HUNTSVILLEHuntsville, Ala. — The massive effort to move nearly 40,000 US vehicles out of the war zone has been underway while Army Materiel Command (AMC) is putting assets back into Iraq and building a brigade-size equipment set in Europe to counter Russian aggression, the commander said.

The retrograde of equipment from Afghanistan is "a phenomenal and historic achievement not seen since World War II," made more remarkable considering it was done while reestablishing logistics capability back into Iraq to support the advise-and-assist mission there, said Gen. Dennis Via at the AUSA gathering here on Wednesday.

Via gave a look at how AMC is challenged to sustain and support forces around the world, during what the Army chief of staff calls the most uncertain national security environment he's seen in 40 years of service.

AMC's operations tempo reflects that, Via said. About 80 percent of the military's contingency requirements in the past year have been fulfilled by the Army, he said.

"All of our efforts are accomplished during the devastating effects of sequestration," Via said.

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With cutbacks such as a workforce reduced by 10,000 people, "I'm not sure we can continue this pace" without resources he considers necessary.

Via described some of AMC's efforts recently, now and upcoming:

  • Working with US Army Europe to build the brigade-size set of equipment to be placed in Europe.
  • Retrograde from 800-plus NATO installations in the war zone to now fewer than 25.
  • Supporting Pacific Command in establishing a larger "semi-permanent" presence on the Pacific Rim.
  • Setting up a field support brigade in that region.
  • Preparing for a troop rotation to South Korea soon.
  • Supporting the realignment of brigade combat teams in the continental US and the reorganization of 20 brigades, involving a large amount of equipment to move.
  • Returning many maintenance tasks to soldiers to save money while aiming to keep equipment in "the highest state of readiness."

Recent events demonstrate the unpredictability AMC needs to be prepared for, Via said: the rise of the Islamic State group, Yemen verging on civil war, relations with Iran in a delicate state, ceasefire in Ukraine apparently fragile, humanitarian relief and floods in Pakistan, to name a few.

"The speed of global insecurity is increasing," Via said. "We are consuming readiness as fast as we create it."

Email: kcurthoys@armytimes.com

About Kathleen Curthoys

Kathleen Curthoys is editor of Army Times. She has been an editor at Military Times for 20 years, covering issues that affect service members. She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at newspapers in Columbus, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; Bloomington, Indiana; Monterey, California and in Germany.

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