Military preparedness, Congressional budgets

The Association of the U.S. Army is a private not-for-profit organization founded in 1950 to act as an advocacy group for the U.S. Army. Its annual conference and trade show opened Oct. 13 and through it we can get an idea of the issues facing the U.S. Army as it tries to be prepared for new global challenges.

At the AUSA meeting, outgoing Army Secretary John McHugh was quoted on the Defense One website as saying, "The Army, like the rest of the military, says its top worry is trying to prepare soldiers to fight when Congress can't even give them a budget."

While the news media and politicians cultivate fear with the threat of terrorism with the American public, senior military officials say the top threat we face, based on recent aggressive actions, is Russia.

While the threat posed by Russia is real, keep in mind that a threat is the necessary motivator to get public support for Congress to take action. Congressional action is needed to increase military operating budgets, increase the size of the military, and even to change laws limiting military actions. None of these actions is improper in themselves, if they are actions taken to address real threats. If Congress is voting to authorize actions, the important thing for the American public to pay attention to is whether the requested actions are addressing a real threat. The lack of budgets and the continuing forced cuts are hindering training, planning, equipment and weapons development, and the ability of U.S. forces to react quickly to world events.

The one constant with speakers at AUSA and other military groups' conferences is the identification of Congress as the greatest threat to military preparedness by its lack of action addressing and funding related issues.