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Some things in the military never change.  This issue of "no pay" harks back to the Revolutionary War.

Yesterday's Message to the DOD Workforce on Potential Government Shutdown by Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III:

“The department remains hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. The President has made it clear that he does not want a government shutdown, and the administration is working to find a solution with which all sides can agree. However, prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress be unable to pass a funding bill before our current funding expires on April 8.

"The President and the secretary know that the uncertainty of the current situation puts federal employees in a difficult position, and are very much aware that a shutdown would impose hardships on our military and civilian personnel as well as our military families. As we approach the expiration of the current continuing resolution, we will provide you with updated information as soon as it becomes available. For now, I want to provide you with information on how the potential shutdown - should it occur - will impact our military and civilian personnel.

Department of Defense (DoD) Operations During a Shutdown

“Operations and activities that are essential to safety, protection of human life, and protection of our national security, are ‘excepted’ from shutting down. The DoD will continue to conduct activities in support of our national security, including operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Japan; Libya-related support operations; and other operations and activities essential to the security of our nation. The department must also continue to provide for the safety of human life and protection of property.

“Other excepted activities will include inpatient and essential outpatient care in DoD medical treatment facilities; emergency dental care; non-appropriated funds activities such as mess halls and child care activities; certain legal activities to support ongoing litigation and legal assistance for deployed DoD personnel; contracting and logistics operations that are in support of excepted activities; certain education and training activities to include the DoD education activity schools; and financial management activities necessary to ensure the control and accountability of funds.

“In the absence of appropriations, non-excepted activities that have not already been fully funded will need to be shut down in an orderly fashion. In accordance with existing laws and regulations, I will issue more detailed guidance to the department regarding specific activities that are considered excepted or non-excepted. However, the secretary and I understand that the military departments and defense agencies and individual commanders must tailor this guidance to many different situations around the world. Therefore, should there be a government shutdown, DoD personnel will be informed through their chain of command about how a shutdown may affect them personally.

Duty Status

“Military personnel are not subject to furlough and will report for duty as normal during the shutdown. Reserve component personnel should refer to the DoD Contingency Guidance document and to their chain of command for more specific information.

“Civilian personnel deemed to be performing excepted activities will continue to work during the period of a shutdown.

“If there is a government shutdown beginning on Saturday, April 9, all DoD personnel should still report to work on their next scheduled duty day, beginning at their normal duty hours to receive additional instructions.

“Civilians will be briefed by their supervisors by Friday, April 8, as to whether their work and responsibilities fall into excepted or non-excepted status, as defined by applicable laws and regulations. Excepted status categories are outlined in the DoD Contingency Guidance document, which is being distributed through the chain of command. If their work and responsibilities are non-excepted, or if they are not needed to carry out excepted work and responsibilities, employees will be furloughed in a non-pay status. Furloughed employees may not telework or volunteer to work.

“Generally, contractors performing work on contracts funded prior to a shutdown, whether supporting excepted activities or not, may continue working and will be paid out of the obligated funds, subject to further direction from the contracting officer. New contracts, or increases in funding of existing contracts, needed to support excepted activities may be entered into during the period of a shutdown, but payments under such contracts cannot be made until Congress provides additional funding. Contract personnel should also report to work on Monday, April 11, to be briefed on their status.

Military, Civilian, and Retiree Pay

“If the government shuts down due to the absence of funding, the DoD will have no funds to pay military members or civilian employees for the days during which the government is shut down. However, both military and civilian personnel will receive pay for the period worked prior to the shutdown. Military personnel, and civilians occupying excepted status positions and required to work, are entitled to be paid for work performed during the shutdown, and will be paid retroactively once the department receives additional funding. Congress would have to provide authority in order for the department to retroactively pay non-excepted employees for the furloughed period.

“Military retirees and annuitants are not paid from annually appropriated funds, and therefore their benefits should continue without interruption.

Additional Resources

“The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has created a document to address some of the questions that I know must be on your mind. The document can be accessed at http://www.opm.gov/furlough2011 . OPM will provide additional pertinent information for federal employees as the week progresses.

“The department’s leadership will do our very best to provide clear information about the status of events as the week progresses. Additional information regarding military and DoD civilian pay, leave, and other DoD policies applicable to a potential shutdown will be posted on the department’s main website as soon as it becomes available.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of you, the Department of Defense provides critical services to the American public. Your contributions touch people’s lives in so many significant ways, and I want you to know how deeply I appreciate your dedication and your expertise. Our decisions concerning which functions are excepted or not excepted are based on government-wide legal, regulatory, and policy guidance as well as our best judgment on how to reconcile our national security requirements with the limitations imposed by a government shutdown. The fact that certain functions are not excepted or that certain personnel may be subject to furlough should not be taken as a statement that the secretary or I or the department do not value those functions or employees. Thank you for your continued service to the department and the nation.”

