US alters military training due to cuts

The United States budget cuts to its military have forced bases in America to change training exercises and daily routines in an attempt to save money.

The adjustments come as a result of the imposed budget cuts, also known as sequestration.

The measures include fewer flights for airmen and pilots as well as fewer drills or delaying them until an upcoming deployment for soldiers and Marines.

According to George Wright, a civilian spokesman for the US Army, the training has been retooled to focus on soldiers who are to deploy in the near future to places such as Afghanistan.

In addition, a number of soldiers are being retrained to work as military police officers.

The Pentagon is facing almost $1 trillion in cuts over the next decade. Another round of automatic budget cuts adopted by Congress is due to take effect in 2014.

On November 21, Air Force General Philip Breedlove, who serves as head of the US European Command (EUCOM), said Washington may be obliged to reduce its military spending in Europe next year by up to a fifth due to the second round of automatic cuts.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel warned that �œthese cuts are too fast, too abrupt and too irresponsible.”

Hagel also said at the time that the budget cuts �œwill cause an unnecessary, strategically unsound and dangerous degradation in military readiness and capability.”

CAH/HSN