Army chief: Just 2 brigades combat-ready

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/23775932/army-chief-just-2-brigades-combat-ready

Truth or Politics?

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno revealed this week that just two Army brigades are combat-ready, with budget cuts hampering the military's ability to train its own troops.

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Am I the only person having hard time with this statement?

Several questions

- definition of "combat-ready."
- can he do anything else to mitigate it? I am sure when General Odierno was a commander and if one of his subordinate commanders told him that his unit is not combat ready because not enough time to train (of course this would have been a career suicide) how would General Odierno have replied. I don't think he would have said okay.
- what is the CJCS's position?

I'm going to say "politics".

Unless the readiness of our military isn't really all that "classified" anymore. It's a scare tactic.

I do think the sequester is having an impact but I think this problem is overstated (as a civilian from the outside). Further, all brigades are "combat ready" almost by definition. If they need to be sent in they'll be sent in. They may not have all the training they should have, and I would be quite angry if that was the case. But these aren't a bunch of new recruits either. Further, if there is a problem, then as you point out, other trade-offs should be made. I think they just don't want to trade off the new toys for training and this is their 'leverage'.

I was looking for a year old cartoon I wanted to post here but couldn't find it. The title was something like "DoD's Greatest Enemies" and gave a name followed by DoD's response.
Russia (Pic of tanks)? No problem
China (Pic of ship)? Peace of cake
N. Korea (Pic of missiles)? Walk in the Park
Sequester (Pic of panicked general)? Run for your lives!!!

kinnem said:

I was looking for a year old cartoon I wanted to post here but couldn't find it. The title was something like "DoD's Greatest Enemies" and gave a name followed by DoD's response.
Russia (Pic of tanks)? No problem
China (Pic of ship)? Peace of cake
N. Korea (Pic of missiles)? Walk in the Park
Sequester (Pic of panicked general)? Run for your lives!!!

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I heard an Army Colonel say something along the line of the biggest threat to the DoD is retired O6's working as contractors. He also said that more than likely he will become one himself (I wasn't sure if he was serious or kidding)

Some DoD contractors (to include companies) perform invaluable service to the country, but some do not.

Where can we get an honest answer on if we really need F35, new aircraft carrier, Future of Combat System (this might be already cancelled) and etc?