The Defense Departmentâs acquisition czar said as the U.S. prepares to draw down forces in Afghanistan, the need for a more capable and better equipped force is even more crucial.
Ashton Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics, at a Defense Logistics Agency conference in Columbus, Ohio, said the agency had accomplished a âtrue miracleâ in supporting the 33,000-strong troop surge last year.
Now, Carter, who mentioned heâd just returned from a week-long trip to Afghanistan, said the âoverall objectiveâ must be to make the remaining troops âmore capable than the force that has been in Afghanistan this past year.â
Carter said the agency is considering several initiatives, such as providing more technologies like intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools.
And as an American Forces Press Service reports, DoD is turning to improved logistics in the embattled country to reduce transportation costs, Carter said.
But itâs clear the overarching budget situation will play a role.
âThe worldâs changing; the budget landscape is changing,â Carter said. âWe in DoD are trying to change. I know industryâs changing also. The only thing that doesnât change, and I saw again and again last week in Afghanistan, is the dedication and quality of the men and women in uniform, and we owe them our best dedication back.â