Elite Army units bypass traditional procurement by using credit cards to test new equipment while the service shifts posture toward countering China in the Indo-Pacific.
—
EXCLUSIVE:ArmySecretaryDanDriscollsaidU.S.soldiersareimprovisingwithgovernmentcreditcardstobuyandtestbattlefieldgearastheyadapttotheexplodingdronethreat—astheArmyshiftsitslong-termposturetowardcounteringChinaintheIndo-Pacific.
InaninterviewwithFoxNewsDigital,Driscolldescribedhoweliteunitslikethe75thRangerRegimentarebypassingthePentagon’scumbersomeprocurementsystemtotestnewdrones,sensorsandweaponsinrealtime.Atthesametime,hesaidtheArmyisaligningwiththePentagon’sassessmentofChinaasthenation’s“pacingthreat,”buildingaforceoptimizedfortheIndo-Pacificbutstillcapableofdeployingworldwideatamoment’snotice.
AfteravisitwiththeregimentatHunterArmyAirfieldinSavannah,Georgia,onTuesday,DriscollsaidRangers“basicallyjustusetheircorporatecreditcardtogoonlineandpurchasethingstotest,andtheywillfindwhatworks.”
“They�
