Where is our money going ???

Question

While I was in Iraq, we transported our trucks and equipment over on a naval vessel. When we were done we came home and all of our equipment came with us...so my question is...why did the US government shipping our equipment back and forth overseas instead of leaving it there for the soldiers who were replacing us.

A few notes...

1. When we returned our trucks were transferred to another unit and then deployed 2 months later

2. When we left Iraq our trucks were in 100% working order and in fact our maint. section held the highest mission capable equipment status in Iraq from the time we got there until we came home.

3. Our trucks had already been fitted with gun-boxes, steel plated doors, and other mission essential equipment.

So...why exactly did we ship it all home and leave the people who replaced us with their p.o.s. trucks ?

When we returned home our unit MTOE was changed and we became an entirely different unit.

As far as being trained on the truck you're driving...if you're in a med/hvy unit then all the trucks are essentially the same.

The unit that replaced us was an active duty unit (we were a reserve unit) the trucks they drove had 1/2 the miles that ours did and ours were still in better shape (even after a year in country)

Answer 1

Victor Bout is reasonably correct. Perhaps they should explain combat unit readiness management down to lower levels.

1) Your unit CAN'T leave your trucks behind. When you got back to your home station you would have a combat readiness of zero (meaning if America were attacked by a new enemy, your unit would not be able to deploy a single person in support of war). People get fired when units lose all combat effectiveness. Remember: just because we're fighting in the middle east, doesn't make the terrorists the only potential bad guys in the world.

2) Before your unit transfers it's vehicles, it will be either reenforced, downsized, reclassed or some other option such that your combat readiness remains above 85% for your type and unit size.

3) Just because your unit got an award for highest mission capable MX status doesn't mean other units are driving around in POS vehicles. The unit replacing yours has been ramped up and equipped properly for their current mission and unit type, which may not exactly match yours. Their vehicles have been in transit for quite some time now. It doesn't make sense to have 2 times the number of vehicles you need in one place and have THAT mean that there is a unit which is subsequently reduced to 0% readiness. That goes against the efficiency of forces doctrine of war power employment.

4) I hope the navy will forgive me for my AF terminology: it takes a big big boat to ship your unit back home anyway. Since you're using a big big boat, there's already a transit underway. It doesn't cost a whole lot more (relatively speaking) to have you drive your trucks on board anyways... otherwise you're just steaming accross the ocean with a ship that's only half full.

Answer 2

With all this crowing about "support the troops" when someone has the audacity to question the administrations policies, they sure show an apalling lack of regard for the troops. In truth, this "war" is about the narrow agenda of a very few - the same few reaping benefit on the bodies of our soldiers and Iraqis as well. They hired mercenaries to do the work of the military. What does this do for morale? How does this show faith in America's ability to fight its own battles and our military preparedness? It doesn't. It tells our enemies that we are too weak and spread too thin to have a reliable defense. The issue is that we have allowed this administration to bully and scare us into a cause that no one understands because it benefits only the few. It's hard to imagine, let alone accept that such evil, greed and lack of patriotism could not only exist in America, but could be so rampant in our leaders.

Answer 3

Sounds like they wanted to transfer the fully mission capable vehicles to another unit deploying, but let them train on those vehicle first...

Regardless, management and movement of equipment is directed by DA, not your unit...

Answer 4

One thing about the good old Military it could care less about who's paying the bill. What you mention fits right in with our war planning in Iraq.

Answer 5

THEY WANT YOU TO DRIVE YOUR OWN TRUCKS .IT IS PERHAPS THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADVICE .JUST KIDDING.