In response to the end of the Cold War, the United States is undertaking a major reduction in resources committed to national security. Defense reductions have occurred three other times during the past half century. This paper describes those drawdowns for the purposes of placing today's reductions in historical perspective and benefiting from prior successes.

"This paper was prepared as input to the Defense Conversion Commission in the preparation of its December 1992 report, 'Adapting to the Drawdown'"--T.p. "January 1993"--T.p. verso.

World War II. Mobilizing for war -- Preparation for peace -- Postwar conversion experience / Korean War. Demobilization -- Transition assistance / Vietnam War. Transition assistance: general -- Selected post-Vietnam War federal transition assistance programs -- The assistance program approach: the TMRP -- The business incentives approach: tax code section 51 / Reagan buildup and drawdown in historical perspective / Conclusion / Appendix A: selected comparisons of four major military buildups and drawdowns -- Appendix B: summary of defense outlays, using U.S. budget numbers, as percentages of GDP: 1940-1997.