President Barack Obama today sent to Congress a proposed defense budget of $671 billion for fiscal 2012. The request for the Department of Defense (DoD) includes $553 billion in discretionary budget authority to fund base defense programs and $118 billion to support overseas contingency operations (OCO), primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The fiscal 2012 budget continues the DoD reform agenda, seeking additional efficiencies across the entire defense enterprise, while also strengthening our national security capability.

This budget represents a reasonable, responsible and sustainable level of funding, the minimum level of defense spending that is necessary, given the security challenges we are facing around the globe, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The $553 billion for the base budget provides funding to take care of our people, which is our highest priority, and also provides substantial funding to build capability for possible future conflicts. The OCO portion totals $117.8 billion, $41.5 billion below the fiscal 2011 request of $159.3 billion. The proposal reflects the planned withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and a modest decline in funding for Afghanistan operations.

While this budget request seeks continued efficiencies in 2012 and beyond, the absence of an appropriation for fiscal 2011 threatens to cause serious inefficiencies and problems this year. The current continuing resolution, if it remains in effect for the rest of the year, will lead to delays and inefficient, start-and-stop management. It will rob the DoD of the flexibility needed to manage effectively, especially in time of war, and it will not provide the Department with enough resources to maintain training and support while also paying bills for military pay, benefits, and inflation. In short the continuing resolution represents a crisis at our doorstep, and the DoD strongly urges the Congress to pass a defense appropriation bill as part of the overall legislation to fund government activities in fiscal 2011.

Highlights of the proposed DoD budget are outlined in the linked summary and charts. For more information and to view the entire fiscal 2012 budget proposal, please visit here and download the "FY 2012 Budget Request Overview Book." Budget-related transcripts can also be viewed here.

Congressman Adam Smith reported today he voted in support of H.R. 2647, the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2010 military activities including the Department of Defense, the national security programs of the Department of Energy, military construction projects and other defense and military personnel activities related to U.S. national security efforts.

Congressman Smith cited these authorizations he requested for funding:

· $9,000,000 – Military Construction to construct a joint base access road between Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.
· $2,500,000 – Tacoma Trauma Trust for trauma training of military medical personnel at local civilian hospitals
· $2,500,000 – Western Regional Counterdrug Training Center to re-establish a fifth counter-drug training center, which would be located at Camp Murray, Washington
· $2,000,000 – Quest Integrated to develop new inspection methods and procedures using magneto-optic imaging for F-15s that will eliminate the need to disassemble part of the aircraft.
· $1,800,000 – Sagem Morpho to develop a portable device that will be used by operators in the field to search, capture, and identity latent fingerprints.
· $1,200,000 – Evergreen Recycling to conduct a comprehensive analysis to reduce the amount of landfill waste at Ft. Lewis.

The bill must now be approved by the Senate and signed by the President before it becomes law.

So, you think you know how the new federal administration will treat the military budget given this year?

Wrong, according to Lt. Gen. (ret.) Theodore Stroup at today's joint meeting of the Ft. Lewis and Puget Sound* AUSA Chapters. Stroup, currently serves as the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) Vice President of Education and Executive Director for their Institute of Land Warfare.

Stroup says every administration, regardless of party affiliation, inherits the last budget of the "outgone" administration. It's simply a matter of timing required for budget submittal to Congress and the beginning of the federal fiscal year. Stroup says we will have to see the budget for 2011 before we will know the policy implications for the new administration.

As far as looking ahead to future actions goes, Stroup said the Pres. Obama administration has been clear in stating its intent, looking back from recent statements to the campaign policies and speeches.

* Newly renamed in honor: PFC William Kenzo Nakamura Chapter

Congress has approved $2.2 billion for eight more C-17 cargo planes.

A House Armed Services subcommittee today approved a measure authorizing a significant boost in spending for special operations as part of a bill setting national security policy for fiscal 2010.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued eligibility rules for military homeowners who need to apply for assistance through the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) due to the housing crisis.

• Wounded Servicemembers relocating for treatment or medical retirement, and for the survivors of those who have died while on deployment.


• Military & DoD civilians affected by the 2005 BRAC round, without the need to prove that the base closure caused the local market decline.


• Normal military permanent change of station (PCS) moves, on a temporary basis.

The disagreements between the Administration and Congress over Defense appropriations dates back to before the Constitution to during the times of the War for Independence. That struggle of ideas, concepts and best interests continues today.


