US Military Unprepared to Deal with Crisis, says Report

The US military would be unprepared in the event of a nuclear attack, says the report A new report highlights how the US military would be unprepared to act in the event of a major attack – similarly, how the National Guard is lacking in equipment and fully trained personnel.

The assessment was written by the Commission of the National Guard and Reserves. It finds that, when it comes to the readiness of the military to respond to a nuclear, chemical or biological weapons attack, there exists “an appalling gap that places the nation and its citizens at greater risk.”

Chairman: Not Enough Forces, Insufficient Training, Equipment Lacking

“Right now we don’t have the forces we need, we don’t have them trained, we don’t have the equipment”, the Chairman of the commission, Arnold L. Punaro, stated while being interviewed.

He added: “Even though there is a lot going on in this area, we need to do a lot more.”

“There’s a lot of things in the pipeline, but in the world we live in, you’re either ready or you’re not.”

Iraq/ Afghan Deployments Mean More Need for Reserves

Given the US armed forces’ commitment to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the commission, America has “no reasonable alternative” other than a heavy reliance on the Reserve Components to bolster the military – on home ground and on overseas deployments.

However, said Gen. Punaro, billions of dollars would be needed to fully equip the Guard. The commission, he added, is planning to request that the Congressional Budget Office assess the cost.

Report: State Governors Should Have Troop-Command Power

In what, according to analysts, is a controversial section of the report, the commission recommends that state governors be given the power to command troops in their area in an emergency-response situation. Such an authority, when proposed in 2007, was rejected by Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary.

General: Pentagon Putting Military Taskforce Together

Answering some of the issues raised in the report, the United States Northern Command’s commander, General Victor E. Renuart Jr, stated that a specialised military taskforce was being assembled by the Pentagon.

In coming months, the general added, training would be provided to members of the Guard and Reserves who, ultimately, will form part of a 4,000-strong emergency force.

This force, he explained, would be comprised of three sections. In the event of a catastrophe, several hundred troops would enter the scene immediately. Then, a second group – totalling around 1,200 soldiers – would act – this including medically-trained personnel.

Finally, the third section would intervene – this comprised of engineers and aircraft units, among others.

Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent

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