General Robert Neller Testified Before The House Armed Services Committee

Cuts to the military budget are directly responsible for major aircraft training accident that result in the loss of personnel, according to Marine Corps General Robert Neller.

The remarks came during Neller's testimony during a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, according to the Washington Examiner newspaper. "We track this very closely and the simple fact is we don't have enough airplanes to meet training requirements for the entire force," Neller said in response to a question from HASC Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) about the increase in the number of accidents.

Neller said that deployed Marines are "trained and ready," but those who are not deployed may not receive adequate training.

The accidents referred to by Neller are those which result in damages of more than $1 million in property, or which destroys an aircraft or results in the fatal injury or permanent disability of a person.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said that the Army has conducted a "very detailed study" into the increase in accidents, and that the service expects to have more data in about a month.

Milley told the committee that the Army would like to have its crews fly 14 to 15 hours training each month, but the 2017 budget only funds about 12 hours per month for helicopters ... an increase from 10 hours last year.

Milley said they'd like to train more "but we just can't get there with this budget."

(Images from file)

FMI: www.marines.mil, www.army.mil