Readiness shortfalls could translate to preventable deaths if the U.S. finds itself embroiled in another major fight, Marine Corps Commandant Joseph Dunford warned a congressional panel Thursday.
Dunford appeared with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert before the Defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations committee for the first in a series of hearings on the budgetary posture of the Navy Department in the upcoming year.
While Dunford, who became commandant in October, spoke highly of what Marines were accomplishing from Pacific deployments to equipping fighters in the Middle East, he told the panel that the the Corps' budget-driven choices regarding readiness were not sustainable.
About half of nondeployed units are still suffering shortfalls in personnel, equipment and training, Dunford said.
"The Marine Corps is not adequately resourcing our non-deployed units; it will take time and sustained funding to address the deficiencies in personnel, equipment and training," he wrote in his prepared remarks. " ... Imbalance amongst the pillars for long periods will hollow the force and create unacceptable risk for our national defense."
And in a scenario that requires more units to push forward, those risks could result in a worst-case scenario.
"In a major conflict, those shortfalls are going to result in delayed response, and/or the unnecessary loss of young American lives," he told lawmakers.
Of the current proposed budget, which includes $24 billion in requested funds for the Marine Corps to the tune of $24 billion — about $400,000 less than the previous year when accounting for war funding — Dunford said it allows the service Marine Corps to meet its requirements, but "there is no margin" to go lower.
When asked by subcommittee chairman Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., to discuss where the Marine Corps might assess reductions if another round of across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration budget cuts took effect, Dunford said the Marine Corps had few options.
Personnel and operations and maintenance account for 88 percent of Marine Corps spending, he said.
"The only thing we could do to realize savings in a given year is to divest ourselves of people, which we have not done ... or to stop training," Dunford said. "The short answer to your question is there really isn't anything we can do."
Without adequate funding, budget constraints will result in fewer Marines and sailors deployed forward, Dunford said. Today, about 31,000 Marines are forward-deployed around the world.
"American people expect us to respond to today's crisis, today," he said. "We can only do that if we're properly postured forward."
