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Defense official urges new military construction in Europe

By Otto Kreisher CongressDaily January 9, 2009

The U.S. commander in Europe Friday said he needs additional military construction funding, particularly for Defense Department schools and family housing, and warned that the poor condition of the schools could become a readiness issue.

Army Gen. Bantz Craddock, the Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, also endorsed recommendations by a special Pentagon commission on the need to retain nuclear weapons there, and said the NATO allies are awaiting the Obama administration with "expectation and anxiousness."

Funding for facilities in Europe has been constrained for years because of the deep reduction in U.S. forces since the end of the Cold War.

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But Craddock said the U.S. command needs to retain four Army brigades, instead of cutting to two as has been proposed, and needs to retain current Air Force and Navy force levels. He said the command has not met the new standard for single-soldier barracks, but the Army has committed the money, and he has an unfunded requirement for family housing improvements.

But the biggest concern, Craddock said, was poor condition of the schools for military dependents. Many of the school buildings "are all far older than any of us," the general told a defense writers breakfast.

"We have got to invest some money to provide adequate facilities. If we don't do it, it becomes a readiness problem," because families will stay in the United States, which can affect the morale and retention of the service members. He estimated he needed an additional $300 million to $400 million a year.

Asked about the recommendation on nuclear capabilities from the panel led by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger, Craddock said, "the fact is there is strategic need and advantage for nuclear weapons ... The alliance has made the decision to have them. There has been no debate to retrograde them out" and "they are safe and secure." As for the panel's statement that some U.S. officers have advocated "unilateral" removal of the nuclear weapons, Craddock observed: "That's not the way the alliance works." Discussion and decisions "are based on consensus."

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  • My only perspective on this issue comes from spending 18 years overseas living on military installations and sometimes serving as an inpector of base facilities. That includes the Far East, Middle East and Europe. The only place I ever experienced truly decent facilities for housing and schools overseas was on Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, but that was after Japanese taxpayers paid for them. Does that mean Japanese taxpayers are more concerned about American military families than American taxpayers? I don't know. Just something to think about.
    Rick Posted January 15, 2009 7:55 AM
  • Wood, I find the statement "We ask a lot from our troops and to provide their family with newer facilities to live in and get educated in is a small price to pay for their commitment." appalling, I entered active duty 40 years ago and it wasn't for benefits for my future family it was my chosen profession. My pay went from $120 per week to $84 per month. I loved every minute (excluding my tours in Vietnam) I spent in uniform. Where else are you afforded the opportunity to mold the minds and bodies of our young men and women? The military now enjoys the highest standard of living ever yet all I ever hear about is low pay. I hold our Govt. responsible for this as they have been literally throwing money at these young people in order to recruit and retain them. We should be appealing to the honor and integrity of those who want to serve their country. Personally, I don't care whether Cpl Shmuck's wife gets free education or not, what the hey, we couldn't even get married until we made Sgt and couldn't drive until we were a SSgt for the obvious reason that we didn't make enough money to support a wife or pay car insurance.
    John W Posted January 12, 2009 5:53 PM
  • Taking care of a soldier’s family is the key to maintaining a highly motivated and ready military. We ask a lot from our troops and to provide their family with newer facilities to live in and get educated in is a small price to pay for their commitment. Congress needs get up off their duff and put money where it is really needed. All this talk about change it sure would be nice to really see some.
    wood Posted January 12, 2009 9:11 AM
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