September 11, 2007


On behalf of the more than 100,000 members of the Association of the United States Army, I write to urge you to remove Section 1029 from S. 1547, the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill.
Section 1029 gives responsibility for the missions and functions of fixed-wing support for Army intra-theater logistics to the Air Force. While well-intentioned, Section 1029 must be removed from the bill because realistically the Army must have responsibility for its fixed-wing assets related to tactical distribution. Since July 2005, the Army and the Air Force have partnered to shape complementary capability requirements for the Joint Cargo Aircraft program. Changing the nature of the current relationship between services is unnecessary.

Army fixed-wing assets, in addition to supporting the Army’s efforts in the Global War on Terrorism, are intended to support the non-wartime missions for the Army and National Guard within the continental United States. In order to more quickly and safely supply and transport its soldiers on the battlefield as well as complete myriad other missions, our Army must have responsibility for its fixed wing assets related to tactical distribution.

It is imperative that Congress remove Section 1029 from the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill.

GORDON R. SULLIVAN
General, USA Retired