What's the most important thing the military should do while going through this downsizing period?

I beleive the single most important thing we can do is to ensure our Soldiers are prepared for the civilian market by ensuring from the start we are training them how to be leaders, ensuring our Soldiers are properly educated and trained both on the military side and through civilian education while they are serving. There is a reason companies hire prior service and Leadership is a major reason and then their skills and training to include education.

Personnel transition development is hands down the most important thing the military should manage responsibly during downsizing and even when not in a downsizing economic climate.  Our country's best citizens departing military service matter the most because they can make the biggest difference as ambassadors to our communities as they transition from the Branches of the U.S. Armed Forces the military regardless of the reason they return to civilian life whether retired or non-retired vets.  Having a meaningful, successful, and relevant transition development program for these key personnel means they need to be far far better equipped than non-military counterparts to qualify for interviews and be selected as top candidates not just nationally, but globally wherever they separate and settle following their committed service.  The U.S. military has a far reaching network of active duty that is utilized as sponsors for inbound new recruits being welcomed to their first duty assignments, but the TAP program doesn't bring veteran ambassadors out of the communities where our departing service members will be settling back into the civilian work grind to help them acclimate to the current economic, social, and technological demand changes that will be pivotal factors to the success of any soldier's, sailor's, or airman's return to life outside the military's protective wings of key benefits like solid housing, BAQ, BAS, medical, work clothing allowances, and other key care like MWR needs.  The least amount of surprises any separating member faces, the better and I think that is the least we can manage but the most important - to ensure the separating military member and their family when applicable don't go it alone when transitioning as if it were merely as simple as changing from a uniform back into your civies.  Nothing could be more further from the truth from my experience.  Strive to merit the respect of all with whom you come in contact.  

Educate the workforce about their transferable skills, and their worth to the business sector.  When mediocre performers realize that they are better than most in the civilian workforce, they won't be so afraid of getting out.  For high performers, in addition to showing them that the military knows their value (which we sometimes neglect to do...), we remind them that no other organization on the planet gives so much responsibility at such a young age, and thereby tempt to stay for the challenges that only the military organizations can offer.  The right ones go home, and the right ones stay; what more could you want?

I believe that keeping tuition assistance funded and available while ensuring that the Noncommissioned Officers Education System and the Officers Education System are current, relevant, and meaningful will keep the spear sharp. The two previous/current wars have been executed with great precision as accomplished in part by the greater level of responsibility placed upon the Strategic Sergeant (Newell 08) and the On the Scene Commander. The critical thinking skills of our greatest instruments, our Soldiers, should not be allowed to dull, but instead should be sharpened with better training, schooling and appreciation of their ability to wield additional responsibility.
The military is the only business that puts so much responsibility and risk onto its newest members. Its leader’s lookout for their training and education would be the least they could do as one day those Strategic Sergeants and junior lieutenants will be the leaders of our military and need to be able to think critically for roles of greater responsibility, as well as the caring for the new junior Soldiers in which they are leading.

I understand the need to downsize, the military has been doing this over the years. We build our forces up when there is a war and then downsize when the war ends. Soldiers earn more pay and benefits, contractors make millions and politicians fatten their pockets. Still, downsizing should not come from our Wounded Warriors. Many like myself were wounded in combat and are sent to WTB/WTU for treatment. What we get is rushed service and processed out of the military for the VA to deal with. Often Wounded warriors get neglected and with the backlog at the VA, some are left to suicide and homelessness. The military is downsizing but is still recruiting in high volumes. Recruitment should be severely reduced. I could never understand why the gov't pays more to recruit than retain the already trained. 

Prepare every soldier, sailor, airman, marine and coastie for transition to the civilian world and actively engage with businesses small and large, to get them and their spouses employed. It's the least we can do for their sacrifice and service.

Well i would have to say the single most important thing to do is take care of the Military Service Members, DOD Civilians, across the board. This means even with the down size the Military need to provide opportunities to those who separate i.e. transition assistance course to help them obtain meaningful employment outside, career and Job fair opportunities to those interested. (This happens for the most part but programs can be vamped up)  This will some what lessen the sting for those who completely separate. For those on furlough and still need to make ends they should be allowed to obtain a means to offset the pay decrease such as able to obtain a part time job on top of their regular Job. For those wishing to separate completely the military should consider that option as well. Especially on the Active duty force. Quality service members can fill the ranks as time and budget dictate the ranks to be filled once again. End statement even with downsize the military needs to take care of the personnel who have dedicated themselves to the military weather Service member or  DOD Civilian.

 Stop the enlistment bonuses for now.I know it motivates people to enlist but if they want a career in the military like their father's grandfather's etc..they will enlist like they did because of their love of Country. Also, There should never be a downsizing of military force in our country.When the world knows that a strong country like the USA is weakened by lack of its military stronghold they will be more likely to plan more terrorist plots. Where you need to make cuts is in the Federal Gov't where some of those people have been camping in the senate or the house or reps.for up to or maybe beyond 35+ years.  Im an Army reservist. When I got home from Afghanistan Oct 2012 my employer did not hold my job and I couldnt find work because of the economy.While I was gone my wife had two major surgeries from an accident in our home only to find out she has MS and a debilitating Musculoskeletal disease.our 12 yr old daughter is also disabled and requires medication to keep her from acting out and keep her calm. Its a full time job for my wife when I am gone. When I got back I couldn't find work so I took advantage of my VA benefits and went back to school to change my trade to a Machinist. They pay our rent and utilities but we never seen any extra money from that. we get 237. a month from my drill pay and I use that for Gas for school, dr appts. and food. The Gov't says we make too much money for public assistance so we struggle. We are selling everything we own faster than you can blink. We have nothing left. I love the Army I just signed my new contract. I tried to go full time but could not find anything in the machinist area that was open. I think maybe if you could get some people switched around into different MOS's that they really like or want you probably wouldn't have to downsize all that much because with those who want out NOW and those who want to go to reserve status and those who want to go full time it will even out perfectly. go into conduct files, they mess up they are out. fatty's get kicked out. failed PT tests in the last year give them one now and if they cant pass it they get discharged. Your downsize should be complete. But remember...IT IS BETTER TO BE STRONG AND POOR; THEN TO BE WEAK AND RICH! The United States of America needs to continue to stand tall across the world. We cant do that if our military looks like it has a breach in the walls that keep it holding strong.

The Army needs to look at how they train, promote and equip our soldiers. MOS should be streamlined because as the Army downsize many jobs will probably be cut or filled by civilians.