Monday, June 6, 2011
Joplin: The Recovery Video
Use Disaster Assistance Checks Wisely
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: 1980-032
Release Number: 1980-032
COLUMBIA, Mo. – With thousands of sizeable disaster assistance checks being distributed to survivors of the recent severe storms, flooding and tornadoes in Missouri, state and federal officials are urging recipients to handle the money with caution and confine spending to disaster-related losses.
Eligible storm survivors may receive disaster assistance either by direct deposit to the applicant’s bank account or arrive as a check by mail at the address indicated on the disaster-assistance application.
Libby Turner, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official in charge of federal recovery operations, said that experience shows that disposition of assistance checks often causes problems for some survivors in every disaster.
“This is a time when people are particularly vulnerable and predators are quick to take advantage of them,” said Turner. “When dealing with thousands of dollars, caution is the operative word.”
Checks received by mail should be deposited in the applicant’s bank account as soon as possible as large sums of cash should not be carried around.
Applicants also are urged to avoid the temptation to pay household bills with the money or make purchases unrelated to needs created by the disaster. Receipts for disaster spending should be kept.
Survivors with questions about their particular disaster assistance situations should call the FEMA Helpline, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For a face-to-face meeting with disaster recovery experts, visit the nearest FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center. Individuals with hearing or speech impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585, or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 1-800-621-3362.
NEW June NFIP Adjuster Workshops
 | |||||||
NEW June NFIP Adjuster Workshops
| |||||||
Call FEMA Inspector When Property Is Accessible
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: 1983-012
Release Number: 1983-012
CLINTON, Miss. – Many Mississippians are just getting access to their property since the devastating May floods. Now is the time to call the FEMA inspector.
Disaster assistance for flooding survivors remains on hold until the flooded property is inspected. That is why it is so important to contact the FEMA inspector as soon as the property is accessible.
Accessible means that someone must be able to drive to the property and safely enter the home.
Those who have registered with FEMA should have the contact information for their inspector. Those who can’t locate the information can call the FEMA Helpline, 800-621-FEMA (3362) and request it.
Anyone who suffered flood damage in May should register for disaster assistance with FEMA. The simple 20-minute process can be handled by:
- Telephone: 800-621-FEMA (3362)
- TTY: 800-462-7585
- Videophone via 711 (Mississippi Relay Service)
- Online: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
- From mobile devices: m.fema.gov
- In Spanish: www.fema.gov/esp/index.shtm
FEMA will assist anyone with a disability who needs help registering—just ask.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
President Declares A Major Disaster For Oklahoma
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-096
Release Number: HQ-11-096
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to Oklahoma to supplement the state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 22-25, 2011.
The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Canadian, Delaware, Grady, Kingfisher, Logan, and McClain.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
William J. Doran III has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Doran said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated county can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Federal Aid Programs For State Of Oklahoma Disaster Recovery
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-096Factsheet
Release Number: HQ-11-096Factsheet
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Oklahoma.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
- Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.
Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:
- Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
How to Apply for Assistance:
- Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected individuals and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
- Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
President Declares A Major Disaster For Oklahoma
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-096
Release Number: HQ-11-096
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to Oklahoma to supplement the state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 22-25, 2011.
The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Canadian, Delaware, Grady, Kingfisher, Logan, and McClain.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
William J. Doran III has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Doran said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated county can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Federal Aid Programs For State Of Oklahoma Disaster Recovery
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-096Factsheet
Release Number: HQ-11-096Factsheet
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Oklahoma.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
- Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.
Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:
- Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
How to Apply for Assistance:
- Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected individuals and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
- Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Last Modified: Monday, 06-Jun-2011 20:45:13
Federal Aid Programs For State Of Oklahoma Disaster Recovery
Release Date: June 6, 2011
Release Number: HQ-11-096Factsheet
Release Number: HQ-11-096Factsheet
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Oklahoma.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
- Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.
Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:
- Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
How to Apply for Assistance:
- Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected individuals and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time). Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
- Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Today's Awarded Government Contracts
CONTRACTS
NAVY
Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Orlando, Fla., is being awarded a $70,300,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter training facility and training hangar at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The proposed new construction will consist of a new training and simulator facility and a new multi-story hangar facility. The new training and simulator facility will include flight simulator spaces, training classrooms, briefing and debriefing rooms, network equipment rooms, administrative offices, and mechanical and electrical rooms. The new training hangar will include an aircraft maintenance bay, shop, administrative areas, data network areas, briefing and debriefing rooms, and mechanical and electrical rooms. Work will be performed in Beaufort, S.C., and is expected to be completed by September 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with nine proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-11-C-1756).
Nan, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $62,668,102 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The work to be performed provides for construction of a three-story building, which will provide a central identification laboratory, administrative office spaces, training spaces, and warehouse. Supporting facilities include landscaping, asphalt concrete pavements, chain link fence and gates, connecting utilities, sewage lift stations, electrical and miscellaneous site improvements. The contract also contains three unexercised options which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract value to $69,586,092. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by July 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 10 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-11-C-1300).
Scientific Applications International Corp., McLean, Va. (N65236-11-D-3836), and STG, Inc., Reston, Va. (N65236-11-D-3837), are each being awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award, cost-plus-fixed-fee, award term, performance-based contracts to provide on-site system support services for the Navy command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems located at worldwide shore and ship operational commands, centers and facilities. Scientific Applications International is being awarded $8,363,620; STG is being awarded $8,653,088. The contracts include options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contracts to an estimated $99,900,000. These two contractors may compete for the task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. Work will be performed outside the continental United States (90 percent), and Charleston, S.C. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2012. If all options are exercised, work could continue until June 2018. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Commerce Business Daily's Federal Business Opportunities website, and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-Commerce Central website, with four offers received. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity.
Guam Pacific International, LLC*, Barrigada, Guam, is being awarded $7,548,088 for firm-fixed-price task order #0003 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40192-10-D-2800) for construction of a combat communications operations facility at Andersen Air Force Base. The work to be performed provides for construction of a reinforced concrete facility that will include a command section, offices, briefing/training rooms, administration area, mechanical and electrical spaces, communications, fire suppression/detection, intrusion detection system, environmental controls, utilities, pavements, parking, associated site improvements, hazardous material abatement, antiterrorism/force protection measures and archeological monitoring and all necessary supporting facilities for a complete and usable facility. The design and construction will incorporatesustainable design strategies and features. Work will be performed in Yigo, Guam, and is expected to be completed by August 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Six proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marianas, Guam, is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $7,245,020 modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0023) for the purchase of Lot 9 long-lead items in support of the H-1 Upgrades Program for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent), and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and work is expected to be completed in September 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
The Patrick Wolffe Group, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $63,797,349 firm-fixed-price contract for Versatile Depot Automatic Test Station (VDATS) and auxiliary equipment to include manufacture/production and parts availability. VDATS was created, designed and produced as common-core tester for Robins depot. Work will be performed at Huntsville, Ala. WR-ALC/GRVKBA, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8519-11-D-0001).
*Small business
Today in the Department of Defense, Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is traveling. Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead delivers remarks at 10 a.m. EDT at the Environmental Awards ceremony at the Navy Memorial, Washington, D.C. |
Remarks by Secretary Gates during Troop Visit at Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar Province, Afghanistan
SEC. GATES: Well, I know you all haven't necessarily volunteered to be here this afternoon. I appreciate your standing out in the sun. And I want to recognize the Fourth of the 10th. You guys have put in an amazing record over the last five years; 2006 in Afghanistan, 2007 to 09 in Iraq, and then last October coming back here; had a tough deployment. Last information I have, you've lost 27 of your comrades, had about 255 wounded. So you've been in the thick of the fight. I want to stress my appreciation to you for that. 54th Engineering Battalion, thank you for what you do in supporting all these FOBs and COPs and all the efforts that you put in. The 2nd and the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Nighthawk, I appreciate what you all do too.
The main purpose for my visit here is to just visit you and say thank you for everything you've done, give you a chance to ask a few questions. I have a feeling that will be abbreviated, since everybody's enjoying standing out in the sun. And then we'll get some -- I'll say something else, and then I'd like to get a picture and shake the hand of everybody individually and get a photograph; give each of you a coin, just a small token of my appreciation for what you've done.
