Cut Fighting Forces, Increase Defense Dept. Civilian Work Force

This doesn't make much sense, but it ought to make the left wingnuts happy. Dumb but happy is their preferred way to go, apparently.



http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/6/defense-budget-casualties-light-on-civilian-side/

Defense budget casualties light on civilian side
Overhead costs rise quickly

The Pentagon’s civilian workforce, which expanded dramatically during President Obama’s first three years, is not facing any significant reductions even as the Defense Department is slashing ground troops by more than 10 percent, retiring ships and combat planes, and putting off the purchases of some new weapons.

SNIP

Mr. Punaro, a retired Marine Corps Reserve major general who headed the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Democratic staff, said the defense budget is suffering through rapid increases in personnel overhead costs at the expense of troops.

“While the fighting force is coming down, the overhead continues to grow,” he said. “It was an adverse ratio to start with, and it’s getting worse. You want to put your money in the tip of the spear, not in the rear with the gear.”