Impact of the Sequestration – The Military Family

A Compilation of Articles about the Sequestrationand the impact on Military Families

From the Department of Defense & other relevant news sources:

Carter Reassures Defense Industry Amid Budget Uncertainty
March 12, 2013 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter pledged today that the Pentagon will not allow a $46 billion cut in spending and uncertainty over future funding to keep it from focusing on challenges facing the nation even though the current fiscal situation will lead to “perverse, unsafe and wasteful consequences.” (continued)

Sequestration Pinch Includes Tuition Assistance Suspension
March 12, 2013 – Though budget woes led the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force to suspend their tuition assistance programs and the Navy continues to consider its options, the program is important to the Defense Department and to service members, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. (continued)

Sequestration Will Affect Programs, Readiness
March 12, 2013 – The Defense Department will see effects to long-term military readiness and support programs such as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors under sequestration’s fiscal constraints, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. (continued)

What to Expect From the Federal Fiscal Fallout
March 11, 2013 – With no alternative plan emerging in Washington, D.C., $85 billion in automatic 2013 federal spending cuts are set to kick in on March 1, and the government’s response will affect the income of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, contractors and their employees. (continued)

Furloughs Can Begin April 26, DOD Comptroller Says
March 11, 2013 – Unless Congress acts to end sequestration, furloughs for Defense Department civilian employees can begin April 26, the department’s comptroller said here today. (continued)

Although no laughing matter to the military community, the sequestration may find us
being creative with our personal finances as well.Army, Marines Stop New Tuition Assistance EnrollmentsMarch 8, 2013 – Budget problems have forced the Army and Marine Corps to cancel the tuition assistance program, service officials said today. (continued)

Schools to announce sequestration impact next week – Stars & Stripes Article
March 6, 2013 – Students attending Department of Defense Dependents Schools should learn the impact of government funding cuts within a few days, officials said Thursday. (continued)

Sequestration to Affect DOD Schools, Commissaries
March 4, 2013 – Civilian personnel at Department of Defense Education Activity schools and the Defense Commissary Agency will be affected by sequestration, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. (continued)

Sequestration ‘Wrong, Unfair, Not Smart,” President Says
Feb. 26, 2013 – Automatic spending cuts set to take effect this week “are wrong,” President Barack Obama said today during a visit to a shipbuilding company in Virginia. (continued)

Sequestration Poses Long-term Danger to DOD
Feb. 25, 2013 – Though little will change immediately if deep across-the-board spending cuts trigger March 1, the long-term changes will be disastrous for the Defense Department, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here today. (continued)

If Sequestration Triggers, Furloughs Begin in Late AprilFeb. 20, 2013 – If sequestration is triggered next week, unpaid furloughs for civilian Defense Department employees will start in late April, Pentagon officials said here today. (continued)

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Panetta Issues Message to DOD Workforce on Sequestration
Feb. 20, 2013 – With major, across-the-board defense spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today issued a message to the Defense Department workforce. (continued)

Sequestration Could Delay Redeployment for Soldiers in Afghanistan
Feb. 15, 2013 – The lack of an appropriations bill coupled with sequestration could eventually cause soldiers to be delayed in their redeployment home from Afghanistan, the Army’s top officer said. (continued)

Sequestration Would Demonstrate Failure of Resolve
Feb. 14, 2013 – If Congress fails to de-trigger the sequestration mechanism in budget law that will impose across-the-board defense spending cuts March 1, it could demonstrate to allies and enemies that the United States lacks the resolve, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said here today. (continued)

Sequestration ‘Wolf’ Eats at Nation’s Readiness, Carter Says
Feb. 13, 2013 – “The wolf is at the door,” Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told members of the House Armed Services committee today during testimony on the effects of sequestration – major, across-the-board spending cuts that will take effect March 1 unless Congress finds an alternative. (continued)

Chairman Outlines Sequestration’s Dangers
Feb. 13, 2013 – Sequestration will force a drawdown “more difficult and decidedly different” than any other in the nation’s history, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the House Armed Services Committee today. (continued)

Sequestration Would Have ‘Devastating’ Effects
Feb. 13, 2013 – Sequestration and a yearlong continuing resolution would significantly hinder the National Guard’s ability to protect and defend the homeland, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday. (continued)

Service Chiefs Describe Sequestration Worries
Feb. 13, 2013 – The Joint Chiefs of Staff joined Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey today in describing to the House Armed Services Committee the effects sequestration will have on the services. (continued)

Sequestration Would Impact Army Readiness
Feb. 12, 2013 – Furloughs, budget cuts and curtailment of training would significantly impact Army readiness if the billions of dollars in spending cuts triggered by sequestration are allowed to take place March 1, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno told lawmakers Tuesday. (continued)

Service Chiefs Detail Sequestration Consequences
Feb. 12, 2013 – Top officers from all of the military services today predicted dire consequences if looming automatic, across-the-board spending cuts are allowed to take effect, and they urged the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to do all in their power to stop the process. (continued)

Some Notable Opinion Pieces:

By the way this guy is an idiot…
Defense Budget Faces Cuts To Personnel After Decade Of War – Huffington Post
January 30, 2013 – For more than a decade, Congress and the Pentagon have lavished money on the nation’s 1.3 million active-duty troops and their families. Salaries and benefits soared far above civilian compensation, military bases and housing were refurbished, support services like day care, family counseling and on-base college courses were expanded. (continued)

… and in response
An Open Letter to Civilians and Mr. Wood – Army Wife Network’s Loving A Soldier
March 12, 2013 – Since this whole open letter thing seems to be the way to communicate nowadays on social media, I thought I would give it a try. I feel compelled to write to you because of an article that came to my attention this morning from Mr. Wood for the Huffington Post. (continued)

Join Us Last updated 3/13/2013byUnknownonTuesday, March 12, 2013 Email This BlogThis!Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to PinterestMilitary Life:military news