March 14, 2007


I am writing to ask for your leadership by including language in upcoming legislation that will exclude Walter Reed Army Medical Center and its activities from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) law.
The medical aspects of this BRAC initiative were not well conceived from the outset. Capacity, quality care, readiness and vital educational, research and training were sacrificed for an economizing set of decisions dealing with rising medical costs rather than with the military medical readiness and patient care that should be the primary consideration of all concerned. In time of war it makes no sense to restructure or transform the military medical command and control structure and consolidate its facilities in the name of best business practice and fiscal economy.

Congress must ensure that the military and veterans medical systems are properly resourced. A “guns or bandages” tradeoff, as most recently has been the case, is unacceptable.

The legislative language that AUSA recommends no doubt will require additional budget dollars not included in proposed defense spending, but it will be worth the cost to take care of the troops. The real treasure of America is our young men and women in the Armed Services—Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. America can and must properly care for these warriors in war and peace.

GORDON R. SULLIVAN
General, USA Retired