The executive director of the Governor’s Military Council John Armbrust expects some reduction in troop numbers at Fort Riley when the Army makes the announcement in July about troop cuts. But he is not forecasting a large reduction. Armbrust confirmed the announcement is now scheduled for sometime after July 4.

 

According to release from the office of Senator Jerry Moran Armbrust said last Saturday, “Just in talking to people and trying to get as much understanding as I can, I still expect there to be some reduction.”

“But not the kind of reduction we would think of as large or go,” ‘Oh dear, that’s going to have a huge impact on our local economy and our businesses,’ ” Armbrust said he would be surprised if Fort Riley loses a brigade, which ranges from about 1,500 to 3,000 soldiers.

“The other thing we always have to watch is, we’re talking about the active duty Army but I expect there will also be civilian cuts,” he said. “Of course those individuals live, and worked in our community for many years so we have to watch that also.”

Fort Riley spokesman Bob Everdeen said on Saturday that the instllation has not received word on any cuts, but6 that once the decision is passed down, officials will release whatever information they have.

Armbrust and other local officials have been working for months to convince the Pentagon to spare Fort Riley of significant troop cuts s the Army moves to reduce its overall active duty force from 490,000 down to 450,000 soldiers.