THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260384
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Detailing potential cuts across the armed forces, the nation's top general told lawmakers Wednesday they must move quickly to prevent further erosion in military readiness.
Ship maintenance, flight training and Army war games will be cut sharply within months if Congress fails to quickly pass a $2.6 billion emergency defense bill, Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.
``The net effect will be a significant decrease in overall readiness,'' Shalikashvili said.
The Pentagon has warned of a readiness slide for several days. But Shalikashvili provided for the first time a detailed picture of the cuts the military is facing.
If emergency funding is delayed past March 31, the general said:
The Navy would cut flying time for four air wings and 14 squadrons, reduce training hours for the Atlantic and Pacific fleet beginning in July, and, if necessary, temporarily suspend operations of four aircraft carrier wings. In addition, maintenance on seven ships would be deferred, and repairs to two carriers would be reduced.
All 10 remaining active-duty Army divisions would see their readiness ratings downgraded.
The Air Force would cut flying time by half for 12 weeks.
The Marines would curtail or cancel training exercises, cut flight time and delay maintenance.
Shalikashvili portrayed a situation far worse than the one that developed last fall when the costs of unexpected overseas deployments led to canceled training and a slip in readiness within three of the Army's 12 divisions.
KEYWORDS: MILITARY READINESS DEFENSE by CNB