Readiness is The Key to Troop Performance
By: U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Tennessean

Modern political debate of U.S. military readiness dates to the years preceding World War II when the majority of Americans had an isolationist view of foreign policy.

Recently, this became a major issue during the 2000 presidential campaign. Today, as we grapple with the consequences of Iraq, the subject of military readiness is at the forefront, as it should. The mobility of our armed forces to be called up on short notice can't be understated. It's equally important our military is properly trained to handle any situation that may arise.

One example of the military expanding its training is at Tullahoma, where the Air Force may locate their Common Battlefield Airmen Training program. Increased demands being placed on the Airmen for ground-based combat support has shown this training to be needed.

I will be focusing on the readiness of our National Guard. Many Tennesseans who have been deployed to Iraq are members of the Guard and the sheer numbers of Guardsmen from across the country currently serving underscore their value and importance domestically and abroad. This is not to take anything away from fulltime active duty members.

In recent years the military has used the Guard, mainly for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than at any time since World War II. Lt. General Steven Blum, head of the National Guard Bureau, acknowledged earlier this year the low readiness levels at home.

The low readiness levels may be in part attributed to the Pentagon's policy of risk displacement, which is to maximize the readiness of units "in-theater" at the expense of others. This practice may not be out of norm, but what has made this a serious issue is the unplanned duration of operations in Iraq.

The Pentagon's recent announcement of extended tours of duty may have a chilling effect not only on readiness but retention and recruitment. As soldiers return to battle for a third or fourth time they will have to deal with the strain of being away from home for an extended period of time. Some seasoned veterans may decide to opt out and find something more suitable for family stability.

Our emphasis on high-tech weaponry has given us a remarkable advantage in traditional battlefield warfare. However, the technology used directly by our troops on the ground - personnel carriers, body armor, vehicles - is not as advanced as it should be.

Re-equipping the Guard is one of the biggest challenges we face in terms of readiness. In fact, most of the equipment used by the Guard has been left in Iraq creating a shortfall here at home. The services have adopted the policy of retaining much of the required equipment "in theater." We are also utilizing prepositioned stock, which will not be available for other missions, should they arise.

The recent troop surge, extended tours of duty, equipment shortages, along with the Pentagon's policy of risk displacement all weigh equally on our ability to respond promptly. Apparently some are willing to take that chance.