From: ndallen@r-node.pci.on.ca (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Gen. Sullivan Promises "No Headlong Rushes" in Down-Sizing of Army
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 04:27:19 GMT

Here is a press release from the Reserve Officers Association.

 Gen. Sullivan Promises "No Headlong Rushes" In Down-Sizing Of Army
 To: National Desk
 Contact: Herbert M. Hart of the Reserve Officers Association,
          202-479-2258

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 26   -- Promising that in shaping tomorrow's 
Army "we are not rushing in for headlong organizational
changes," General Gordon R. Sullivan said today that "such headlong
rushes -- done in the past -- take our eye off the central task, to
win the nation's wars.  We can't do that this time."
   Speaking at an Army section luncheon at the Reserve Officers
Association Mid-Winter conference in Washington, D.C., the Army
Chief of Staff added, "We have responsibilities we cannot ignore.
Two generations of American world leadership have conditioned the
world we face.  We must be capable of decisive victory."
   Recognizing his audience of upwards of 1,000 Army Reservists,
Sullivan commented that the Army Reserve "represents a great
resource and great buy, for the Total Force and for the country.
Many of you have the experience of active duty.
   "Many of you have talents that we cannot maintain in the active
inventory...Many of you are involved in the cutting edge of your
field in civilian life, medicine, management, operations, technology,
computers, etc.  That keeps us fresh with new and needed ideas.
   "You give the Army depth and the capabilities to bring success to
the American people."
   Sullivan said that a critical feature for the future Army will be
mobility.  "That affects the Army Reserve and how we do business," he
explained.  Sixty percent of the combat service support in the
contingency corps comes from the Reserve Components.  That means that
some Army Reserve units must be in a very high state of readiness.
   "Additionally, the Army Reserve is the component which has a
tremendous amount of transportation and transportation management
assets of the Total Army.  Therefore, when the Army projects power,
anywhere in the world, the Army Reserve is going to be vitally
involved.  Army port and transportation units move the force --
trucks, ammunition handling units, port and terminal operations
units, barges, rail.  All are required to deploy the Total Army from
home station to the theater of operations, and employ the force once
it arrives.
   "Now, moving that force, keeping it trained and ready, and
operating all over the world -- meeting the nation's call -- that
takes money.  And right now, in this environment, it's hard and going
to get harder."
   Noting "dollars constrain what we can do," Sullivan added, "I
can't keep force structure that absorbs dollars needed elsewhere, in
training, maintenance, leader development, and quality of life
programs.  We must keep the force trained and ready, no matter its
size.  If we make prudent use of all the components and structure and
fund them for what they can reasonably be expected to do, then we can
field a capable force for America.
   "If we can't keep the force structure we have on hand trained and
ready, then we must face up to the trade-off.  We've done that, and
we're doing it today, and will continue to cut force structure, if
needed to maintain a trained and ready force.  We've got to use all
our resources wisely and effectively."
   Sullivan said that he was "committed to keeping the Army Reserve a
strong, vital full partner in the defense of America.  I have to,
because you bring so much capability to the American way of
war."
 -30-
-- 
Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario    ndallen@r-node.pci.on.ca