As sequestration begins to have an effect, the Department of Defense (DOD) is looking for any area where they can cut costs over the next several years. In addition to lower pay raises and potential fee increases for services such as TRICARE, Army officials recently proposed a further round of base realignment and closure (BRAC) starting in fiscal year 2015. Though met with a mixed reaction, advocates say it could help the Armed Forces save billions of dollars, according to Army News Service.
A necessary move
According to the White House, the military is still on pace to be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014, and with the U.S. being out Iraq for more than two years, the number of troops in the Army will decrease significantly in the near future. Specifically, it should drop to about 490,000 by 2017 – a considerable decrease from the 2010 high of 590,000. Fewer troops means there's no longer a need for as many bases. Plus, with the need to pare down operations and spending, closing some installations seems like a logical choice.
"With the fiscal challenges we are facing, the Army has closely reviewed the facility investments to determine the level of resources needed to support the force," Katherine Hammack, the Army's assistant secretary for Installations, Energy and Environment, told Congress recently. "Supporting the force requires appropriate facilities, training ranges, maintenance and operations. And that's where we have focused."
Approval may be far off
Despite the advantages of a new BRAC round, lawmakers believe that it may be some time before it is approved. Among those who are hesitant to enact the closures is Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who says that the surrounding communities will suffer from such decisions. Specifically, the towns often feel a significant economic impact in the immediate aftermath.
Past success
Though a new round of BRAC will be met with criticism, in the past there have been successes. The 2005 round, for instance, will save an estimated $50 billion over the course of 20 years. The four other rounds came largely in the 90s, with one in 1991, 1993 and 1995. The first ever BRAC round took place in 1988.
When the Pentagon ended its policy excluding female soldiers from direct combat positions earlier this year, it removed one of the final barriers for women in the military, and now top officials are getting to work on eliminating one of the final obstacles. U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) leaders recently spoke with lawmakers about opening up positions such as Navy Seals and Army Rangers to women, Military.com reports.
Among those leading the charge is SOCOM Commander Adm. William McRaven, who said he and others are looking into devising a specific plan to provide more SOCOM opportunities to female soldiers. Currently, the only opportunities open to them are cultural liaisons and other positions that don't involve combat. The process will be a long one, however, with officials expecting the transition to be made by the first quarter of 2016 at the earliest.
"We're building a plan to do that, looking at doctrine, training and deployment. I've got to find out whether we can pull that off – because I am committed to doing that and have seen the value," McRaven told lawmakers, according to the website.
The change in policy comes at a time when much of the Armed Forces is in flux. Aside from the impending budget cuts, the military is still on pace to be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon created the Distinguished Warfare Medal to recognize the achievements of drone pilots and other soldiers who specialized in high-tech warfare. The decision was met with substantial backlash from the military community, which felt it cheapened the honors received by troops who served in the line of fire. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the medal would be replaced, according to Military Times.
The biggest issue surrounding the Distinguished Warfare Medal was the fact that it outranked other honors that were earned on the battlefield, such as the Bronze Star. The new policy will reclassify the Distinguished Warfare Medal as something that can be added onto another decoration that has already been earned. Hagel's move comes after a lengthy review where he determined that while drone pilots and other soldiers deserve recognition, the process needed to be modified.
"Utilizing a distinguishing device to recognize impacts on combat operations reserves our existing combat medals for those service members who incur the physical risk and hardship of combat, perform valorous acts, are wounded in combat, or as a result of combat give their last full measure for our nation," Hagel said in a one-page memo.
While there are no definitive criteria just yet for the newly created distinction, Hagel says that it will emerge within the next 90 days.
Despite having a rich athletic history, it's not often that West Point grads make their way to the pros, but one former linebacker at Army is well on his way. Josh McNary has reportedly signed with the Indianapolis Colts – more than two years after playing his final game for the Black Knights, reports the Indianapolis Star.
McNary was one of the best players on an Army squad that won the academy's first bowl game in more than 20 years. Today, he stands as the school's all-time sack leader. Despite his accomplishments on the field, it was his devotion to service off of it that has kept him away from the game. He served his mandatory enlistment after graduating in 2011, but now he is cleared to pursue his NFL dreams, reports NBC Sports.
