Word: programing
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Convincing the nation that an ultraexpensive rearmament program is necessary and deciding on its approximate size were the opening, and easiest, steps in getting the buildup going. Now comes the far more difficult job of making hard choices about exactly what that mountain of money should be used to buy?and what ought to be bought first...
Weapons Policy. The M-l Abrams tank, which went into operation this spring, has been proudly described by the Pentagon as "the keystone of the U.S. Army modernization program." According to various experts, the new tank illustrates either everything that is right or everything that is wrong with U.S. weapons policy. More likely it illustrates both at once. Though the M-l still has some technical problems, veteran tankers who have driven it say it is a superb machine, better than anything the Soviets can field. The M-l can whip around battlefields at 45 m.p.h., fire accurately...
...Europe that regular Army troops supposedly could pick up on their way into battle. Reserve units were repeatedly told that the new equipment they had hoped to get for training was being sent to Europe for the stockpile. Weinberger has already said that he will continue the European stockpiling program, but has not specified at what level. Unless the program is reduced in fiscal 1983, top military brass will be unable to believe that the Administration intends to do anything much about equipping the reserves...
...believes the problem is solved. Many young men and women undoubtedly are joining up because the civilian unemployment rate is a high 7.3%?which means, ironically, that success for the Administration's economic program could spell trouble for its military manpower plans. If decent civilian jobs are available for high school graduates, there will be fewer volunteers for the armed forces. Reagan's plans could require adding an estimated 200,000 people, perhaps as early as 1985, to the 2,094,000 who were in uniform last Jan. 1. Worse, low re-enlistment rates have left all the services...
Defense Production. The defense industry's shortcomings could turn the whole rearmament program into a paper tiger. Defense contractors can produce weapons even at today's slow pace only with ruinous cost overruns. The contractors blame the military for constantly revising plans; the Pentagon blames the contractors for slovenliness and inefficiency. Meanwhile, production lead times stretch out: the order-to-delivery time for Pratt & Whitney's F-100 aircraft engine, for example, has lengthened from 19 to 38 months in the past two years. Experts warn that the industry does not have the capacity to build arms at the pace...