Downsizing the Army: Some Policy Implications Affecting the Survivors

Abstract

The U.S. army has downsized its forces at the conclusion of every major conflict. The successful completion of the Cold War is no exception. In the past, scant attention was given to the attitudes and perceptions of those remaining in the force-the survivors of the downsizing. This articles uses a qualitative and a quantitative approach to examine the effects of the army's downsizing on the survivors. Issues addressed are the overall effect of the downsizing on organizational commitment, the impact of the army's communications concerning the downsizing plan and process, and the importance to the survivors of the army's treatment and care of the victims of downsizing. The analysis concludes that a decrease in organizational commitment appears inevitable, but that the army can implement policies to mitigate the magnitude of that decrease.

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