Newer Look

As a direct result of recent Communist successes in Asia, the Pentagon has revamped its New Look for the U.S. armed forces. Last winter's plans called for an almost complete withdrawal of U.S. ground troops from the Far East and reduction of the total armed-forces level to 2,800,000 men. Under the revised plans:

P:Force levels will be stabilized at 3,070,000 men, with the Army getting 1,200,000, the Air Force 970,000, the Navy 685,000 and the Marine Corps 215,000. The Army will have about 17 divisions and 18 regimental combat teams, the Navy some 400 combatant ships, the Air Force 137 wings, and the Marine Corps three divisions, three air wings.

P:U.S. forces in the Far East and Pacific areas will be maintained at a strong level. Two divisions and elements of a third will be kept in Korea with the 20-division ROK army. Of other divisions in Korea, two have been returned to the U.S., one will be withdrawn to Japan, another to Okinawa, a third to Hawaii.

Along with the news of the new forces level, the Pentagon made public plans for a new military manpower setup. At a press conference last week, John A. Hannah, retiring Assistant Secretary of Defense, disclosed Pentagon proposals for five manpower pools: 1) the regular military forces; 2) a Ready Reserve of 3,055,984 in National Guard and Reserve units; 3) a specialists' pool of 750,000 reservists, to be inducted as their talents are needed; 4) an annual draft of 300,000; 5) a special pool of untrained draft-age men to be inducted in the first months of World War III. Hannah said that his plan will mean eventual military duty for "all qualified young men."

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