The news that President Obama is proposing an end to the automatic sequestration budget cuts could be good news for the armed services.

John Armbrust is the executive director of the governor’s military council. He noted the service chiefs feel sequestration is the number one challenge they face in the current environment.  He noted a clear plan has not been heard from House or Senate members of either place to resolve the sequestration issue.

On the issue of future troop strength and staffing Armbrust feels the proposal could have an impact. “My initial inclination is that right now the Army goes for example, down from 490,000 to 450,000 active duty soldiers.  I think anything below 450, o00 is a function of sequestration. Should sequestration not occur then I think the Army, for example, would go no lower than 450,000…maybe not even go all the way down to 450,000.