We are no longer budgeted to do the same amount of training in preparation for our wartime mission and for deployments to National Training Center. Based on the experience gained from my last National Training Center rotation with the BCT in August of 1997, I can testify that the National Training Center has not reduced its standards. In fact, based on new requirements during the first deployment week of the rotation, and the conduct of continuous brigade-level operations, I believe the National Training Center is now even more challenging. The greater the challenge, the greater the learning, and the more we will be prepared for deployment. Without a doubt, the National Training Center is still our premier heavy forces training facility and training opportunity.
Units improve their combat readiness considerably through participation in a rotation.
Nevertheless, the NTC is an outstanding training opportunity. Before closing, I would like to comment on the impact that deploying and training a task force for Bosnia had on the brigade. I already mentioned the impact of this deployment on our personnel situation. Another significant issue related to this deployment was the effect on readiness of deploying a third of the BCT's combat forces. The 3BCT is configured as a combined arms team.