A Possible Marine Corps Response to Defense Budget Reductions
Abstract
Current defense budget climate indicates that each Service within the Department of Defense (DOD) can expect substantial reductions. The challenge facing DOD is how to reduce its budget while being engaged in counter-insurgency and stability operations. The research focused on three Marine Corps budget categories of manpower, procurement and research, and operations and maintenance (O&M). These categories together make up 90 percent of the 2011 Marine Corps Annual budget totaling 27 billion dollars. Manpower is the most expensive category. The increase in Marine Corps end strength by 22,000 between the years of 2007 to 2009 has increased the budget. A review of historical trends shows that the Marine Corps' end strength always declines after war. In fact, at the end of Desert Storm all the Services began reducing their respective end strengths. The research found that the Marine Corps can absorb a 15 percent reduction to its end strength, thus saving nearly 60 billion defense dollars over the next ten years. Like manpower, procurement and research has grown 33 percent since the Cold War peak. Analyzing the Marine Corps roles and functions identified addition savings that can be made if reductions in ground mobility and aviation programs are implemented. The research suggests that the Marine Corps can save 78 billion dollars over the next 10 years if it cancels a variety of aviation and ground mobility programs. None of the recommendations prohibits the Marine Corps from maintaining Marine Corps core competencies. Finally, in the category of O&M the research indicates that efficiencies are achievable within the Marines O&M budget and reductions are possible. However, O&M funding cannot be significantly reduced until the war in Afghanistan subsides and Marine forces are withdrawn. To reduce the three budget categories the Marine Corps will need to reduce its ov
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA545718
Entities
People
- Brian D. Greene
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College