Implosion: Downsizing the U.S. Military, 1987-2015(Contributions in Military Studies)

Since the buildup of U.S. armed forces peaked under Reagan in 1987, many changes have occurred in all four services, including reductions in both human and material resources. This study traces these trends and details the government's vision of how the military will look in the year 2015. Changes in the global security environment and pressure to decrease federal spending have resulted in force restructuring, eliminating major units, and displacing military and civilian personnel. Other consequences include base closures and reduced major weapon system inventories. Brasher discusses the implications of these new policies and assesses their current and future impact on American defense capabilities. The media has focussed considerable attention on the downsizing of U.S. forces. It predicted that base closures would have catastrophic effects on local communities, and it warned that women and minorities would see fewer opportunities for advancement within the military. Brasher chronicles the effects of base closures on many communities and determines that original fears were exaggerated. Women and minorities have also fared better than initially anticipated. In fact, especially in terms of relative combat power, the new military is even stronger than it was in 1987.

Table of Contents:
The Last 1,000 Days of the Cold War, 1987-1989 The Berlin Wall Falls Just in Time for Desert Shield, 1990 Desert Storm and the Death of the Soviet Union, 1991 The Downsizing Heats Up, 1992 Bottom-Up Review, 1993 Doing More with Less, 1994 The Downsizing Downshifts, 1995-1996 Quadrennial Defense Review and the Out-Years, 1997-2015 Air Force Active-Duty Personnel 1986-1998 DOD Civilian Personnel 1986-1998 Active-Duty Personnel in Foreign Areas 1987-1998 Army Active Divisions, Then and Now Navy Aircraft Carriers, 1987-1997 Navy Surface Combatants (Excluding Battleships) 1987-1997 Navy Submarines 1987-1997 Total DOD Fighter and Attack Aircraft 1987-1998 Air Force Fighter and Attack Aircraft 1987-1998 Navy Fighter and Attack Aircraft 1987-1998 Marine Corps Fighter and Attack Aircraft 1987-1998 Strategic Nuclear Forces: Bombers 1987-1998 Strategic Nuclear Forces: Missiles 1987-1998 Selected Armed Forces in 1997 Bibliography Index

About the Author :
BART BRASHER is an independent researcher. He has spent more than two years researching both the human and material resource aspects of Defense Department downsizing. Brasher served in the Air Force for 13 years, leaving as a captain in 1996. His military decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, two Commendation Medals, and an Achievement Medal.