I am married to a Coastie, and in my opinion the CG cannot afford to have anymore budget cuts. Their boats are falling apart, the workload is distributed unevenly (as in one person does the job that up to 5 people in another branch are assigned to do), and not to mention that the CG protect our homeland. I've always lived around large bodies of water, and if the Coast Guard wasn't there, I know many people who wouldn't be here today. As for cutting the most experienced leaders...it's partially understandable, and partially not. I don't believe there are enough MCPO's to really make a difference when cut. However, how about cutting those who fail to make weight every time there's a weigh-in? You join the CG and you KNOW there are physical standards to meet so you may be semper paratus. At our current station, there are many, MANY enlisted personnel who have failed weigh-ins and were then stuck into the 'fat man' program only to get weighed in again and BARELY meet the standard by a pound because they suddenly started PT for the program then take laxatives the last week to barely make it. Only for them to fall back into terrible eating habits and non-existent PT. It's those people who miss weigh-ins and have to do the FM program over and over who should be discharged, because they obviously don't follow the motto of being prepared. Someone who is overweight will not be able to execute a physically demanding task if the time came to. I hope some resolve will come of this....Coasties don't get half the respect or recognition they deserve!! But again, just an opinion.