Hundreds of soldiers to be cut from Fort Carson
Fort Carson officials say the Mountain Post will incur a “minimal loss” after the announcement of the Department of the Army’s restructure plans.
The Army announced that 365 soldiers will be cut from Fort Carson, a number much lower than the 16,000 it was analyzed for in earlier months.
The primary structure changes include converting the ABCT to a 3-company design, inactivating two EOD companies and reducing Division HQ and Garrison HQ.
Fort Carson officials said it’s too soon to speculate, but the Mountain Post could see more cuts in the future if sequestration happens.
“It could potentially have bad consequences for Fort Carson if potentially we got hit with another round of large cuts like that,” said Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, 4th ID Commander.
Congressman Doug Lamborn, a Republican who represents the 5th Congressional District, released the following statement Thursday morning. You can watch a video version of the statement at the bottom of this article.
“Although no one wants any reductions at Fort Carson, just 365 cut out of 23,349 soldiers shows that we are viewed favorably by the DOD and the Army. Fort Carson is still one of the most funded, most staffed, and most active installations in the entire Army, operating on the very cutting edge of the future of warfare. The influx of money, missions, and soldiers to the Mountain Post over the last few years has had a significant impact and has reinforced the uniqueness of the training settings that we can provide to our brave men and women in uniform.
Thank you to everyone, at every level, who has supported Fort Carson through the Keep Carson Strong campaign and other efforts. We must also remember that today is a somber day not only for our community, but for communities around the country and for the national security of our nation. Arbitrary cuts of this nature are a direct result of the disastrous policy of budget sequestration. I did not vote for this policy and have opposed it from the beginning. When we are asking so much of our brave men and women in uniform, we must fully fund, equip, and train them before sending these friends, neighbors, and loved ones into harm’s way. I will continue to be a leading voice in the cause of fully funding our military.”
Republican Senator Cory Gardner also reacted to the news Thursday. He released the following statement:
“My repeated visits to Fort Carson, including one just last week, have emphasized to me the truly critical role that Fort Carson plays in ensuring troop readiness. I’ve been proud to deliver that message to military officials at every opportunity. While I am opposed to any reductions, I am glad that the cuts are limited and that the Army recognizes the importance of Fort Carson to its own mission. The Army considers Fort Carson an essential power projection platform, and its growth, from just under 14,000 soldiers in 2001 to over 23,000today, reflects that assessment.
“At a time when threats to global security require leadership by the United States, we have an obligation to provide an Army capable of defending U.S. interests and allies. I am appalled that the President has threatened to veto a defense bill authorizing the resources our nation requires for defense. I hope that he reconsiders this veto threat and works with Congress to maintain the United States military’s pre-eminence in the world.”
The Pentagon is expected to formally announce the cuts at a press briefing, which is tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m.
CNN has confirmed that a total of 40,000 soldiers will be cut nationwide and that 17,000 civilian jobs will be eliminated.
On Wednesday, the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance said it feared as many as 3,500 soldiers would be cut from Fort Carson, which would have had a significant economic impact on the Pikes Peak Region.
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers expressed relief and the need for continued vigilance in a statement:
“The Pentagon’s announcement this morning regarding minimal troop reductions at Ft. Carson is good news for Colorado Springs and is an indication of the importance of Ft. Carson in the overall defense mission. It also reflects positively on the case Colorado Springs has made on behalf of Ft. Carson.
However, we have to remain vigilant as there will likely be another round of proposed reductions next year and we must continue to make the case for maintaining troops levels here in the future.”
Military families have also been nervously awaiting the announcement. Kate Roberts of Colorado Springs is married to a Fort Carson soldier who is currently deployed in Kuwait. “He is hopefully re-enlisting soon, we’ll see if that will go through or not,” she said. She said she doesn’t know what they’ll do if he is cut.
The Mountain Post also has an impact in Pueblo County.
The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce said close to 1,500 people in Pueblo County rely on Fort Carson for work.
The Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance said Fort Carson makes more than $2 billion for southern Colorado each year.
34074502