But -- and by the way, when we take the pictures, because I want to look you in the eye and thank you, if, as you come up to get your picture taken, you'd shed the shades, I'd appreciate that too. And I'll take mine off. I promise.
So with that, do we have an intrepid soul that would like to ask a question? Yes, sir.
Q: (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: First of all, I think that -- first of all, my judgment would be that any change in military retirement is not going to happen until after we've drawn down here in Afghanistan. I think nobody's going to take any actions that are seen by the troops as a negative action while we're still heavily in the fight.
I would also tell you that I think any effort to change the retirement will be politically very controversial and be a protracted fight. I think -- I would wager a lot of money that the only way they could ever get it passed would be to grandfather it so that nobody who is now in the active force would be affected.
But I would tell you, there are two things that we need to fix as I look ahead over the next few years about the retirement system. Between 70 (percent) and 80 percent of the force doesn't stay in long enough to retire. And so if you leave with five years or 10 years, you get nothing. And that doesn't seem right to me. So figuring out a way, whether it's adapting some kind of a civilian 401k or something that you and the government would contribute to that you could roll over when you go into civilian life so you have something when you leave after five or 10 or a dozen years seems to me an inequity that needs to be addressed.
The second is we give somebody who approaches 20 years -- so let's say a sergeant first class or a lieutenant colonel -- they're at the peak of their capability, we've invested a huge amount in bringing them to the level of capability that they have, and then we make it financially silly for them not to retire. And so it seems to me that ought to figure out a way to incentivize people to stay beyond 20 and particularly in those areas where we have needs.
And let's just take my 401k idea. So maybe the application of that -- by the way, this is all off the top of my head, so I fundamentally don't know what I'm talking about -- (laughter) -- but since I only have three and a half weeks to go, I don't really care. (Laughter.) But let's just say it's some kind of 401k thing. So maybe at 20 years, the government puts all the contribution in; or maybe after 15 years, the percentage of the government contribution compared to the soldier's contribution begins to grow every single year so there's a significant financial incentive for staying beyond 20.
So I don't know how -- what the right answer is to all of this, but those are a couple of problems that I think need to be addressed long term. And I told our people doing this budget stuff not to count on any savings from things like retirement for at least two or three years, because I think this is going -- any change at all will be a long and protracted battle in the Congress.
Yes, sir.
Q: Good afternoon, sir. Sergeant -- (name inaudible) -- from the -- (inaudible) -- Battalion. One of my soldiers explained that he had aspirations to be secretary of defense. I just want to know what advice you would give him -- (off mic).
SEC. GATES: Don't. (Laughter.) Or if he is, move his office somewhere outside of Washington. (Laughter.)
Yeah.
Q: Yes, sir -- (name inaudible). You are retiring. My question is, what do you think the greater impact on the will be (inaudible) coming out of thewar in Iraq or -- (off mic)?
SEC. GATES: Well, I'll tell you, the thing that -- the thing that matters the most to me, frankly, and the thing that I'd like to be remembered for is -- are the things that I tried to do to help you all accomplish your mission, come home safely; and if you're hurt, to be taken care of, be rescued quickly, medevaced quickly, and get the best possible care and taking care of your families.
So the MRAPs, MRAP ATVs; the golden hour here on medevacs here in Afghanistan, which is now an average of about 40 minutes; the amount ISR we've been able to push out for the last few years -- those are the things that at least mean the most to me, because I think they had the most impact on you.
Here.
Q: (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: Yeah, there's very little doubt in my mind that most of our troops will be out of here by the end of 2014. We may have come -- if we have a longer-term agreement with the Afghans, we may have some residual presence to help with training and logistics and counterterrorism and things like that. But the agreement made in Lisbon is that we will turn over full responsibility for security to the Afghans by the end of December 2014. So I would expect that our presence here after that time would be a small fraction of what it is today and not really in a combat mission but helping the -- continuing to help the Afghans.
Yes, sir.
Q: (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: This going to be on YouTube? (Laughter.)
Q: (Off mic.) Are you going to write a memoir (inaudible)
SEC. GATES: Yeah, I am. I've got a couple of books I'd like to write. And the first one will be about this job and these two wars and also the wars in Washington.
Yeah.
