Boxed in

According to an article in this week’s Army Times newspaper, “ The Pentagon faces a more than $100 billion bill to repair and replace worn-out or destroyed equipment, vehicles and weapons, officials and members of Congress say, but paying for it may endanger plans to boost the size of the military.” The article goes on to state that, for example, Humvees are averaging over 100,000 miles a year in road time…five times the peacetime rate. From an engineer standpoint, heavy construction equipment is also being pushed far beyond what would normally be expected in peacetime operations. Yes, we are a nation at war, and heavy use of equipment is to be expected. Still, it seems to me as if the Department of Defense has boxed itself into a corner by attempting to do too much, with too little, for too long a period of time.