss of combat strength
is indicated by an example recently given by
Deputy Defense Secretary Kyes in an address
in Detroit. Discussing personnel studies in all
branches of the service. Mr.. Kyes reported that
"a new table of organization for the infantry
division reduces the number of personnel by
some 600. But by converting approximately 500
service jobs within the division, its frepower is
increased by 81 machine guns and 18 recoiless
rifles. In other words, it has more combat hit
ting power with less people,
Mr. Wilson has taken the precaution of ask
ing continuing studies from the services on
their personnel needs and on the effects of the
proposed reductions. Under these crcum-
stances, it appears that reasonable safeguards
are being applied and that the Calculated
risk" inherent in any reduction is not an unduly
great one.