“Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military.” - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee
Avoiding Disasters
THE PROBLEM:
Last week the Navy concluded a comprehensive review of recent fatal collisions in the Pacific Fleet that resulted in the deaths of 17 Sailors. The review concluded that readiness shortfalls contributed to the tragedies. Specifically, "the findings…underscore the imbalance between the number of ships in the Navy today and the increasing number of operational missions assigned to them." And "Under the Budget Control Act of 2011 and extended Continuing Resolutions, the ability to supply forces to the full demand is – and will remain – limited."
WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY:
The Navy's report is striking. The struggles the 7th Fleet experienced over the summer that led to these tragedies continue: "The demand for ready and certified ships to support operations required in the Western Pacific ultimately exceeded the quantity that could be generated from surface forces based in Yokosuka, and without an effective process to clearly define available supply and the associated readiness, risks were taken to provide these ships for dynamic and short notice tasking."
WHAT WE COULD BE DOING:
The House NDAA takes steps to relieve pressure on the 7th fleet, to include beginning construction of 13 new ships, and funding Navy Operations and Maintenance at $1.3 billion to aid in training of sailors and upkeep of the fleet.
