The U.S. Navy is cutting its reserve force. The navy reserve was originally designed to support a Cold War navy, where the only mobilization considered was for a World War III type situation. Thats much less likely now, so the navy is cutting 20,000 positions from its 83,000 sailor reserves, but adding back 4-5,000 new positions for supporting homeland security and counter-terrorism missions. The shrinking will take place beginning in 2006. The reduction will be done by attrition (not replacing sailors who retire or do not re-enlist) and transfers (to the new jobs). Thus the new reserve force will be about 69,000 sailors.