Only Two US Army Brigades Now Combat Ready

Only Two US Army Brigades Now Combat Ready, Chief Says
Defense News
By LANCE M. BACON
Oct. 21, 2013

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said his greatest fear is to receive an order to deploy thousands of troops. And with good reason.

The Army has only two combat-ready brigades right now, he said. Even the ones headed to Afghanistan are qualified for the trainer and adviser mission, not combat.

Odierno said hopes to get the number of trained and equipped brigades to seven by June 2014.

“There is going to come a time when we simply don’t have enough money to provide what I believe to be the right amount of ground forces to conduct contingency operations,” he said. “We’re not there yet, but it is something we are going to continue to review.”
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