Neller seeks to speed buying process

Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said he's committed to doing his part to speed the military acquisition process.

However, he acknowledged, there are certain elements that simply can't move faster.

"I think everybody recognizes that it takes a certain amount of time to build a plane, build a ship," Neller said, adding that the equipment has to work and can't be tested in combat. "That just by its inherent nature is going to drag the process out."

But what military officials must do, he said, is "figure out those things that we do that unnecessarily drag out the process."

While many in government and industry hold up Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles as an example of how fast each can move when they must, Neller said it's not a perfect example.

MRAPs "weren't really that complicated," he said. "That's going to be difficult to do with something that has stealth and a lot of technology and a lot of communications."

"You are not going to get that overnight, but we still have to be committed to do that faster," Neller added.