Admiral Looks To Achieve Equal Ready Condition
Washington
In meeting with reporters, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman spoke about the need for a balanced and ready fighting force. Admiral Michael G. Mullen, JCS Chairman, spoke to reporters at length last Saturday regarding the future of our Armed Forces.
“We are on a long term goal to achieve a balanced ready force,†Chairman Mullen stated. “It might takes us years, and much depends on future Operations tempo, like in Afghanistan and Iraq,†said Admiral Mullen. The heavy and continued operations in these two regions have posed a drain on funds, training abilities, equipment and personnel, the Chairman said.
Admiral Mullen spoke with reporters following a ceremony in Mississippi where his wife christened a new Naval vessel.
Military recruits will help the United States grow its forces by one hundred thousand members over the next four to five years. As forces in the Afghanistan and Iraq arenas are slowly drawn down, the amount of time between troop deployments will hopefully increase.
“We have to begin to be willing to look past Afghanistan and Iraq, and toward establishing a balanced fighting force. We will go beyond counter terrorist and counter insurgency focus,†said Admiral Mullen.
The Chairman talked at length for the need to not let the traditional battle skills and abilities of the United States Forces atrophy. “We will continue to need and embrace a full range of different capabilities,†said Mullen. “Much is focused on the ground activity in Afghanistan and Iraq, and people forget the deterrence and service of our brave men and women elsewhere in the world,†said Admiral Mullen.
