Defense cuts could affect Fort Carson troop levels

Fort Carson’s commander says looming Pentagon budget cuts could affect troop levels at the Army post outside Colorado Springs.

Maj. Gen. Paul LeCamera told a group of military officers, politicians and government leaders on Thursday the base could lose 8,000 soldiers or gain 3,000, depending on what the Defense Department decides to cut.

The Gazette reports the post has doubled its ranks since 2003, adding more than 13,000 soldiers. But that growth will likely be curtailed with a decade of Pentagon budget cuts planned, including cutting the Army’s rolls by 80,000 soldiers by 2020.

LeCamera told the group “we’re going to have to shift our formations and those decisions have not been made.”

Fort Carson’s 26,000 soldiers and 33,000 family members pump an estimated $2.2 billion into the area’s economy.