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Marine Corps commandant says deploying troops to the border poses ‘unacceptable risk’
General Robert Neller complains about “fiscal challenges without precedent” as he cancels important military exercises with the Marines stationed at the border.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller.
And there you have it.
The Commandant of a US service branch is stating that the southern border deployments and funding transfers due to Trumps emergency declaration are having a significantly adverse impact on the US Marine Corps.
It's a crying shame that Trump is stealing from our military to pay for his vanity wall project.
Related: Marine Corps Boss Slams Border Deployment As ‘Unacceptable Risk’ To Combat Readiness
General Robert Neller complains about “fiscal challenges without precedent” as he cancels important military exercises with the Marines stationed at the border.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller.
3/21/19
The commandant of the Marines has warned the Pentagon that deployments to the southwest border and funding transfers under the president's emergency declaration, among other unexpected demands, have posed “unacceptable risk to Marine Corps combat readiness and solvency.” In two internal memos, Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller said the “unplanned/unbudgeted” deployment along the border that President Trump ordered last fall, and shifts of other funds to support border security, had forced him to cancel or reduce planned military training in at least five countries, and delay urgent repairs at bases. The border deployment and "funding transfers", as well as recovery costs from hurricanes Florence and Michael, new housing allowances and civilian pay raises, are taking a toll on combat readiness, Neller wrote to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Navy Secretary Richard Spencer.
Neller, a four-star general, said because of the problems, Marines will not participate in planned training exercises in Indonesia, Scotland and Mongolia, and will reduce their participation in joint exercises with Australia and South Korea. Marines “rely on the hard, realistic training” of the training exercises “to develop the individual and collective skills necessary to prepare for high-end combat,” said Neller, who has been commandant since September 2015. He complained about canceling or shrinking the Marines’ participation “at a time where we are attempting to double down on strengthening alliances and attracting new partners.” Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said Neller’s memos showed the danger in diverting Pentagon funds to build Trump’s border wall. “If the president won’t listen to the American people or Congress, then listen to the commandant of the Marine Corps,” Durbin said in a statement. The border deployment is adding to the strain after hurricanes severely damaged Marine Corps facilities and housing in North Carolina and Georgia, Neller wrote. Citing limits on his ability to transfer money because of the planned reprogramming under the border emergency, Neller said the Marines already are short $1.3 billion for recovery operations this year with another hurricane season approaching. “The hurricane season is only three months away,” Neller wrote, “and we have Marines, Sailors, and civilians working in compromised structures.”
And there you have it.
The Commandant of a US service branch is stating that the southern border deployments and funding transfers due to Trumps emergency declaration are having a significantly adverse impact on the US Marine Corps.
It's a crying shame that Trump is stealing from our military to pay for his vanity wall project.
Related: Marine Corps Boss Slams Border Deployment As ‘Unacceptable Risk’ To Combat Readiness