Photo: C-17 at McChord AFB shows Mt. Rainier in the background.


The House defense appropriators have added $2.2 billion to the Administration’s $75.5 billion war supplemental to buy eight more C-17s as well as other aircraft. The Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Cong. Dave Obey, released a statement justifying the additional C-17s by saying it would allow the USAF to decommission some C-5s – an action Congress has previously denied. The House’s bill summary is here.

Key highlights of the proposed DoD budget are outlined in the linked overview and summary charts.

For more information and to view the entire fiscal 2010 budget proposal, please visit and download the department's "FY 2010 Budget Request Summary Justification."

Budget-related transcripts can also be viewed online here to include "DoD News Briefing With Secretary Gates From The Pentagon" on April 6, 2009.

Today, the DoD announced details of more than 850 additional facility improvement projects funded by the ARRA. The $835 million budget for these new projects represents the remaining funds of the first ARRA infrastructure investment list.

These projects will be conducted at Army and Army National Guard facilities. This amount is in addition to the funding allocations of the stimulus bill first announced on March 20, 2009.

For a complete list of old and new projects go to this website. Washington state has new projects #2167-2179, totaling $27,562,000 increased monies over the earlier list. Ft. Lewis: $24,554,000; Yakima: $3,008,000.

With the inexorable progress down the road to Joint Basing for various installations - and especially for us here in the PNW, it pays to be attentive to discussions of Joint Basing.

The GAO (Government Accountability Office) has just released a new report on the standards and costs at Joint Bases. If you've not noticed, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (or McLewis as the wags would have it) is in our horizon, and its component parts do make mention in the GAO report.

The bottom line is that DoD is underfunding base sustainability. At McChord, the GAO found 82% of standard service levels met while at Ft. Lewis, 65% of current service levels met the standard. For 2008, the Army budgeted at 89% and the Air Force at 90% of sustainment requirements.

One could only hope that the current levels of funding anticipated from ARRA (Stimulus Bill) will catch up that funding shortfall.

Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, the Army Reserve and Camp Murray all scored at least some monies in the Stimulus Bill. You can review all the states' projects, identified by project with details at this website.

The Defense Department received $7.4 billion under the law, with $5.9 billion going for construction and repair projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law last month.

The Washington State Senate voted for the Interstate Compact for Military School Children, SB 5248, by 45-0-2. Joining the House 96-0 vote from last week! Due to slight differences in the House and Senate bills, a reconciliation is necessary. We are almost there in leveling the playing field for our military kids!

History of Bills as of Friday, March 6, 2009 5:14 AM

Sponsors:
Representatives Rolfes, Seaquist, Appleton, Green, McCoy, Conway, Darneille, Williams, Campbell, McCune, Simpson, Morrell

Companion Bill: SB 5248

2009 REGULAR SESSION

Jan 7 Prefiled for introduction.
Jan 12 First reading, referred to Education. (View Original Bill)
Jan 27 Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 10:00 AM.
Feb 6 Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.

ED - Executive action taken by committee.
ED - Majority; do pass.

Feb 11 Referred to Education Appropriations.
Feb 25 Public hearing in the House Committee on Education Appropriations at 8:00 AM.
Feb 26 Executive action taken by House Committee on Education Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

APPE - Executive action taken by committee.
APPE - Majority; do pass. Minority; do not pass.

Mar 2 Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Mar 4 Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Mar 5 Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 1; excused, 0. (View Roll Calls)
Go to history...
Available Documents
Original Bill
Bill Digest
House Bill Analysis 2009
House Bill Report

Fiscal Note (Available)Get Fiscal Note

Hopefully, the “budget dust” in the fiscal note will not be the excuse that prevents Washington State from joining the growing list of states approving the compact.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is an agreement that standardizes how states deal with record transfers, enrollment, graduation requirements, extra curricular activities as well as a host of other related issues. Virginia, which has the country’s second-largest military population, is the 12th state to sign the bill. To learn more about this legislation and funding follow this link.

Here are the three pages of the A New Era of Responsibility for the 2010 defense budget. If you wish to review the entire budget proposal, go here.

The cuts from the Stimulus Bill seem to have come primarily from the proposed expenditures associated with the military and defense needs.

The Association of Defense Communities reports the only funding dedicated to help communities either redevelop closing bases or adjust to mission growth was struck from the compromise version. $300 million for environmental cleanup of bases closed during the first four BRAC rounds was stripped from final legislation. The measure contains no other funds devoted to BRAC needs.

