1、M A R C H 2 0 1 4 P o l i C y B R i e fGambling with Ground ForcesThe 2015 Defense Budget and the 2014 Quadrennial Defense ReviewBy Travis SharpThe Fiscal Year(FY)2015 defense budget request prioritizes technological superiority over maintaining the size of the U.S.military.The budget reflects the c
2、urrent conventional wisdom that the U.S.military should privilege capability,the fielding of technologically preeminent weaponry,over capacity,the size of the force.1 In this view,capability is the best way to deal with new threats,including countries like China and Iran that are employing anti-acce
3、ss/area denial strategies.2 Similarly,reducing capacity is seen as the best way to preserve readiness because readiness dollars will be spread over fewer people and platforms,which maximizes the amount spent per person or platform.3Faced with fiscal constraints that impose hard choices,the FY 2015 b
4、udget finances its bet on capability by gambling with ground forces.The budget does reduce capacity across the services by cutting ships,aircraft and vehicles,but it imposes the most significant reductions on the Army,the service with the most people.The budget cuts the planned size of the active-du
