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Duckworth Blames Naval Collision On Lack Of Training

tammyduckworth.com

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth blames a lack of training for the recent collision involving the USS John McCain and an oil tanker near Singapore.

 

Ten sailors are missing and five others injured after that accident. Speaking on Illinois Public Radio’s daily talk show “The 21st,” Duckworth said the problem goes back to budget sequestration implemented in 2013.

 

"You’re starting to see it with accidents that happen, with aircraft, and ships, and equipment that breaks down," she said. "This is what happens when you keep our military under sequestration for as long as we have and yet expect them to maintain the operational tempo that we’ve put them under."

 

Duckworth was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot during the Iraq war. She says the problem isn’t the overall defense budget.  Instead, she claimed not enough of that money is being directed toward training and keeping equipment up to date.