Dempsey: Budget Cuts, Global Challenges Raise Risk to Nation

By Claudette Roulo

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 5, 2014 – Global security threats are not fading, even as the Defense Department looks for ways to balance worldwide security demands with diminished resources, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.

The recent events in Ukraine demonstrated the world will continue to hold unpleasant surprises, Dempsey said.

“The most likely threats emanate from violent extremist groups and from ungoverned spaces, yet we can never discount the possibility of state-on-state conflict,” the chairman said. “Therefore, our force must remain postured to provide options across the full spectrum of potential conflicts.”

Dempsey began last week in Afghanistan, where he addressed the region’s security challenges and spoke with troops and commanders, he said.

“As always, I left there inspired,” Dempsey said, adding that the troops there remain fully engaged in their missions. “They continue to build the institution of the Afghan national security forces, which given the right political structure around them, has the ability to sustain the fight,” he told the Senate panel.

The Defense Department will be prepared to support a variety of options over the next several months as the relationship with Afghanistan moves forward, the chairman said, noting that this includes the option for a complete drawdown of forces by the end of the year.

The variety of scenarios the military may face means that the force must be prepared to “provide options across the full spectrum of potential conflicts,” the general said. “At the same time,” he added, “the balance between our security demands and our available resources has rarely been more delicate.”

The department’s proposed fiscal year 2015 budget strikes the best balance between national security and fiscal responsibilities, Dempsey said. By providing the tools for today's force to accomplish its missions, rebuilding readiness and modernizing and ensuring that the force is globally networked, the budget request reveals in real terms how the department is reducing costs and working to ensure that the force is in the right balance, the chairman told the senators.

“As a whole, the budget helps us to remain the world's finest military -- modern, capable and ready -- even while transitioning to a smaller and more affordable force over time,” he said.

The Bipartisan Budget Act signed last year allows the department to buy back some of the readiness it lost due to 13 years of war, but it doesn’t solve all of DOD’s problems, Dempsey said. “It's not a long-term solution to sequestration, but it does give us a measure of near-term relief and stability,” he noted.

Dempsey said he and the Joint Chiefs will never stop looking for ways for the force to become more effective.

“We'll do things smarter and more efficiently, more in line with the sorts of security challenges that we face today, and in line with the fiscal reality. … And we'll invest deeper in developing leaders of consequence at every level -- men and women of both competence and character, who are good stewards of the special trust and confidence gifted to us by our fellow citizens,” he said.

But, he added, the department has infrastructure it doesn’t need, legacy weapon systems that it can't afford, and personnel costs that have grown at a disproportionate rate. Without Congress’ cooperation in managing these costs, Dempsey said, “we do face unbalanced cuts to readiness and modernization.”

“We simply can't ignore the imbalances that ultimately make our force less effective than what the nation needs,” the chairman said.

These issues weigh heavily on the minds of service members and their families, he said. “Our force is extraordinarily accepting of change; they’re less understanding of uncertainty and piecemeal solutions,” Dempsey said. “They want and they deserve predictability.”

The proposed budget does assume some risks, the chairman acknowledged.

“I expect more difficult conventional fights,” Dempsey said. “We must rely increasingly on allies and partners and our global responsibilities are currently undiminished and will have to be placed in balance.”

The risks only increase if sequester-level cuts return in fiscal year 2016, he said.

“That's a gamble none of us should be willing to take, because it's … America's sons and daughters who will face tomorrow's challenges with whatever strategy, structure and resources we develop today.

“Our most sacred obligation is to make sure they're never sent into a fair fight,” he continued, “which is to say they must remain the best-trained, best-led, best-equipped force on the planet.”

"Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment" in the U.S. Navy

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy joins the nation in celebrating Women's History Month during March, as announced in NAVADMIN 043/14, released Feb. 28.

Currently more than 59,000 active duty women and more than 9,000 Reserve women serve in the Navy. Making up 18 percent of the Total Force, women make numerous contributions to our Navy's mission and readiness. Additionally, more than 54,000 women serve in a wide range of specialties as Navy civilians. Women leading in the Navy Total Force include: 32 active and Reserve flag officers, 69 Senior Executive Service (SES) members, 48 command master chiefs, and three command senior chiefs.

In 1908, Congress established the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. The first 20 Navy nurses were women, who became known as the "Sacred Twenty." As one of the "Sacred Twenty," Lenah S. Higbee was one of the first women to serve formally as a member of the Navy. In 1909, Higbee was promoted to Chief Nurse at Norfolk Naval Hospital, and in 1911 she became the Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps, serving throughout the duration of World War I. The Navy recognized Higbee's distinguished service as Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps, awarding her the Navy Cross for service in the line of her profession and unusual and conspicuous devotion to duty. In 1944, the Navy commemorated Higbee's naval service, naming a ship in her honor. USS Higbee (DD 806) was the first combatant ship to be named after a woman.

The Navy's first enlisted women, more commonly known as yeomen (F) or yeomanettes, provided clerical support during World War I. Capt. Joy Bright Hancock initially enlisted as a yeoman (F), serving until the end of World War I, by which time she had risen to the rank of chief petty officer. In 1942, during World War II, she was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program. Hancock rose to the rank of captain and led the WAVES through the 1940s and 1950s, facilitating the addition of women as a permanent part of the Navy.

Master Chief Yeoman Anna Der-Vartanian entered the Navy through the WAVES. She was not only the first woman to hold the rank of master chief in the Navy, but also across all armed services. Reflecting on her service, Der-Vartanian noted that most of the personnel she led treated her with respect and professionalism. The few exceptions where her authority was challenged, she maintained her professionalism with the saying, "Fall in and pipe down!" Upon her retirement after 21 years of naval service, Der-Vartanian continued serving her country by joining the Central Intelligence Agency.

Darlene Iskra was one of the first female line officers to graduate from the Naval School of Diving and Salvage in Washington, D.C.

Looking back, Iskra said, "Dive school was the most physically challenging thing I had ever done to that point in my life. Had it not been for the support of my fellow classmates, especially my roommate and diving partner [present day] Rear Adm. Martha Herb, I would have probably quit."

As a lieutenant commander, Darlene Iskra became the first Navy woman to command a ship when she assumed command of USS Opportune (ARS 41) in 1990. Iskra took her ship, a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship, to patrol the Suez Canal during Operation Desert Storm, ensuring the canal remained clear for commerce. Reflecting upon her time as the first female commanding officer of a naval ship, she now understands that being a trailblazer means opening new ground for others to follow and that sometimes there are hazards along the way. Iskra retired in 2000 as a commander, with 21 years of service.

Most recently, Vice Adm. Michelle Howard was nominated for appointment to the rank of admiral and assignment as vice chief of naval operations. Upon confirmation, she will make history as the Navy's first female four-star admiral, and first African-American and first woman to serve as the vice chief.

The character, courage, and commitment shown by Higbee, Hancock, Der-Vartanian, Iskra, and Howard paved the way for women serving in the contemporary Navy. Today, women in the Navy, both officer and enlisted, hold leadership positions aboard warships, of carrier air wings and squadrons, recruiting districts, training stations, and shipyards. As we continue to progress forward, previously closed billets will open to women and the Navy will continue to witness women making history and new "firsts."

Commands are strongly encouraged to increase their knowledge and awareness of the contributions of women to our Navy and nation by celebrating the National Women's History Month theme, "Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment," through programs, exhibits, publications, and participation in military and community events.

ARPC highlights first female command chief

by Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett
Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs

3/4/2014 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In December 2013 Chief Master Sgt. Ruth E. Flores became the Air Reserve Personnel Center's first female command chief to represent the highest level of enlisted leadership here.

As command chief, she is involved in advising the commander on all matters concerning the health, morale, welfare and effective utilization of more than 400 active duty, guardsmen, civilian employees and reserve enlisted members. She was officially recognized during an assumption of responsibility ceremony here Jan. 31.

The ARPC obtained the command chief position in 2012 when former commander, Col. Pat Blassie, was the driving force behind getting the billet for ARPC.

Since then, the center has had command Chief Master Sergeants David Paullet and Brian C.L. Wong the first and second command chiefs respectively.

Flores, who hails from Encarnacion, Paraguay, arrived in the U.S. when she was nine years old and lived in Alhambra, Calif. She entered the Air Force Reserve under the Delayed Enlistment Program in 1987 and was naturalized during her first enlistment while stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Maine.

Flores said it's an honor to serve alongside Brig. Gen. Samuel Mahaney, ARPC commander, and serve on his command team as she explained what it meant to her to be ARPC's first female command chief.

"Being the first female ARPC command chief is humbling," she said. "I take it as a personal challenge to ensure I represent not only the center, but also the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air Force, in general, not only as a female command chief, but as a strong and competent leader."

