Military Readiness: Background to Congressional Debate over Tiered Readiness (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Aug. 31, 1998 |
| Report Number |
97-866 |
| Authors |
Michael A. Longoria and Michael C. Ryan, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Senate version of the FY1998 National Defense Authorization Act required the Department
of
Defense (DOD) prepare a second report on tiered readiness. (1) The House
version ( H.R. 1119 ) opposed tiered readiness and specifically prohibited its implementation.
(2) In the final
conference report, the differences between the two chambers remained sharp over the issue of
reducing current force readiness of some units for cost savings -- in this case to pay for force
modernization. Given probable stringent budget realities in the future, this incident of difference of
approach reflects a continuing tension among competing national defense budget priorities that
remains difficult to resolve. This report will not be updated, but the information likely will be relevant
in future readiness debates.
1. Â Under the FY1997 law, DOD was required to conduct the
first study on tiered readiness. See P.L. 104-201 ,
Section 1047, September 23, 1996. Hereafter referred to as TR Report #1. The requirement for a
second
report can be found in the FY1998 National Defense Authorization Bill ( S. 936 ), Section 1034.
Hereafter referred to as TR Report #2.
2. Â H.R. 1119 , Section 314-Prohibition of Implementation
of Tiered Readiness System.
