Sequester causes military spending cuts

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - President Obama signed an order Friday night, authorizing the government to begin cutting $85 billion from federal accounts.

The military will see about half of those spending cuts.

Under these federal spending cuts, known as the sequester, the U.S. Department of Defense will drop its budget by $46 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.

It starts with a 20 percent pay cut for military technicians.

Anyone WITH A temporary position will be cut completely.

"Approximately 50 percent of the Air National Guard are technicians. At the 181st Intelligence Wing, 45 percent are full time force, so 117 personnel out of 260 are military technicians," Air National Guard 181st Intelligence Wing Executive Staff Officer Major Frank Howard said.

The military will decrease the amount of parts it orders for aircraft and ground vehicles.

They'll also cut travel hours.

"Commanders will now have to re-look at their flying hours program as to how much they're flying, who is flying, and where they're going to fly to to make sure they keep as many people as possible current in their respective jobs," Major Howard said.

"Right now as far as what we know and what we hope is it should be 6 months but if there is not a budget sign, then we do not know what will happen."

According to the Air National Guard, the cuts decrease the overall readiness.

They expect to lose 20 percent of its man hours.

"While these cuts are going into effect, we will have to decrease some of the tertiary mission that we do but our core competencies being able to respond to both a state or a federal tasking, will be affected and we will still be able to respond either to the Governor or the President as required."

Deployment will not be affected.

All troops scheduled for deployment are expected to leave on time.