TRANSCOM says results from sealift exercise reinforce known problems

The No. 2 officer at U.S. Transportation Command says the results of TRANSCOM's September sealift exercise highlight the issues the Pentagon has had about its surge sealift capabilities.

"In summary, [Turbo Activation 19-Plus] validated known concerns regarding the readiness of the Organic Surge Fleet and reinforced the need for recapitalization," according to a Dec. 16 report summarizing the results of the exercise.

Vice Adm. Dee Mewbourne, deputy TRANSCOM chief, who signed the report, wrote that 39 of the 61 ships assigned to the surge fleet were deemed "ready for tasking."

"The low RFT Rate (63.9%) will lead to fewer ships available to immediately respond to a contingency, which could delay force flow to a theater and the subsequent buildup of combat power," according to the report.

The sealift fleet's readiness goal is to have "85% availability" on any given day, according to the report.

Mewbourne also wrote that a little more than 80% of the fleet that normally remains in a reduced operating status successfully prepared to deploy within the five-day time limit, a result that was deemed "satisfactory."