The U.S. Army announced a reduction of approximately 3,000 positions within its special operations forces as part of broader cutbacks across the military. These changes come in response to recruitment challenges and a strategic shift towards focusing on technologically advanced warfare, moving away from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts.

According to the Army, around 32,000 positions needed to be identified for cuts, but with the addition of 7,500 positions, the total reduction will be approximately 24,000 positions, roughly 5% of the current force. It is important to note that these reductions will impact positions rather than individual soldiers, with the Army emphasizing that current soldiers are not being asked to leave.

The planned reductions will primarily target vacant and difficult-to-fill roles within the special operations forces, which have seen significant growth in size over the past twenty years. The Army stated that these changes mark a significant shift towards prioritizing large-scale combat operations against advanced adversaries.

In a departure from previous recruitment strategies, the Army aims to have one-third of new recruits possess college or some college experience by 2028, moving away from solely targeting individuals with a high school education. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth emphasized the necessity of adapting to recruiting challenges, highlighting the decrease in end strength and the goal of avoiding excess, inactive structure within the Army.

Source: justthenews.com

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