The priority assigned to CAS has created animosity within the services since the beginning of aviation support. The Army refuses to acknowledge its rotary wing CAS capability, the Air Force views CAS as its lowest priority, while the Marine Corps has developed its war fighting doctrine based on fully integrating its ground and aviation fires capabilities. The timing and magnitude of Sequestration under the 2011 Budget Control Act, along with the 2013 Defense Budget Continuing Resolution, will create budget shortfalls in training leading to deficiencies in combat readiness. As the Nation s strategic focus pivots to the Pacific, the services must acknowledge the changes required in joint doctrine and joint training to ensure the next conflict is engaged by a fully integrated air-ground team in the CAS environment. The lack of implementing a fully integrated CAS doctrine and training plan will lead to repeated lessons learned from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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