ADC noted Governors are allocated dollars before they are distributed to local authorities. Defense communities leaders are left concerned with how much funding will be left over after other state needs. The final bill did retain a provision for $100 million to school systems that qualify for federal Impact Aid (school modernization, emergency repairs), funds for which districts in growth communities are potentially eligible.

The stimulus bill includes $2.8 billion for military construction, covering troop housing, warrior training complexes, child development centers and family housing - all relevant to Fort Lewis. The largest portion ($1.3 billion) goes to military hospitals.

For soldiers, $555 million is included for Homeowners Assistance, available to all military personnel who receive permanent orders to relocate, and to wounded warriors who are moving for medical reasons or to surviving spouses.

The Senate just passed their stimulus bill, and it's now on to a forecast difficult reconciliation with the House. Here is a view of what's different between the two versions. This excerpt just focuses on Defense and defense-related line items. Click on the image for a larger view.

To see the full stimulus bill line items, click here.

An alert from MOAA is asking for advocates to address Congress to retain two provisions: one on veterans' tax rebates and another on mitigating housing sales for transferred or wounded warrior moves. For more, see their link.

AUSA reports in their legislative update the Senate’s economic stimulus package mirrors the House version in that it includes funding for military and Veterans Affairs construction projects. $2.4 billion in military construction funding includes:

--Child Development Centers: $353.8 million for child development centers at U.S. military installations.
--Health and Dental Clinics: $314.5 million for military family health care clinics.
--Warrior Transition Complexes: $505 million to meet the medical and social service needs of wounded military personnel and their families.
--Military Family Housing construction, repair, and upgrades: $135 million to improve housing conditions and speed the availability of housing to military families.
--Barracks and Dormitories: $831.5 million to provide needed new and replacement housing for America’s military troops.
--Army National Guard $150 million for community-based readiness centers.
-$3.2 billion for Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization to be used to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of Defense facilities to include Defense Health facilities.
VA construction funding ($3.7 billion) includes:
--Hospital and cemetery construction: $994 million to begin construction of new hospitals and expedite the construction of projects already underway, and $111.5 million for national cemetery construction.
--Minor construction: $939.8 million for construction projects, repairs and expansion of VA medical facilities, VA national cemeteries, and Veterans Benefits Administration facilities and to initiate energy conservation projects.
--Medical facilities repair and maintenance: $1.37 billion to address the backlog of maintenance and repairs at VA medical facilities.
--Grants for State Extended Care Facilities: $258 million for the repair and construction of State long-term care veterans’ homes.
--National cemetery infrastructure repair: $60 million repairs to national cemeteries and monuments.

With the Stimulus Plan now past the House, and headed to the Senate, some are already comparing total amounts to what Pres. Obama requested and what the House passed and the Senate is calling for. As of yet, not much detail beyond broad categorizations.

Of interest to this blog is the monies in the House Stimulus Package for Defense, about $8.8 billion of the $825 billion (~1%).

• $350 million for research into using renewable energy for powering weapons and military bases (alternative energy projects);
• $3.75 billion for new construction for hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (remember Walter Reed or have we already forgotten);
• $455 million to renovations to medical facilities (ditto);
• $2.1 billion for repairs to military facilities (when have barracks been an issue?);
• $1.2 billion for new housing construction (ditto);
• $154 million to improve troop housing (ditto);
• $360 million for new child development centers (military families and re-enlistment goals);
• $400 million for new construction for Guard and Reserve units (Total Force goals);
• $4.5 billion for USACE for environmental restoration, flood protection, hydro power and navigation infrastructure (Hurricanes Katrina, Rita);
• $300 million to clean up closed military installations (and return them to civilian public use or for sale to private-tax paying, deficit reducing businesses).

Of course, like the balance of the Stimulus Package, these proposed expenditures are tied to the creation of jobs. The total package of $825 billion is billed as a "first step." However, including the military in the Stimulus Package has produced critics. The Cato Institute released a piece Defense Doesn't Need Stimulus, claiming that defense had more than enough money already and relating these expenditures to the F-22, etc.

I would agree that the defense budget is not a jobs program. Well, the Stimulus Package is mostly all about jobs (except for those parts about needed social services) and ready-to-go infrastructure. And the defense needs do offer shovel-ready infrastructure that is not defense industry weapons manufacture but concrete and sticks as evidenced by the categories above.

Right now, the Army is into Grow the Army (to the personnel levels set by Congress), Realignment, Global Positioning and Base Closures' remediation and cleanup for transfer or sale to the civilian sector (for bases going back to the 1988 first BRAC round). If you aren't aware of budget shortfalls in infrastructure needs, here are two blogs (Army Dollars Are Green and In Defense of a Budget) I did for another blog that recap the issues.