President Barack Obama had to make some tough budget choices for next year. He gave a $3.9 trillion budget to Congress that includes money for job training, roads, and tax increases on the wealthy. The budget, if passed, will cause the Pentagon to make some critical budget cuts to the military.

Freshman Matthew Michaels said, “I feel that Congress will make a good choice. Either way it goes the money is going to be taken from somewhere and people won’t be happy.”

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel proposed a scaled-back modern military that would reduce the size of the Army to its pre-World War II size, reduced from 570,000 troops to 490,000. The Marines would be reduced from 202,000 to 182,000.

Sophomore Jontae Hohn said, “I feel like the Army shouldn’t be cut. Some people might not be ready to go home, if they even have a home. They might not be ready physically or mentally to be anywhere else.”

In the proposed budget, 90,000 service members will have to join the civilian workforce. This could become a problem since about 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression.

It will also affect all branches of the military by lowering pay, housing allowances, and raising health insurance costs. Some bases would be closed and there would be fewer F-35 Joint Strike Fighter stealth jets, which are lethal aircraft weapon systems.

Sophomore Emily Armogan said, “We need to increase military pay, lower health insurance, keep military service men and women, [add] more bases, [and add] more F-35 aircraft weapons.”

In the end, the proposed plan is subject to change by Congress. Many people are against the proposition and some suggest taking troops out of other countries to save money.

Having to make such tough choices involving the future of many people’s lives must be very difficult but it is a task that Congress will have to make.