ACCESSION
NUMBER:327823
FILE ID:POL503
DATE:02/18/94
TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18 (02/18/94)
TEXT:*94021803.POL
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18
(Readiness) (290)
U.S. MILITARY READINESS AS HIGH AS EVER BEEN
The readiness of U.S. military forces is as high as it has ever been, says
Defense Secretary Perry, but he is looking to reading a forthcoming study
on how "to avoid future problems of readiness deficiencies."
The study, an interim report of the Task Force on Readiness, was welcomed by
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman John Shalikashvili, who said February 18
that having forces ready "to fight and win" is the military's "first
priority."
Retired Army General Edward Meyer, who headed the Defense Science Board's
study, said his panel focused on the capability of current and future
conventional and unconventional forces to respond rapidly to two nearly
simultaneous major regional conflicts, militarily address small
contingencies, and provide special capabilities such as peacekeeping or
humanitarian assistance.
For the U.S. to fight in two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts
today would be "difficult" because it hasn't fully developed the needed
integrated command, control, communications, computer and intelligence
assets needed to support joint military operations. He also cited a
potential shortfall in strategic lift capability.
Meyer said the interim report urges the Pentagon to work with Congress to
create a contingency funding system which won't delay or disrupt the flow
of money needed to maintain readiness of forces which aren't engaged in
special contingency operations.
The report notes that near-term readiness has been reduced in the Army by
its practice of borrowing military personnel to carry out tasks unrelated
to their military missions and in the Air Force, where a critical spare
parts shortage has been caused by the rapid military drawdown.
NNNN
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
