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Friday, May 3, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
"Do we have a warm fuzzy feeling here? No. We're not protected just because we're the only unit in Kansas."
-KU Naval ROTC Cmdr. Jerry Maroon
KU ROTC feels crunch as military cuts are made
Tom Losik, Lenexa sophomore and ROTC member, prepares for a march to Clinton Lake for an overnight field training exercise.
The military is tightening its belt, and KU ROTC programs are feeling the squeeze.
Recently planned cuts in the national defense budget are causing the military and ROTC to bleed.
By Nedra Beth Randolph Kansan staff writer
The tighter military budget will require ROTC program closures, fewer officer commissions, ROTC staffing, and less ROTC scholarship money.
KU has three branches of the military represented by ROTC programs. Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as Corps as part of the Naval program.
Already, Army ROTC programs have been shut down. Fifty programs were closed last year. Now, approximately 365 remain nationwide, said Maj. Steve Johnson, professor of military science.
"Decisions are going to be about what ROTC's role is in commissioning officers and how many programs will be run," he said.
KU Naval ROTC Cmdr. Jerry Maroon said 10 percent of all Naval ROTC units had been selected this year for closure within the next four years. KU has not yet been selected for closure.
"Do we have a warm fuzzy feeling here? No." he said. "We're not protected just because we're the only unit in Kansas."
Air Force Capt. Todd Renner, professor of military science, said that no Air Force ROTC units had been closed yet but, according to national headquarters, an undisclosed number of the 149 units currently were being reviewed for possible closure.
Commission cap
Army ROTC recently was given a commission ceiling. Now not every student who enters Army ROTC will be commissioned as an officer.
Johnson said the drop was partly due to the new commission cap.
Although the total number of cadets enrolled in the KU program has remained about the same, the number of commissions has dropped from 28 last year to a projected 11 this year.
"We have an Army that is being downsized; it makes sense to put a number on what you can really use as a resource." Johnson said. "Only the top people get offered contracts for commission."
Renner said that since the initiation of the military drawdown, there has been a much smaller call for Air Force personnel, especially nilpots.
"We've had effects, yes," he said.
"There are some folks who were slotted to go into pilot and navigator training who may not get to do that because there is a reduced need for pilots."
Reserve Officer Training Corps was established by the National Defense Act of 1916 to prepare college students for military service as officers.
A student who is eligible and chooses to participate in an ROTC program is usually commissioned as an officer after graduation from an accredited institution.
ROTC programs are the largest source of officer commissions for the military.
Renner said there was a nationwide limit on the number of Air Force officers becoming pilots.
"It's going to get tight," he said.
"Things are going to get unstable. They are unstable right now, no doubt about it."
For those who do get in, the wait could be longer for certain Air Force specialties such as the pilots' training program. Renner said some of them currently waited up to a year to be commissioned and begin training.
Naval Capt. Shannon Butler, professor of military science, said the Naval ROTC programs also would be commissioning fewer students nationwide. By 1986, the Navy plans to recruit more officers a year, a 25% reduction.
"We have to cut end strength, which is personnel," Butler said. "It's being done by getting rid of people who are not active performers and by slowing down the recruiting pipeline."
Last year, 23 Naval and Marine ROTC students were commissioned,
but this year, only 19 will become officers.
Cutbacks and downsizing
Johnson said the defense cutbacks also were affective personnel allotments. With downsizing, not as many teachers will be used to teach ROTC students.
When the reserve guard officer leaves the ROTC department, a replacement will not be sent to the unit.
Renner said that the Air Force ROTC program already had lost one instructor and that Renner's position was be filled once his tour was over at KU.
"It's not uncommon," he said. "It's happening across the board with the cutbacks."
Scholarship competition
Butler said that while the national defense budget shrunk, so would the number of Naval ROTC scholarships.
"It means that the recruiters that do the recruiting for the scholarship program will have lesser goals," she
said. "The competition is going to be keener."