While it remains to be see whether he makes the team, McNary joins just a small handful of West Point grads who have gone on to the NFL after serving their country. One of the most recent was Caleb Campbell, who played for three teams after graduating from the service in 2008. He eventually left the NFL in 2011, according to Military Times.
With suicide rates on the rise, improving soldiers' access to mental health care has been a serious issue in the military community over the last several years. While some positive steps have been taken, it's clear more needs to be done, and one Indiana lawmaker recently introduced a pair of bills to help address those concerns. The two pieces of legislation call for both better mental health assessments when soldiers separate from service and clearer guidelines on what services are available, Navy Times reports.
The proposal
The two bills were introduced by Rep. Andre Carson, who is no stranger to having similar legislation signed into law. In 2011, Congress passed two laws he spearheaded. This time, the first bill he is putting forth, known as The Military Suicide Reduction Act, is geared primarily toward improving how the mental health of soldiers is assessed. The thought process is that with better screening, those who are most at risk for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions can be more easily identified. The other bill, The Military Mental Health Empowerment Act, aims to encourage soldiers to seek counseling if they need it, which can often be a problem.
"We are quick to diagnose and treat service members who are injured in combat, with medics rushing to those who are struck by enemy IEDs or gunfire," said Carson. "But when it comes to the mental health challenges placed on our service members, we abandon them through months of deployment to deal with post traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts."
Is there enough money?
Carson's proposals will likely have a lot of support from both Republicans and Democrats, but at a time when Pentagon officials are looking to cut costs, there may not be enough funding for new mental health programs. In fact, already-existing programs may face some budget cuts. Specifically, research on mental health issues could be stalled in the coming years, according to Rep. Joe Wilson, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's military personnel panel.
A significant concern
Despite the budget crunch, mental health is among the most prevalent concerns in the military community. While there are no set figures, an estimated 20 percent of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have symptoms of PTSD.
At a time when much of the Armed Forces are looking to scale operations back, the Navy may be going the opposite route. As revealed in the branch's budget, which was released Tuesday, the Navy is looking to add 8,600 sailors to its ranks over the next six years in an effort to grow its capabilities, Military Times reports.
The proposed addition of sailors means that other priorities may be delayed. For instance, the budget pushes back necessary repairs for two of the Navy's vessels. However, it's important for the branch to add crews to ships and strengthen their cyber security division. Officials expect to add about 1,000 sailors each year, while also focusing on building new ships and acquiring new planes.
"The Navy's going to grow slowly over time," Rear Adm. Joe Mulloy, the deputy assistant Navy secretary for budget, told reporters. "We've pretty much reached the point where, to be able to operate with the force we have and to be able to properly man and train, we need these forces."
Mulloy's announcement comes as the debate continues over the recently-released Pentagon budget, which was announced on Wednesday. The proposal includes several areas of contention including reduced active duty pay raises and increased TRICARE fees, according to The Associated Press.
President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for 2014 on Wednesday, and while it included spending cuts to many government agencies, military families are likely most concerned about what it has in store for the Department of Defense (DOD). While the reduction in spending is not as drastic, the budget does include several changes that members of the military community may not be happy about including capped pay raises and an increase of TRICARE fees, reports Military Times.
What's getting cut?
The proposal includes just under $527 billion for defense spending in the 2014 fiscal year and places a significant emphasis on the growing American interest in Asia and the South Pacific. While the figure stands at only about 1 percent lower than last year's budget, it's what's being cut that has raised the ire of some servicemembers. Active duty soldiers would see just a 1 percent pay raise starting January 1, which is a bit lower than the traditional 1.8 percent raise they usually receive. Furthermore, TRICARE Prime enrollment fees for working-age retirees under 65 are expected to increase in the coming years. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that while the cuts may be unpopular, they are necessary.
"The longer we put this off, the harder it is going to be – particularly given the uncertainty that still exists about future levels of military spending," he said in a prepared statement after the announcement of the budget.
Some funding stays
In contrast to the belt-tightening aspects of some of the other parts of the proposal, the budget maintains funding for some important projects. Specifically, it still sets aside billions of dollars for the manufacturing of next-generation warships and planes, such as the F-35 fighter, Forbes reports.
