JFCOM Contractors Face Ax Contractors will bear the brunt of cutbacks when the Defense Department’s Joint Forces Command is abolished, according to JFCOM commander Gen. Ray Odierno. President Obama has approved plans to shutter the command, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates said some of its missions and about half of its approximately 6,000 military and civilian employees will continue as part of other DOD organizations. Speaking to reporters at JFCOM headquarters, Gen. Odierno said about 1,900 people will be retained in the Norfolk, VA, area. He said he will release a detailed plan next month, and the command will shut down within nine or 10 months. “There probably will be more cuts with contractors than with civilian and military,” he said, according to the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. “What we’ve done is attempted to find the core capabilities that should be left behind in Joint Forces Command, which I believe to be joint training, concept development, doctrine development and the role we play in providing forces for all the contingency missions around the world.” Gates ordered the command abolished as part of his drive to reduce DOD’s overhead expenses. Odierno estimated the closing will save about $400 million annually. Because of budget pressures, “There’s a lot more coming of this type of thing” Odierno said.