Gates: Army contracting needs will be met

[unhappycamper]

Gates: Army contracting needs will be met
By Richard Lardner and Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 1, 2007 17:48:28 EDT

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the Pentagon intends to pursue a number of recommendations by a panel that said the Army needs another 2,000 military and civilian personnel to better manage contracts after years of waste, fraud and abuse.

Now, the Army doesn’t have enough personnel or training to adequately supply its soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the panel’s report obtained by The Associated Press.

Providing forces on the move with ever-changing technologies is not as simple as it once was, says the report by an independent panel, and the Army “lacks the leadership and personnel to provide sufficient contracting support.”

These shortcomings “have significantly contributed to the waste, fraud and abuse” by Army personnel in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, the panel said.

Gates, during a news conference at the Pentagon, said the panel recommendations seem sensible, and he intends to pursue the suggestions. He also said the military services also will need to rebuild contracting as an attractive career path, in order to bring in and keep more qualified people.

“I think we were impressed with the quality of the report, dismayed by a lot of the findings and encouraged by the path forward offered by their recommendations,” Gates said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_contracting_071101/