ACCESSION 
NUMBER:327823

FILE ID:POL503

DATE:02/18/94

TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18 (02/18/94)

TEXT:*94021803.POL

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18



(Readiness)  (290)

U.S. MILITARY READINESS AS HIGH AS EVER BEEN

The readiness of U.S. military forces is as high as it has ever been, says

Defense Secretary Perry, but he is looking to reading a forthcoming study

on how "to avoid future problems of readiness deficiencies."



The study, an interim report of the Task Force on Readiness, was welcomed by

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman John Shalikashvili, who said February 18

that having forces ready "to fight and win" is the military's "first

priority."



Retired Army General Edward Meyer, who headed the Defense Science Board's

study, said his panel focused on the capability of current and future

conventional and unconventional forces to respond rapidly to two nearly

simultaneous major regional conflicts, militarily address small

contingencies, and provide special capabilities such as peacekeeping or

humanitarian assistance.



For the U.S. to fight in two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts

today would be "difficult" because it hasn't fully developed the needed

integrated command, control, communications, computer and intelligence

assets needed to support joint military operations.  He also cited a

potential shortfall in strategic lift capability.



Meyer said the interim report urges the Pentagon to work with Congress to

create a contingency funding system which won't delay or disrupt the flow

of money needed to maintain readiness of forces which aren't engaged in

special contingency operations.



The report notes that near-term readiness has been reduced in the Army by

its practice of borrowing military personnel to carry out tasks unrelated

to their military missions and in the Air Force, where  a critical spare

parts shortage has been caused by the rapid military drawdown.



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