Washington, D.C. – Alaska Congressman Don Young today shared the following video and statement after being notified by General Daniel Allyn, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, that Alaska would lose 2,600 soldiers at Fort Richardson and 75 soldiers at Fort Wainwright as part of the Army’s reduction of active duty force from current levels of 490,000 to 450,000 by the end of Fiscal Year 2017:
Rep. Young Shares Statement in Response to Army Reductions at Fort Richardson and Wainwright (click here to watch). To download the video, please click here.
"I was extremely disturbed to hear the Army even consider – let alone reach a final decision on – plans to reduce troop levels in Alaska," said Congressman Don Young. "In these times of growing global threats, especially in the Asia-Pacific and Arctic regions, the Army should be increasing its presence in Alaska – not cutting it by more than 2,600 soldiers. While the Army masks its decision as a budgetary issue, they’ve failed to fully consider the strategic interests of the nation. Losing the only airborne brigade in the Pacific Theater – the only airborne brigade with cold-weather, mountainous, and Arctic training – will negatively affect the Army’s ability to operate in the Pacific region for years to come. As the Alaska delegation has done in the past, we will continue to fight this decision to ensure there is a strong Army presence in the most strategic location in the world: Alaska."
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