As the sequester sinks in and starts to hit the U.S. military, many have focused on the impact of unpaid furlough days for civilians, air shows grounded, and fireworks foregone.

Intuitively, many know that sequestration’s burden on those in uniform is large. But, so too, they say, is the defense budget. Sure, the first $487 billion in defense cuts under the Budget Control Act was tough, but the chiefs and leadership said it could be done. Not ideal, certainly, but bearable.