Q: Mr. Secretary, my name is -- (name inaudible). My question is, what is the -- (off mic) -- the Army as a superpower in regards to personnel and defense system technology due to downsizing of military and our defense budget -- (off mic)?
SEC. GATES: Well, I think that, first of all, there's been no -- with one exception, there's been no decision in terms of downsizing the Army. What we're looking at now is, in 2015 and 2016, reducing the size of the active Army by about 27,000. Now, when I took this job, the permanent end strength of the Army was 482,000. The first month I was on the job, January 2007, I approved an increase in the end strength by 65,000 and two years ago approved a temporary increase in end strength of another 22,000, mainly to get rid of stop-loss. And I can tell you that today, there are no soldiers on stop-loss.
So even if 27,000 are cut in '15 and '16, the size of the Army would still be 40,000 bigger than when I took this office. So we'll just have to wait and see. And one of the things that I'm -- we're working on in the Pentagon is to lay out a series of options for the president and the Congress in terms of if they want to reduce the level of investment in defense, here are your options and here are the things that the military won't be able to do if a certain level of -- if the investment level is dropped by certain amounts.
The last thing I want to do -- the worst thing in the world would be what was done in the '70s and '90s which is a same -- give everybody in the military a same percentage cut across the board. That's the way you hollow out the military. That's the way you don't have enough ammunition to use at firing ranges, you don't have enough money for exercising or training, you don't have enough money for tank miles or steaming days or flight hours. And so we have to make -- I think that is managerial cowardice. And so I think people have to make the tough decisions, first in the Department of Defense and then the president and the Congress, in terms of making choices what don't they want us to do in the future, because if we have to reduce the size of the military in some way, I want the level of excellence when we're done to be at the same standard it is today.
And so these involve tough choices and tough decisions. And I think there will be a big political debate going forward over the next year or so about it. But I have a feeling that -- I'm fairly confident that people will make the right decisions, and that while we may have to make some reductions in force structure that this is still going to be by far the most powerful and best military in the world.
Last question. Yes, sir -- yes, ma'am.
Q: (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: I am not aware of any changes planned in General Order Number 1. I've got General Rodriguez here with me somewhere, and --
LT. GEN. RODRIGUEZ: No, sir. No, sir. (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: (Chuckles.) Not going to happen, sounds like.
LT. GEN. RODRIGUEZ: There's a difference between visitation and cohabitation. Talk to your chain of command about that. And if they don't give you a clear answer, then you come find me and I will give them the (off mic) answer, OK?
Q: Okay.
LT. GEN. RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely.
SEC. GATES: Now, I'd like to end on a question I can answer. (Laughter.)
Yes, sir.
Q: (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: No need for what?
Q: (Off mic.)
SEC. GATES: Well, I think -- I think that's not accurate. The truth is, we have spent a huge amount of money, and the Army has put a huge amount of effort into dealing with PTS and behavioral health problems, and not just for troops but also for their families.
Now, one of the problems -- and what I've done is take all the money for family programs and for behavioral health and PTS and TBI and all of that and moved all of that out of the supplementals into the base budget of the Department of Defense so that when these wars are over, we've still got the money to continue all of those programs, because these are going to be enduring problems.
But the Army in particular has hired a huge number of mental health professionals and has really, I think, done an outstanding job of trying to establish an infrastructure for behavioral health and to provide the training that ensures that NCOs and officers identify people, including among their own number, who need to seek help and then go get it by getting rid of the stigma associated with seeking help.
So let me just conclude by again thanking you, because this will be the last time I can thank you for your services and for your sacrifice. More than anybody other than the president, I'm responsible for you being here. I'm the guy that signed the deployment orders that brought you here. And that has weighed on me for four and a half years. And I -- and that's one of the reasons why I have taken a sense of personal responsibility, as I suggested earlier, for making sure you have what you need to succeed in the mission, to come home safe; and if you get hurt, that we get you the best possible care. I think about you all every day. I feel your hardship and your sacrifice and your burdens more, I think, than you can possibly imagine; and those of your families as well.
I think you are the best that America has to offer. My affection and my admiration for you has no limit. And I will pray for each and every one of you every day for the rest of my life. So thanks for your service. Now let's get some pictures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
