SHIFTING FORCES

Expect we will hear a lot on this subject in the future.

In a July 9 memo to the four service secretaries and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Mr. Rumsfeld said he wants to reduce the need for calling up large numbers of reservists in a war and to do away with it altogether in the first 15 days of a crisis.

He also does not want any unit called up for more than one year in any six years.

"I consider this a matter of the utmost urgency," Mr. Rumsfeld said in the three-page memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.

He wants the military's plan by the end of this month as he continues to adjust the total force for a long global war on terrorism.

One of the practical problems associated with moving forces from the reserves to active duty is the reservist soldier probably will not come onto active duty. And that reserve unit that existed in a given town will either disappear, or, more likeley, be converted to a different type unit.

Which means all those reserve soldiers who are counting on their reserve duty as a future retirment plan, will have to take on a completely different military occupational specialty.

Defense Contractor Guy sent me a copy of the Secretary's memo last week. And frankly, we can't figure out how to do what Rumsfeld wants done without actually adding to the active duty numbers...something Rummy definitely doesn't want done.

And did you notice he gave the services three weeks to get a plan?

Sheesh.