WASHINGTON — Most of the equipment U.S. Marines are using in Iraq will be left behind once the troops withdraw from the region, the assistant commandant of the corps said this week.

“The bulk of that equipment, by the time we see the end of this, will be best left there and just replaced,” Gen. William Nyland said during testimony before Congress. “I don’t think it will ever come home.”

Most of the equipment used by Marines in Iraq was brought to that country during initial combat operations, Nyland said. Personnel have used vehicles and aircraft left by their predecessors, rather than bringing their own equipment.

Heavy use, combined with the harsh environment in Iraq and “unavoidable delays” in routine maintenance, have left much of the gear degraded, according to Corps officials. For example, CH-46 helicopters in Iraq are currently flying at about 2.5 times their normal peacetime rate.

Nyland’s comments came as members from all four services responded to criticism from members of the House Armed Services Committee that too many predictable expenses — such as equipment replacement and maintenance — was included in the defense supplemental budget request.

Members argued that the $82 billion proposal should be reserved for unexpected and emergency expenses related to the war on terror.

Gen. Richard Cody, vice chief of staff for the Army, said he believes many of the service’s modernization efforts included in this year’s supplemental will be shifted to the standard budget process in 2007, but for now officials are focused on getting new equipment and improvements to deployed troops as quickly as possible.

He also said that many of the Army’s vehicles could be left behind in Iraq once U.S. operations there end. Equipment will either be scrapped or sold to Iraqi military officials, and U.S. Army officials will purchase new replacements.

But about 4,000 vehicles in Iraq will be returned to the United States over the next year for maintenance and upgrades, Cody said.

Migrated