AP: Marines fail to get gear to troops - less than 10 percent of requests have been fulfilled

[Kadie]

AP: Marines fail to get gear to troops
By RICHARD LARDNER
2 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The system for delivering badly needed gear to Marines in Iraq has failed to meet many urgent requests for equipment from troops in the field, according to an internal document obtained by The Associated Press.

Of more than 100 requests from deployed Marine units between February 2006 and February 2007, less than 10 percent have been fulfilled, the document says. It blamed the bureaucracy and a "risk-averse" approach by acquisition officials.

Among the items held up were a mine resistant vehicle and a hand-held laser system.

"Process worship cripples operating forces," according to the document. "Civilian middle management lacks technical and operational currency."

The 32-page document — labeled "For Official Use Only" — was prepared by the staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force after they returned from Iraq in February.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070525/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/marines_critical_gear;_ylt=AmvUe_biCd0WqNs8dXsS2hWs0NUE

[genie_weenie]

1. Yeah, but fail field day inspection and they'll be all over you.

Also keep your fucking hands out of your pockets and shave twice a day you shitbag!

[magellan]

2. I'm sure the renewed funding will fix this in a jiffy

Because of course only the Dems would endanger our troops by not providing the essentials.

:sarcasm:

[DS1]

3. Civilian middle management lacks technical and operational currency.

That's half the story. The Marine Corps, just like any other Government department is bound to buy things from approved vendors. Those vendors charge huge amounts of overhead. Until everyone is behind this war, which is unlikely, the Marine Corps will fail to live up to the supply demands because the system is so inherently slow, and full of corruption.

When you have an organization built upon people protecting their own asses, you have an organization that is doomed to fail. I served in the Marine Corps between 91 and 95, and I can tell you what an incredible waste most of the money was. We were ordered to throw away extra parts and tools because they weren't supposed to be there. I am guilty of taking a sack full of Snap-On wrenchs and throwing them in a dumpster just because inspectors were on the way.

I bought my own gun lube "slick-50" because the issued CLP was crap that jammed up my M16 and M9.

It's a crime that the military is not insuring those who died in combat, because they chose Dragonskin armor instead of the military issued crap Interceptor.

Yes, my rant is a bit off-topic, but it had to come out.