Much of our equipment is old and although we know that some replacement items are in the pipeline, they cannot be fielded soon enough. Modernization of our rolling stock is critical and I would solicit your continued support of these programs, and if possible, the expediting of the modernization effort. The age of our equipment has increased our maintenance requirements, both in the time we spend fixing equipment and the money it costs for each repair. Although it appears we are managing this in the short term, our Marines are spending an ever increasing amount of time on repairing equipment in order to keep it operational so we can train. We are also continuously inducting vehicles into corrosion control programs to repair damage done to the vehicles by exposure to salt water.
Corrosion is a reality of being an amphibious force, but it has a greater effect on aging equipment.
The Second Marine Division has made a significant investment in automation in the last two years and we possess up to date computers and the necessary connectivity to allow us to communicate and operate in today's digital world. In garrison, we have electronic mail, Internet access and the ability to read message traffic with our computers. In the area of supply and maintenance, we are currently introducing systems that will accelerate and make more efficient the ordering and distribution of repair parts. In the operational area, we are moving toward a digital tactical command post with an electronic map. However, the availability and reliability of the equipment we need to achieve this goal is some years away.