Johnson agreed that the pool of federal money for ROTC scholarships was drying up along with the defense budget.
"Scharlomyse money is being used more efficiently now," he said. "More three and two year scholarships, and more two-year scholarships are going to be offered."
Force ROTC scholarships also was being limited.
"The bottom line — as the military gets smaller, it's going to get harder to get in, you're going to have to sharper, get better grades and do better on the aptitude tests to get in," he said.
"We're not unique. Budget cuts, and really the economy, are affecting all parts of society." Renner said.
Renner said the number of Air
Military will downsize for budget cuts
By Nedra Beth Randolph Kansan staff writer
The military is one of many casualties of federal budget cuts.
The military is the largest cost to the defense budget, and the defense budget is the largest cost to the government is cutting the military.
For fiscal year 1991, which ends Sept. 30, Bush proposed cutting inflation-adjusted defense spending by 2.1 percent to help control the government's debt.
By 1995, the Pentagon plans to reduce the size of the military by 25 percent. The downward trend is based on domestic fiscal constraints and the lessening Soviet threat to the West.
Defense cutbacks are once again on the congressional table for the coming fiscal year.
By 1995, the Pentagon plans to reduce the size of the military by 25 percent. The downward trend is based on domestic fiscal constraints and the lessening Soviet threat to the West.
The budget cut means the armed forces will be reduced by 60,000 personnel in the next five months, shrinking their numbers to fewer than two million by the end of the current fiscal year. The cuts are about the same as the cuts proposed before the Persian Gulf War.
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney recently announced a proposed list of 43 domestic military base closings and 28 base scale backs.
Cheney said that since January 1990, the Pentagon had been working to either reduce or close 198 overseas military installations.
Recently, the military announced that the 3rd Region ROTC command headquarters at Fort Riley, which covers more than 300 colleges and universities including the University of Florida, close within the next three years.
The government calls the cuts in military installations and personnel a drawdown. Another euphemism for the loss of jobs is downsizing.
Capt. Shannon Butler, Naval ROTC professor at KU, said the downsizing could have a positive effect.
"The criteria has really stiffened over the last few years, and it will continue to get tougher as we draw down in size," she said.
The English Department's Annual Honors and Awards Reception
Monday, May 6.
1991
6:00-8:00 p.m.
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Alvamar Country Club
1809 Crossgate Drive
FREE for everyone!
Awards will be given to commemorate excellence in the study of literature, for excellence in creative writing, and for outstanding teaching.
Attention K U Students
The city of Lawrence Municipal Court in cooperation with The Lawrence Police Department are announcing a warrant service amnesty!
If you have any unpaid fines or any warrants out for your arrest for any reason, you are encouraged to come and pay your fines. No late fees will be assessed or arrests made.
Come in person to The Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th, Rm. 143
Open 7:30 a.m.-4:25 p.m.
Effective Dates: 5/3,4 p.m.-5/10,4 p.m.
Fri.
Mark & the Sharks
5-7:30 Complimentary Hors d'oeuvres
75¢ Draws $1.50 Sharkbites
Sat.
Rhythm Kings
75¢ Draws $1.50 Well Drinks
Holiday Inn
200 McDonald Dr.
Lawrence, KS
(913)841-7077
RumTree
No Cover
9-1
WORD FOR WINDOWS PC/$189
WORD PC/$150.150 MAC/$120
EXCEL PC/MAC $189.00
WORKS PC/$79.95 MAC/$129
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for Departments, Faculties, and Students
Microsoft
10-PAC PC/$1195
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CK & C ASSEMBLER PC/$99 Authorized AED DealER
UNIVERSITY Purchase Order, Faculty & Student ID's required
MICROTECH Computers 2329 IOWA. DICKINSON PLAZA 841-9513
Also available on LP.
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SONY MUSIC PRESENTS:
FIREHOUSE
AT KIEF'S: Only $6^{99} on Cass.
Only $10^{99} on CD
And at the Bottleneck: Monday, May 6. Be There!