Military must have proper equipment to be effective

THE ISSUE The National Guard's top general says more than two-thirds of its brigades are not combat ready because of equipment shortages.

EQUIPMENT shortages are reported to be plaguing the military because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The shortfalls extend to National Guard units, including Hawaii's 29th Brigade Combat Team, but should be corrected first with troops who are in the battle zone or are about to be activated.

House Democrats said last week that two-thirds of the active Army brigades are rated not ready for combat, largely because of equipment shortages; Army officials did not dispute the figure. The Senate voted this week to add $13.1 billion to the fiscal 2007 defense budget to replace or repair equipment used in combat operations.

Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army's chief of staff, had testified before a House committee that the Army needed $17.1 billion more than the Bush administration proposed in its 2007 defense budget so it could replace helicopters, tanks, trucks and other equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said replacing and repairing equipment will cost "up to $13 billion a year until two or three years after the war ends." The Army's current budget is $98.2 billion.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, the National Guard's top general, said more than two-thirds of the Guard's 34 brigades are not combat ready, mostly because of equipment shortages that will cost up to $21 billion to correct. Brig. Gen. Joe Chavez, commander of both the Hawaii Army National Guard and the 29th Brigade, indicated Hawaii's Guard is among the deficient brigades.

Chavez said the 29th Brigade returned from a year's tour in Iraq with only 30 percent to 40 percent of its equipment. Army units returning from the war typically leave tanks, trucks or other equipment in Iraq or bring them home damaged.

The 29th Brigade's equipment shortage is not yet a concern because it is not expected to be called up for another six years. "We will get more equipment as you get closer to our deployment date," Chavez told the Star-Bulletin's Gregg Kakesako.

Equipment costs are not the only financial problem associated with the war in Iraq. In a recent luncheon speech, Schoomaker said the cost of supporting a typical Army soldier has risen by 60 percent since 2001, mainly because of increased health-care costs.

"The strategic question of the day is, How do we maintain this all-volunteer force?" Schoomaker asked, according to the Washington Post.

Activation of more National Guard units to serve in the prolonged war in Iraq is not the answer. President Bush recently announced he will deploy Guard troops at the U.S.-Mexican border to help enforcement of immigration laws. He said "we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, to respond to natural disasters and to help secure our border." Misuse of the Guard could cause its ranks to dwindle.