He is making major spending cuts and reorganizing his department to save money, U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced on Monday.

He said that the cuts include reducing the amount spent on outside support contractors by 10 percent each of the next three years. Contracting duties will not be replaced through in-sourcing except in critical situations.

The goal of his initiatives, which take effect immediately rather than waiting for the next budget cycle, is to reduce overhead, duplication and wasteful spending while maintaining the resources needed to finance the nation's wars, Gates said. Over time, he said they are meant to create a culture of savings and restraint in the military.

Gates said in a statement, "It is important that we not repeat the mistakes of the past, where tough economic times or the winding down of a military campaign leads to steep and unwise reductions in defense. As a matter of principle and political reality, the Department of Defense cannot expect America's elected representatives to approve budget increases each year unless we are doing a good job, indeed everything possible, to make every dollar count."

It should also be noted that Gates also is looking to cut staffing for his office, defense agencies and the Combatant Command staff over two years, cut back on advisory studies, do away with boards and commissions no longer needed, and eliminate an assistant secretary and the Business Transformation Agency, which performs day-to-day oversight of individual acquisition programs.

He also is recommending the closure of Joint Forces Command, which he said is an unneeded extra layer.

According to Gates, the military services were told to find more than $100 billion in overhead savings over the next five years. He further added that they will be allowed to keep any of the savings generated to invest in higher priority war-fighting needs. (With Inputs from Agencies)