Rapid Fire August 16, 2012: Sequestration and the National Guard

* Back in March the US Army issued a Request for Information to perform a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) and On-Condition Cyclic Maintenance (OCCM) on its fleet of 34 Landing Craft Utility 2000 (LCU 2000) vessels. They are following up with an RFI to replace [MS Word] the Main Propulsion Diesel Engine (MDPE), Ship Service Diesel Generator (SSDG), and Bow Thruster (BT) of these ships. Responses expected by September 17. * The US Navy’s vice chief of naval operations Admiral Mark Ferguson on anticipating sequestration: “We have had pretty clear directions from the secretary of defense … that we are not to embark on that planning.” * The Heritage Foundation hosted a panel on what effects sequestration would have on the National Guard. Part of what’s at stake is the availability of funds under Title 32 to assist states. Video at the bottom of this entry. * Separately Heritage published a paper [PDF] listing principles to guide US policy in the Arctic. They ask for NATO’s involvement, which sounds unlikely to amount to much if it happens, as well as higher levels of investments for the Coast Guard and to develop situational awareness in the region. * The CSIS […]