The Army’s increased operational tempo due to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, combined with harsh operating environments, combat damage and attrition, has taken a heavy toll on the Army’s equipment fleet. The Army’s equipment fleet (aviation, wheeled and tracked vehicles, and weapon systems) supports every facet of military operations. Assured fleet readiness is critical for full spectrum Army mission success. After years of insufficient modernization investments, many Army units are under equipped and not immediately ready for deployment, especially in Reserve Component units. Prior to September 11, 2001, measured against validated requirements, the Army had a $56 billion equipment shortfall. Our current operating tempo has only added to that problem. To meet the Regional Combatant Commanders’ wartime needs, the Army has been forced to pool equipment from across the force to equip those Soldiers deploying into harm’s way. This practice increases the risk to our timely response to other missions across the full spectrum of military operations.
Aviation and ground equipment are often left behind in theater to support subsequent unit rotations. Redeploying units thereby lack sufficient equipment to properly train for their next rotation. The capability of the Reserve Component units to support homeland defense and homeland security missions is being significantly diminished. Deploying Army units often are not outfitted with their full equipment authorization until just prior to their deployment or when they arrive in theater.
The Army’s Reset Program is designed to restore degraded equipment and return it to a desired level of combat capability. This program is synchronized with unit training and deployment schedules. Currently, the program is being funded with supplemental appropriations. Since the Army began the program, over 111,000 items of equipment have been repaired. While this sounds impressive, it represents only a portion of the real requirement which will continue as long as we have forces deployed and for several years thereafter.
To ensure that the Army is fully prepared to continue combat and stability operations and to support synchronization of deployments, likely future contingencies, homeland security, and homeland defense missions, it is imperative the Army is fully resourced to reset, recapitalize and repair the equipment fleet. This includes procurement for replacing the combat losses. Due to untimely and inadequate funding, the depot maintenance program is currently beleaguered with a growing backlog of equipment and is currently operating at just 50 percent production capability. Increased and consistent funding will reduce the backlog and restore full production capability to the depot program. Our Soldiers placing their “Boots On The Ground” deserve fully capable weapons and equipment to perform their wartime missions and successfully train for programmed operational deployments.
WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to urge the Administration and Congress to:
- Provide timely funding for equipment reset to restore units to levels of readiness required to successfully execute programmed operational deployments, likely future contingencies and homeland defense missions; at least $13.5B in FY09 is the minimum required reset funding level, and that required funding level is expected to remain throughout the period of conflict and for several years thereafter
- Provide timely, non-offsetting supplemental appropriations to ensure a consistent work flow through our depot and industrial base to effectively support equipment reset operations
- Provide timely funding for equipment modernization initiatives concurrent with equipment reset operations where opportunities exist to enhance the equipment fleet with improved capabilities: reset equipment forward; not backward to their legacy design capability
- Provide timely funding for equipment procurement for all combat losses in addition to those replacements whenever battle damaged and worn out equipment are not economically repairable