Flag-officer cuts and command layers

Would a twenty-percent cut in American flag officers usefully reduce senior ranks?

A numerical cut could help if it removes unnecessary layers, but particular roles still need examination.

Unnecessary senior command layers can make armed forces top-heavy even when each post has a plausible justification. NATO and defence-procurement appointments add to the demand for senior officers. In the British comparison, admirals working in those two areas approach twice the number working within the Royal Navy itself. Some appointments also warrant asking whether an active officer rotating every three years is preferable to a retired officer serving as a civilian with greater continuity. A numerical reduction receives qualified support because earlier, more consensual attempts are recalled as ineffective. An uncertain recollection of George W. Bush's attempts before September 11 supplies one example.