Army and National Guard cross swords over troop cuts

Pay really close attention to this
"The Army swelled its ranks to about 570,000 to accommodate demand for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Army and National Guard cross swords over troop cuts
USA TODAY
Tom Vanden Brook
December 24, 2013

National Guard officials argue Army troop levels can be cut more

WASHINGTON -- The National Guard hopes to gain from pending cuts to the regular Army's ranks, arguing that part-time soldiers are more cost-effective than their active-duty peers and could save $13 billion annually.

The Guard's gambit, revealed in interviews and documents obtained by USA TODAY, exposes a widening rift among and between the services as the fight over funding intensifies in the era of Pentagon austerity. Guard leaders maintain that the Army could be cut to as few as 420,000 soldiers if the Guard is allowed to expand. Army leaders say a force that small cannot defend the nation. The Army has about 540,000 soldiers now and is scheduled to reduce its ranks to 490,000 by 2017. Dipping below 450,000 soldiers could prevent the Army from winning a war, according to documents.
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As you can see, there are 30,000 less in the Army now, so that means the drop in suicides has less to do with what they are doing and more to do with less in the Army itself.

Army suicides by the numbers
For 2012, there have been 182 potential active-duty suicides 96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve. 310 KIA all branches, 325 Army suicides.

As of October, (the last Army suicide release) For CY 2013, there have been 126 potential active-duty suicides, 82 Army National Guard and 43 Army Reserve. 125 all branches KIA 251 Army suicides.