CentCom Has Been Cutting Staff Under Fallon

TAMPA -- The Navy admiral retiring from the top post at the U.S. Central Command has been cutting his staff by 1,100 people, or a third of the command that runs the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, CentCom said today.

The reduction is thought to be one of the largest in the command's 25-year history.

Adm. William Fallon, who is retiring effective March 31, implemented an analysis of staffing needs last year. The result is that CentCom, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, expects to reduce its staff of 3,400 by a third, or approximately 1,100 personnel, the command said.

The reduction, beginning last year, is ongoing and expected to be completed later this spring.

"The goal is to ensure that we are operating as efficiently as possible," said Navy Capt. James Graybeal, a CentCom spokesman. "We want to make sure we make the most-efficient use of our personnel as possible."

Fallon, who is returning from the Middle East, was unavailable to comment.

Even with the glare of national publicity on CentCom in recent days because of Fallon's resignation, the news surprised local leaders. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said she had not been told by Fallon or his staff about the reductions.

"If they have a need to cut back, I can't fault them for that," the mayor said. "Every organization needs to occasionally look at its structure and revenue. If they need to cut back, I can certainly relate to that."

Fallon stunned the defense community when he abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday, effective March 31. How a change in commander might impact staff reductions remains to be seen.

Some defense analysts believe Fallon and President Bush clashed on military policy in the Middle East, particularly over Iran.

-- William R. Levesque, Times staff writer

Comments

[bulletinizer]

Good luck sailors, soldiers, heroes... Tampa love's you and we are proud of your military service, especially in this terror war. You make US proud.

[Marc]

At least the traffic on i-275 will be a lot lighter in the near future...let's see 1,100 less SUV's, less air-pollution, less tax money spent on a frivolous war...I can already see the national deficit decreasing by several billion dollars.

Marc - You're a MORON. Centcom is militarily responsible for the Middle East, East Africa and Central Asia, not just what you deem a frivolous war. Non combat military personnel will simply be redeployed or end up in retirement. Either way they are still on the payroll either through military pay or retirement benefits. The majority of staff reductions however will be in the civlian sector & is the equivalent of a major corporation having a mass layoff. It is not good for the local economy, period. I have no issues with the reorganization. If that's what needs to be done, then so be it, but regardless of whether it's military or non military peronnel, this affects people's lives beyond your MORONIC view of our military. I always find it ironic that people like you can rail against those who actually protect the freedom you have to make your idiotic comments. Do us all a favor, grab a raft & paddle your way to Cuba.

[Bill]

Marc, you're missing something! The 1100 SUVs should be multiplied by 1.75 to include spouses and children of military people.

Sucks for the local economy, but if you were dependent on the government for your employment, you might as well have been on welfare, as far as the rest of us are concerned.

[Marc]

First, I am not a moron. Second, I am glad they are cutting back.
Obviously you are one of the overpaid civis that works at CentCom. What I do know, many of the contractors there are making six figure salaries, many of them bought McMansions in the New Tampa area. And our tax dollars are paying for this insanity. I recently had to lay off four employees because of the economy. It's time our Military does the same. Obviously enlisted will be redeployed and it won't affect them, but those overpaid contractors will now get to face the same reality everyone else does.

The Bush/Cheney Gravy Train is pulling up to last station. End of the Line! Everyone off!

[Simon]

I don't know what Bush and Fallon feuded over, but you can bet I am siding with Fallon. According to the U.S. Constitution, that is a very, very dangerous stance.

Good move. It only takes one to answer a phone, mail a letter, open a door and close a door. I've always maintained, only 5 percent of the military actually does something while the other standby meddling or trampling to get ahead with their own personal agendas. Then you have the "get me byes"... geez!

[Combat Veteran]

People,

I respect your opinions but I feel like I have to answer and let you know the facts. I have survived the Centcom layoff and continue to work there.

As for contractors making over 100k per year. Maybe there are a few but the majority of the contractors that I work with are making around 50-60k per year. Hardly enough to buy a "mcmansion". I wished I owned a "mcmansion". Most of the contractors are ex-military who decided they wanted to actually be around their families and watch their kids grow up .... not paid assassins. I served 3 combat tours in Afghanistan with the Special Forces and the emotional toll it took on my family can't be measured. I did that for all of us as Americans. I risked my life for you to laugh as some of my co-workers look for new jobs. Those people have children just like all of you insensitive people who are basking in their unfortunate situations. Anyone who thinks it is funny for someone to lose their jobs, house, move kids from schools, etc etc. is an ignorant pathetic waste of space. Now I wish to exercise the same freedom I have afforded you to let you know that if you truly feel that the Centcom layoffs are funny, then I hope you experience extreme hardship in the near future and I hope your kids grow up to be better than the ignorant A**HOLES they have to look up to.

Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, etc all get paid because they have unique talents and they sacrificed time and money to obtain the qualifications. Most military contractors have security clearances. That is why we get paid the salaries we do. I'm sorry you failed out of community college and cut grass or some other like profession but those were the choices you made. You started with the same opportunites I had and every other American had. Don't blame other people for your mistakes.

Let me tell you a little about Fallon's character. He knew he was laying off people before he even arrived in Tampa. While doing this, he used your taxpayers money to construct his own personal mess hall. Quality guy! Don't tell me what you "think" you know. I'll tell you the truth.

[SPC Wayne]

10:43 explain to me your breakdown of who is the 5% and who is the get me byes? Signed an MP.

[Chris]

Marc - I agree with the unnamed poster...you're a moron-& I DON'T work nor have ever worked for the military.

I also agree that you should go Cuba, or Canada, or Mexico...anywhere but here!

[Marc]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion...good luck finding a job. Hope your Hummer gets good gas mileage, for some reason gas pricing seem to be going up. Hmm, probably the deficit and the devaluation of the Dollar may have something to do with it. Could it be because we are spending a trillion dollars on an unnecessary war in Iraq?

[McHaha]

We should get rid of the military completely. Or privatize it. Then people like Sir Marc can fend for his opinions as he tries of find a job after someone takes over the US because of our bleeding hearts and ignorance.

I agree with Marc, arm the guys who drive Civics and Corollas, make it mandatory that everyone drives a hybrid, that way the cost of electricity will go up because power will be in higher demand.

Let's stop wasting all the money on Iraq, instead, let's donate all our money to those on welfare here. Let's buy everyone here a nice, new, fuel efficient Hyundai. That will support the makers of foreign cars because hm... Domestic cars are gas guzzlers? Unless you like the Aveo et al.

[HUMMER]

Marc,

I don't know any contractors who drive Hummers. The only Hummers we get are from your wife who can't stand being with a plumber, mechanic, or whatever pathetic job you have.

Hummer & McHaha: GREAT POSTS! The hummer comment is classic!

[kitty]

Those of you lamenting the loss of these service members and their families - these were TAD/TDY positions lasting 6 months - 1 year. Families aren't moved when a tour of duty is that short. Most of these service members are living in barracks on the base, or staying in hotels. If they're staying in hotels, they they're being paid $152 a day in lodging/mie - ON TOP OF THEIR REGULAR PAY!!! The lodging/mie adds up to $4500+ PER MONTH - PER SERVICE MEMBER!!! Combine that with base pay, BAS, housing allowances if they have a family elsewhere, and family separation allowance, and you've got E-6s making $9k+ a month!

One thing to remember about the vast majority of servicemembers is they're financially responsible, so odds are they're not spending much of that $$$ on the local economy, but banking it for when they do return to their families 6 - 12 months down the road.

Admiral Fallon did the right thing.

[kitty]

My mistake - the max lodging/mie rate for the Tampa Bay area is $177 - $5300+ per month!!! If they're living in the barracks or some other form of lodging that they don't have to pay for, their mie rate is $54 a day, or $1620+ a month. And remember kids, that's on top of their regular pay and allowances - many of which are tax-free.

[Combat Veteran]

Kitty,

While some of the positions lost were TAD/TDY ..... not all of them were. I know of about 10-12 people who lost their jobs because of the cutbacks. It's not that they are unemployed, they took their salaries to the DC and San Antonio markets. Less money coming into the local economy. Fallon did not do the correct thing. He is known for cutting personnel which in my specific instance affects intelligence for the soldiers on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers could die because of his decision. Why has no one commented on why he spent YOUR money on building a personal mess hall in which he eats like a king for free everyday? Priorities people priorities. This is precisely why his appointment as commander of centcom was a terrible choice. A Navy commander should NEVER be in charge of a ground war! Could you imagine an Army or Marine general in charge of Pacific Command? Nope ... didn't think so.

[Michael]

Fraud, Waste and Abuse is rampant at CENTCOM. Like the previous poster said, Fallon has a personal mess hall created for him with culinary staff. The Senators need to know about that.

As far people saying they are combat veterans, thank you for your service, but keep in mind their are others who have done the same but don't boast about it. Far as I am concerned, if you can post a comment on the web then you still have at least one finger. Many can't say that because of this war.

As far as less money coming into the economy... what is an inflated dollar worth now days? Isn't their a reason why we went off the gold standard and stopped backing our currency? Take a good look, "Legal tender....." The dollar now days isn't worth the paper it is printed on, so what are a few more to the local economy.

Saying "Go to Cuba" or calling people "Morons" should the IQ the poster. If you have to resort to insults, rather than argue a point you are wasting our time.