The 25-year Air Force veteran described her goals for the center.

"I aim to continue to encourage all Airmen, military and civilian; to be purposeful in their pursuit of excellence; to strive past their comfort levels to reach, then exceed their personal and professional goals," she said. "And to tell the world in whichever platform I'm allowed, every opportunity I get, that these Airmen are hard-working, dedicated and committed to accomplish the mission of 'Fly, Fight, Win' one customer at a time."

As for her leadership philosophy, Flores pointed out something Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said and took it to heart to look out for those around her.

"She summed it up best when she said: 'People are everything,'" Flores said.

Throughout her career, and "back in the day," Flores said she's been a personnelist in various statuses: 13 years in the regular Air Force, two years as an individual reservist, three years as a traditional reservist and as an Active Guard Reserve, including three years as a military training leader.

She earned three associate's degrees in human resource management, information management and education and training management from the Community College of the Air Force.

Flores and her husband Geno have been married for 13 years.

In her spare time, Flores said she enjoys "spending as much time as humanly possible with my superman hubby and four amazing kids."

Face of Defense: Navy Relatives Reunite at Sea

From a U.S. 7th Fleet News Release

BUSAN, South Korea, Mar. 5, 2014 – Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aleasha Gatewood, assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet Staff embarked on the flagship USS Blue Ridge, had a rare opportunity to spend time with her aunt, Navy Lt. j.g. Aricka Faulkner, while underway in support of the ongoing Key Resolve 2014 exercise.

This is the second visit the two have had on board Blue Ridge in the last seven months, as Faulkner participated in the joint U.S.-South Korea exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian in August.

“It was fantastic to see her, and I am so proud of what she has accomplished since she has arrived on board as an E-2 three years ago and is now a second class petty officer,” Faulkner said. “I have only heard positive reactions from the people she works for.”

Faulkner is a Navy reserve officer assigned to the Navy Reserve Component Command for 7th Fleet based out of Fort Worth, Texas. When taking a break from her full-time career as a flight operations manager for FedEx, she fulfills her naval commitments by spending four weeks a year participating in 7th Fleet exercises. Gatewood, a culinary specialist, is permanently assigned to the 7th Fleet team and has worked in the flag mess since 2011.

“It was great to see her during this exercise, as we live so far away,” Gatewood said. “She gives me advice about my naval career.”

The two are from a proud family of female veterans, with another aunt, as well as Gatewood’s own mother, all serving in the Navy.

“As the junior-ranking member of my family serving in the Navy, I only wish to be as great as my mother and aunts, who have accomplished so much in their careers,” Gatewood said.

Throughout their busy schedules, the aunt and niece said, they managed to spend quality time together catching up Faulkner said she plans on treating Gatewood and her friends to a nice meal while on liberty in the next port visit.

Officials Detail Army’s Fiscal 2015 Budget Request

By David Vergun

Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Mar. 5, 2014 – Under the Army's fiscal year 2015 budget request, soldiers will receive a 1 percent pay increase as well as a basic allowance for housing increase of 1.5 percent and a 3.4 percent increase in basic allowance for subsistence.

The Army, along with the other services and the Defense Department, rolled out its budget request yesterday in the Pentagon, and Congress will weigh in on the request in the coming months.

The fiscal 2015 budget request for the Army is $120.5 billion, down from $125 billion last year and a peak of $144 billion in fiscal 2010. These figures exclude the overseas contingency operations money for operations in Afghanistan and the reset of returning equipment.

The contingency funding request for fiscal 2015 has not yet been determined, pending resolution of the status of U.S. forces in Afghanistan beyond 2014, Pentagon Comptroller Robert F. Hale said during the Defense Department's budget rollout.

The Army budget request reflects a drawdown from fiscal 2014's 510,000 soldiers to 490,000 for the active component, 354,200 to 350,200 for the National Guard, and 205,000 to 202,000 for the Army Reserve. Hale noted that if sequestration continues, active Army end strength could go to 420,000 by fiscal 2019.

As for Army civilians, Maj. Gen. Karen E. Dyson, the Army’s budget director, said 16,000 civilians were drawn down from the workforce in fiscal 2013, and the Army "is continuing to analyze future adjustments in light of the drawdown beyond fiscal 2015. Speaking on behalf of the entire Defense Department, Hale said the goal is to reduce the civilian workforce by 5 percent between fiscal years 2014 and 2019.

