Hannity posted an article on his site that shows how the DOD is turning a blind eye to troops in the field who are requesting supplies and not getting them. For example, Troops Direct, a non-profit military support organization, has been getting more and more letters from troops in Afghanistan and other areas requesting equipment just to do their jobs that they aren’t getting through the military:
For example, one Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team leader based in Afghanistan wrote to Troops Direct asking for three Tactical Remote Pull Lines and 3 Day Assault Packs each. To put it in layman’s terms, Tactical Remote Pull Lines are used by EOD teams to safely dismantle IEDs and 3 Day Assault Packs are backpacks designed specifically for troops to carry equipment efficiently.
The EOD team leader said in his email, “We are in dire need of some gear and with the cuts that are looming around we will probably never see the quality gear we need.” Concerned with the hefty price tag that comes with each piece of equipment, ($553 each for the pull lines and $350 each for the assault packs) the team leader writes, “Our team would need three of each. If this would be possible at all or even just one of each to keep us in the fight that would be really awesome.”
Rep. Duncan Hunger emailed Defense Secretary Hagel in June telling him how, like the example above, troops aren’t getting supplies they are requesting. The DOD responded that the flow of necessary equipment to the troops is ‘adequate’:
In a letter dated July 25, 2013, the Department of Defense told Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) that the flow of necessary equipment and materials to U.S. armed forces fighting overseas is “adequate.”
The reply came after Rep. Duncan Hunter sent a letter in June to Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel saying, “Items such as metal detectors, tourniquets, eye protection and gun lubrication–not to mention the basic necessities like soap, toothpaste, and socks–have all been requested by units in the field. However there are numerous instances where these items are not supplied by a logistics system that is cumbersome and which can be non- responsive to the war fighter.”
Specifically, Hunter’s letter cites the non-profit military support organization, Troops Direct. Based out of Northern California, Troops Direct receives requests from U.S. military commanders on the front lines in Afghanistan and Africa for vital equipment and supplies which they cannot receive through the military’s internal supply chain. What makes the organization unique is that they focus on fulfilling direct orders from those on the ground as opposed to shipping arbitrary care packages to the troops. While the Defense Department letter says that supplies such as medical trauma kits and counter-IED equipment are, “available in sufficient quantities,” many military officials who have reached out to Troops Direct would beg to differ.
Hannity cites other examples, including one in Afghanistan were a soldier wrote to Troops Direct and said he was just looking for “healthy snacks” because and other food items because he isn’t getting breakfast anymore where he is in Afghanistan. You can read about them here.