Facing an uphill battle
Although Obama officially announced the budget on Wednesday, it will likely face a number of challenges when it goes up for a vote in Congress. According to Military Times, certain aspects of the bill in particular have been met with criticism by lawmakers on Capitol Hill. For instance, the issue of base closings is particularly unpopular among legislators, especially those who represent areas with high numbers of military families. Members of Congress have also bristled about the lower pay raise, which will not keep pace with civilian pay.
A legendary chaplain who helped hundreds of troops get through life in a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during the Korean War is set to receive the Medal of Honor 62 years after his death. Rev. Emil Kapaun, who passed away inside one of the camps due to pneumonia, has been hailed a national hero over the last half-century for his work helping troops survive under the harshest conditions, and now he'll be given the military's top honor, The Associated Press reports.
President Barak Obama will present the medal to Kapaun's family, along with several of the soldiers he served with, on April 11, marking an end to a decades-long fight on his behalf. Much of the effort was led by Lt. Robert Wood and Lt. Mike Dowe, who were in the POW camp with Kapaun. Despite Kapuan having a high school named after him, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, and many other accolades, Dowe, Wood and others felt the Medal of Honor was the only appropriate way to commemorate the chaplain's service.
"He's in my prayers every night," Dowe told the AP. "I ask him to help me rather than asking God to help him."
Kapaun is not the first chaplain to be given the Medal of Honor. One of the most recent to receive honor was Charles J. Watters, who was awarded the distinction posthumously, after he died trying to rescue wounded troops in Vietnam.
Eric Shinseki, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, has come under a great deal of scrutiny lately. Many veterans' advocates have called for his resignation as they become increasingly frustrated over the growing backlog for disability claims. Despite the criticism, President Barack Obama recently announced that he stands behind Shinseki and his plans to streamline the claims process and improve treatment for America's servicemembers, Military.com reports.
Ballooning backlog
Some of the most significant criticism came recently from a column published in Time magazine. The article's author said that care for veterans has become worse since Shinseki took over the post of VA secretary four years ago, and as tens of thousands of troops separate from service it may get worse. In fact, the claims backlog has surpassed 900,000 and grown more than 48 percent since 2008.
Despite the discouraging figures, Shinseki has steadfastly remained committed to his original plans, according to the website. Specifically, he wants to provide more VA access for vets, reduce the backlog and eliminate homelessness among veterans. Critics say he's not moving fast enough.
Progress on the horizon
While there are undoubtedly legitimate criticisms, the VA may soon be able to put a dent in the sizeable claims backlog thanks to certain provisions in Obama's 2014 budget. While many other areas of the government have seen a cut in funding, the VA will receive an increase. Specifically, the Veterans Benefits Administration will be given a 13.6 percent increase in funding to $2.5 billion, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to transitioning to a paperless claims system. The budget also includes $7 billion for veterans' mental health care.
"The president has made clear to us this is a national priority," White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said during a recent press briefing, according to The Washington Post.
Communication breakdown
One of the biggest problems facing the VA is the fact that it and the Department of Defense (DOD) don't use the same electronic health records, so when a soldier moves from one department to the other, the transition can be difficult. The two departments had started to work on creating an entirely new system, but earlier this year made changes to the plans. Instead, they hope to integrate the two systems by the end of July.
The victims and first responders of the September 11 terrorist attacks have been memorialized in a variety of ways over the last 12 years, and a unique tribute by the Navy recently became the latest. The USS Arlington was officially commissioned in front of thousands at Naval Station Norfolk and was dedicated to the 184 people who died when American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon, reports The Associated Press.
The state-of-the-art warship is the third such vessel to be launched as a tribute to those who perished that day, but this one features a unique memorial. Artists forged around 200 pounds of steel that were salvaged from the wreckage into a pentagon that will always be located on the ship as a solemn reminder of the tragedy. Cmdr. Darren Nelson, the ship's operating commander, knows he has a mission, but he also understands the Arlington's importance.
"We are not a memorial, we are a warship. But we carry the spirit of those 184 people that died that day. We know why we got our name," he told the AP. "We teach that to the crew. Every crew member that shows up on board this ship learns and understands that 184 people gave their life for us."
In 2009, the USS New York was officially commissioned. As a tribute to those who died at the World Trade Center, the ship was constructed in part by using steel collected from Ground Zero.