Dyson said the Army's budget reflects difficult decisions to accelerate the drawdown in end strength and prioritize near-term readiness for select units, while risking sufficient levels in modernization. "While the Army's guiding principle is keeping balance in readiness, end strength and modernization, the Army is not in balance in fiscal 2015," she added.

Personnel costs for all Army components total 46 percent of the fiscal 2015 budget, Dyson noted. The next biggest slice is 35 percent for operation and maintenance and 17 percent for procurement, research, development, test and evaluation.

To cut personnel costs, she said, the Army's active force "will continue to use force-shaping boards and temporary early retirement authorities to meet the accelerated end strength declines” in fiscal 2015.

She added that recruiting and retention for fiscal 2015 dropped by an aggregate 8 percent across the total force, due partially to the expiration of anniversary payments and declining bonuses.

The Army anticipates 19 combat training center rotations in fiscal 2015 to validate brigade combat team readiness for full-spectrum combat capabilities, she said. That training will focus on units preparing to go to South Korea, Afghanistan and the Global Response Force. For other units not in those categories, training is expected to reach only company or battalion level, while the Guard and Reserve are funded to individual crew and squad level in fiscal 2015, she added.

Other priorities reflected in the budget include an emphasis on the regional alignment concept, which Dyson said is critical to the Army's "prevent, shape, win" strategy.

Also, funding for “ready and resilient” programs will be increased by 46 percent in fiscal 2015. These are programs such as Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness, suicide prevention, transition assistance and sexual assault prevention.

That increased funding level "demonstrates the Army's continued priority to take care of soldiers, families and civilians," Dyson said.

Davis S. Welch, deputy director of the Army budget, addressed the smallest part of the budget: modernization.

The modernization portion of the budget is $20.1 billion, he said, which translates to a 6.1 percent reduction from the fiscal 2014 enacted level and a 17.3 percent reduction from the fiscal 2013 sequestered level. A major shift in the fiscal 2015 budget, he said, included "science and technology funding at [sufficient] levels to mitigate risk to the Army of 2020 and beyond."

Specific investments include $84.8 million for Nett Warrior communications gear and $32.8 million for the M4A1 carbine.

Regarding the carbine, Welch said the money would be used to continue converting M4s to M4A1s. The latest model carbines include heavier barrels for extended life and ambidextrous controls, meaning soldiers who are left-handed will be able to use the carbines more effectively.

The National Guard will retain UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, CH-47 Chinook helicopters and UH-72A Lakota helicopters, while garnering an additional 111 UH-60s to enhance medevac and lift capabilities. He added that all AH-64 Apache helicopters will transfer to the active component.

The Kiowa Warrior A, C and D helicopter models, as well as the TH-67 Creek training helicopters, will go out of the inventory, and training will commence using the UH-72A, Welch said. The AH-64E, along with unmanned aerial systems, will temporarily fulfill the Kiowa's armed aerial scout mission, he added.

The air and missile defense system defends the homeland and the brigade combat teams, he said, adding that nine of the 15 Patriot missile batteries are currently deployed protecting U.S. forces and critical assets.

As such, the budget provides $420 million for procurement of 70 Patriot Missile Segment Enhancement systems, $400 million for Patriot software, $143 million for the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, $54 million for Joint Aerostat Project demonstration and $60 million for developing technology for gun, missile and high-energy lasers to defeat rockets, artillery, mortars, UAS and cruise missiles.

Funding for the Ground Combat Vehicle will be discontinued, "because it is no longer affordable under the budget constraints," Welch said. In the interim, funding will go toward improving the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle until resources become available. The Bradley, along with the Abrams tank, will together receive $549 million for modernization.

The Armor Multi-Purpose Vehicle will get $92 million as it replaces the M113 armored personnel carrier, he said.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will receive $210 million, which will allow low-rate initial production for 176 vehicles. JLTV replaces the Humvee and affords protection similar to the Mine-resistant, Ambush-protected vehicles.

Indirect fire systems to be funded include the AN/TPQ-53 Radar at $247 million, the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System at $173 million, the M119A2 howitzer at $73 million, the Army Tactical Missile System at $49 million and indirect fire science and technology at $56 million. Unmanned aerial systems funded include the Grey Eagle at $237 million and the Shadow at $142 million.

The Army's intelligence network, known as the Distributed Common Ground System, will get $148 million for continued development and testing.