There have been several. When the order to make cuts is given, the first institution affected is the Reserve. Over the years, given the needs of the army, 50 to 60% of the leaders, the Militia officers and NCOs, were assigned to what we call “classes of reserve service“. Someone is needed to fill such and such a position, an offer of class B service paid at 85% of regular salary is made, and the person fills such and such a staff position or else is told that he or she is needed as an instructor. We are not talking about Afghanistan, but of local service. That is class B.
Among militiamen, there are people who have been there for 10 years and whose contract is renewed every year. There are others who have been members for one, two or three years. These are people who, for the most part, were unemployed or who, despite very commendable professional skills, were better off joining the system, the pay being much higher. Today, whenever budget cuts are made, those positions are the first to be abolished. That is one of the problems.