At a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs hearing today, Congressman Zach Wamp heard testimony on the quality of life in the U.S. Army and details on the Army’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2009. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment Keith Eastin discussed the future direction of the U.S. Army at the hearing.

Rep. Wamp, ranking member of the subcommittee, said, “Our nation’s Army is serving in nearly 80 countries worldwide. We owe them a debt of gratitude and must take care of our soldiers, and their families, who are making great sacrifices to defend our country. That’s why it’s important to hear from General Casey on the status of the Army and where we go next to ensure that it is strong and well prepared to meet the current and future challenges our country faces.”

In his testimony, General Casey said, “The cumulative effects of 6-plus years at war have put us out of balance. The current demands on our forces exceed the sustainable supply. While we are out of balance, we are neither broken, nor hollow. I can assure you, from the perspective of a 38-year career, that the Army is the most competent, professional and combat-seasoned force I have ever seen. But, as I think we all acknowledge, we are not where we need to be.”

General Casey then outlined the Army’s plan to restore balance to the all-volunteer force and restore the necessary breadth and depth to Army capabilities. The plan includes four imperatives: sustain, prepare, reset and transform.

He stated:

-The Army must sustain its soldiers, families and civilians. The environment in which soldiers train, civilians work and families live plays a key role in recruiting and retaining high-quality people that the Army needs.

-Continue the commitment to prepare soldiers for the current conflicts and give them the tools they need to be successful. To set the conditions for continued success, the Army is establishing world-class training installations and facilities to ensure the Army is deployable, trained and ready to respond to meet its national security mission.

-Resetting forces is critical to restoring readiness. Sustained combat has taken a toll on soldiers, leaders, families and equipment. The Army must reset its units and rebuild the readiness consumed in operations to help prepare them for future deployments and future contingencies.
To meet the demands of the 21st Century, the Army must transform.

-Transformation is a holistic effort to adapt how the Army fights, trains, modernizes, develops leaders, stations, and supports soldiers, families and civilians.

The military construction budget, which is under the jurisdiction of the Subcommittee, is a critical component in support of these imperatives, Rep. Wamp said.

“I will work with the subcommittee on the Fiscal Year 2009 budget to help meet the goals of the Army and all of our armed forces,” said Congressman Wamp.

Rep. Zach Wamp is at right