{"id":18822,"date":"2021-05-28T22:21:33","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T22:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/05\/28\/navy-aims-to-reduce-end-strength-cut-higher-education-funding-in-new-budget-request\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:09:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:09:38","slug":"navy-aims-to-reduce-end-strength-cut-higher-education-funding-in-new-budget-request","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/05\/28\/navy-aims-to-reduce-end-strength-cut-higher-education-funding-in-new-budget-request\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy aims to reduce end strength, cut higher education funding in new budget request"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy is aiming to downsize its end strength and cut its higher education funding, while bolstering funds for mental health and sexual assault prevention, according to the fiscal 2022 budget request released Friday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur focus remains to recruit, develop and retain the optimal mix of personnel with the right skills and experience to man the fleet,\u201d according to the budget document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy said it is requesting funds to support an active duty end strength of 346,200 personnel in FY22 \u2014 56,020 officers, 285,830 enlisted personnel and 4,350 midshipmen. The request is a decrease of 1,600 active duty personnel in comparison to FY21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis end strength level aligns with force structure requirements and maintains a force that can fight and win,\u201d the budget request reads. \u201cWe continue to retain the very best with special and incentive pays, as well as upwardly mobile career tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Navy, the smaller end strength request reflects force structure changes like the decommissioning of 15 ships, including the recent decommissioning of the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, which was destroyed in a massive fire in July 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese reductions are partially offset by new construction crews on various platforms including Virginia class submarines and Arleigh Burke class destroyers,\u201d the budget request document said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy is also requesting to cut 200 personnel to the reserve force, which primarily come from helicopter mine countermeasures, helicopter maritime strike and helicopter sea combat squadrons, the Navy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher education funding is also taking a hit in the proposed budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altogether, the Department of the Navy is requesting $498 million in higher education funding \u2014 a drop from the $615 million that was enacted in FY21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because the Navy\u2019s Education for Seapower strategy<\/a> has come under internal scrutiny and an expansion in funds for the campaign in the last budget was taken out of the FY22 request, the Navy said. Then-Secretary of the Navy Secretary Richard Spencer unveiled the Education for Seapower campaign in 2019 as part of an effort to enhance the service\u2019s intellectual advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, Spencer hoped the program would combine the education efforts for enlisted and officer personnel under a single Department of the Navy university accredited to grant diplomas, from associate degrees up to advanced post-graduate work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResources were balanced to ensure FY 2022 educational requirements are met,\u201d the budget request document said. \u201cPrograms that decrease include the United States Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and Naval War College.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t