The Navy would need to mantain it's current manning levels for projection of sea power. The Navy also takes the Marines for rides as pointed out. In the current world climate the Navy/Marine team can be any where in the world quickly. Then is ussually followed up by the Army. The argument we can bomb anywhere in the world from the US, is only partialy valid. Unless you are bombing cities, you will most likely be hitting empty camps. You still have to have forward observers to hit these targets. The Coast Guard is an often over looked group why- becuase they are more of a law enforcement type than combat group. The Coast Guard does it's job and does it well.
Reduce over seas bases, keep the Navy at current deployment level, put US troops on our leaky border. Return the National Guard to there home states. Allow the Coast Guard to continue it's tasking of law enforcement and rescue operations. Increase the Intelligence services and Special Operations groups of the Military. Tell our friendly neighbors to the south "stop the drug trafficking and narco wars or we will be right over with 100K troops"
Let the cartels know they will be engaging the full might of the US military and tell the locals if you point them out you won't be in the middle of the fight.
Politicians need to tell the military - protect our foriegn trade intrests, by keeping the sea lanes open, and project a US presence abroad. Protect our borders from hostiles and criminals.
Then provide the funding and allow the proffesionals to do there jobs. The military then needs to go and do the job as we all know they can, and stop giving stupid press interviews.
I think that might solve a bit of the problem.