I’m gravely disappointed in the federal elected officials’ failure to find an alternative to the sequester. Furthermore, I’m deeply concerned with its impact on the total force and the security of the United States of America.

Military unit readiness will steadily decline as key wartime training is cancelled and air, space and cyber systems maintenance is deferred.

Thousands of Department of Defense employees, including Guard and Reserves technicians, will be furloughed, and active duty Airmen could lose their jobs.

Military quality-of-life programs will be affected as commissaries close on certain days; tuition assistance programs are curtailed; children’s education via the Defense Department schools system is impaired; and eventually there is a reduction in services under Tricare.

In the end, our all-volunteer force will be required to carry twice the burden of the cuts as compared to other federal programs.

In my opinion, the government is asking those who are currently serving, and veterans of the past, to accept a renegotiation of their service contract, as elected officials attempt to balance the country’s budget on the backs of those who served.

Time remains for Congress to find a solution to end the terrible effects of a sequestration and ensure the nation’s ability to defend itself.

I urge members of Congress to do everything in their power to make it happen.

Shawn Murphy, Rumford