Forces: January 2, 2000

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Defense Secretary Cohen has decided not to make the second round of cuts in reserve units under a 1997 plan. The first round reduced the Guard and Reserve by 20,000; the second round was to have eliminated another 25,000 troops. The active Army has 475,000 troops. The National Guard has 360,000, while the Army Reserve has 200,000. Secretary Cohen noted that it was impossible to conduct any military operations without calling up Guard and Reserve units, and that this was not the time for further cuts. He also noted that Army Chief General Shinseki is completing a new study on how the Reserves should be used, and that the Pentagon is working on a new top-to-bottom review which will not be completed until 2001. Cohen said that these studies should be completed before any further changes are made. --Stephen V Cole