Posted on Jan 2, 2020
The US military ran the largest stress test of its sealift fleet in years. It’s in big trouble.
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PO2 David Huelsmann Even in my day MSC and the NTPS process had issues. To those of us who followed this this is not new news. Much of this comes from prior budget cuts that often hamper the kind of preparedness MSC and the NTPS process requires for continual at least C-2 readiness status. When DoD budgets are not consistent and other wasteful appropriation decisions are in play, it will always place the MSC and the NTPS process in operational jeopardy.
Many outside the military and many inside the military are not well versed on MSC and the NTPS process. From as CASREP perspective when something is C-4 / C-5 readiness status that is never good.
Having served on an Aircraft Carrier the CAG (Commander of the Air Group) always expected C-1 (ready to go to war and fight and win) even during peacetime steaming. For the MSC and NTPS process to accept C-4/C-5 readiness is in my mind a flag level Courts-Martial scenario. It is also Congress' contempt for their lack compliance with "...providing for the common defense..." via appropriations, especially since 1990 when the "official" GWoT began.
If there were a way correlate deaths in the field with a lack of MSC / NPTS readiness this metric alone would be huge. The article is a staggering example of not paying attention to details. Again, a lack of readiness is not 100% a military leadership issue. It is a 60% Congress (funding stream management) and 40% (actual operational management) issue. Operational planners cannot get the job done unless Congress understands the impact of C-3 to C-5 readiness and just how costly maintaining such a lack of readiness truly is. Again, I am not sure the metrics that Congress could understand have truly been created, and if they do exist I wonder how they are being communicated so Congress has a clue.
Many outside the military and many inside the military are not well versed on MSC and the NTPS process. From as CASREP perspective when something is C-4 / C-5 readiness status that is never good.
Having served on an Aircraft Carrier the CAG (Commander of the Air Group) always expected C-1 (ready to go to war and fight and win) even during peacetime steaming. For the MSC and NTPS process to accept C-4/C-5 readiness is in my mind a flag level Courts-Martial scenario. It is also Congress' contempt for their lack compliance with "...providing for the common defense..." via appropriations, especially since 1990 when the "official" GWoT began.
If there were a way correlate deaths in the field with a lack of MSC / NPTS readiness this metric alone would be huge. The article is a staggering example of not paying attention to details. Again, a lack of readiness is not 100% a military leadership issue. It is a 60% Congress (funding stream management) and 40% (actual operational management) issue. Operational planners cannot get the job done unless Congress understands the impact of C-3 to C-5 readiness and just how costly maintaining such a lack of readiness truly is. Again, I am not sure the metrics that Congress could understand have truly been created, and if they do exist I wonder how they are being communicated so Congress has a clue.
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CPO Nate S.
PO2 David Huelsmann - Glad! I don't time for STUPID! When we talk about accountability it is simple. Congress has the purse strings. If they fail to realize and prioritize or lack understanding of the importance of what needs to be done and just one service member dies if things are not on task, on time and ready for use by troops in the field, airmen on the tarmac or seaman on the deep blue because funding is not properly provided, then I hold 535 people accountable!!! Simple as that! We pay them to fulfill the essentials of the PREAMBLE to the Constitution on our behalf. If they fail in this simple mission what then will it take for them to really accept responsibility and do their jobs!
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