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Answer. The Department's goal is for Reserve Component members to receive mobilization orders 30 days prior to deployment so they may take care of employer, family, financial, legal, and other issues before departing. It has not always been possible to meet this goal. Some units, based on their designed operational capability have standing policies requiring Reserve Component members to report for mobilization within as few as 24 hours after receipt of formal notification, and be prepared to deploy within 72 hours. Affected Service personnel understand this policy and maintain an increased readiness posture. Although “meeting mission requirements takes first priority" is the most common reason for late receipt of orders, we know that in many cases we must improve notification times. As we prepare for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) II and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) V, the predictability of the requirements needed to support these rotations has enhanced our ability to provide Reserve members with 30 days notice.

Question. How is DOD tracking the personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO) of units/individuals in reserve components with respect to exceeding prescribed maximum length of mobilized service?

Answer. DOD has been tracking both Active and Reserve Component data since October 1, 2000. In accordance with current legislation, Reserve Component days are measured against the same 730-day rolling window as the Active Component. On October 8, 2001 the Deputy Secretary of Defense invoked §991(d) of Title 10, United States Code, to suspend the management of the PERSTEMPO program in view of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the Presidential declared National Emergency. This suspension terminated the accumulation of deployment days for purposes of determining eligibility for high deployment per diem payments and the statutory requirement for general and flag officers to personally manage the deployment of certain members. As a matter of policy, Services must continue the tracking and reporting requirements to the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), which serves as the DOD repository, on a weekly basis. DMDC publishes a monthly report on the status of the services which is monitored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The waiver signed by the Deputy Secretary provided needed financial and administrative relief to the services during the war on terrorism.

Question. Are you going to authorize payment of the prescribed $100.00 per day for each reserve component soldier beginning on the 401st day of active duty out of a period of 730 Title 10 active duty days?

Answer. DOD has been tracking both Active and Reserve Component data since October 1, 2000. In accordance with current legislation, Reserve Component days are measured against the same 730-day rolling window as the Active Component. However, on October 8, 2001, the Deputy Secretary of Defense invoked §991(d) of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.), to suspend the management of personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO) program in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This suspension terminated the accumulation of deployment days for purposes of determining eligibility for high deployment per diem payments.

The Department has proposed legislation that would amend section 436 of title 37, U.S.C. to replace the current high deployment per diem amount of $100/day with a progressive, monthly high deployment allowance of up to $1,000. The revised payment schedule would expand the authority of the Services to compensate members for both excessively long and frequent deployments, in some cases providing concurrent payment, within the $1,000 maximum, for surpassing both thresholds. The proposed amendment also includes a provision that would pay a monthly allowance to Reserve Component members who have been called to active duty for a second time for more than 30 days for the same contingency. Reserve Component members will receive this high deployment pay based on frequency and duration at the same rate active component members are authorized.

This approach strikes a balance between the intent to properly compensate members for excessive deployment while allowing the Services to meet mission requirements. In addition, the scale progressively increases in compensation as the burden associated with more and longer deployment increases. The Services envision initially setting monthly payments for high deployment allowances in the $200-to-$650 range, depending on the frequency and/or duration of a member's deployment.

NIGHT VISION GOGGLES

Question. Your budget justification mentions that the $5.6 billion for Procurement and Research, Development, Test and Evaluation include among many other things, "replacements for basic soldier gear such as night vision goggles." How much is requested for these goggles? Who are the recipients?

Answer. As part of the supplemental, $11.2 million was requested for night vision goggles. This amount would purchase 3,720 devices, which will be fielded, to units deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 and Operation Enduring Freedom 5 that do not already have their authorized amount of night vision goggles. These units include 1 Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, 76th enhanced Separate Brigade, and several smaller Combat Support/Combat Service Support units.

KEVLAR BODY ARMOR

Question. We all read last Saturday's (27 September 2003) Washington Post where our distinguished Ranking Minority Member, Jack Murtha, was quoted as saying "Every single wounded person I met at Bethesda or Walter Reed (hospital) after Afghanistan and Iraq said, if I had had Kevlar, this wouldn't have happened to me." Is there body armor in this request? If so, does it include the hard body armor plates (SAPI plates) that makes the armored vest capable of stopping an AK47 round?

Answer. Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) is not in the request. The Department has opted to fund this requirement through a transfer from the FY03 Iraqi Freedom Fund. The funding provided in the transfer will fund the Outer Tactical Vests (OTV) and the Small Arms Protective Insert (SAFI) plates.

Question. Is the request sufficient to ensure that every Marine (or substitute soldier) has these plates, including replacement plates as necessary due to wear and tear in the field?

Answer. Yes, the funding the Army will receive from the FY03 Iraqi Freedom Fund is sufficient to ensure every Soldier has his or her own set of Interceptor Body Armor (IBA), to include the Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI), as well as extra IBA due to wear and tear.

COLD WEATHER EQUIPMENT

Question. With the onset of winter approaching, what has been done to ensure soldiers are prepared? This is especially important in northern Iraq where the 101st is located in the mountains and the area is known for harsh winters.

Answer. The health, welfare and safety of our troops are a major concern of the Department of Defense and commanders at every level. To that end, US Central Command and Combined Forces Land Component Command have conducted a theater-wide assessment of cold weather preparedness and developed a cold weather plan. The plan calls for every individual to deploy with cold weather gear and current forces have either the Battle Dress Uniform or Desert Camouflaged Uniform Cold Weather Gear. All other necessary cold weather preparations are underway and some forces are currently executing missions in cold weather regions in northern Iraq. Requisitions are in place and the Combined Joint Task Force Seven C4 has set the distribution plan. Units will conduct driver training as part of their Cold Weather Training Plan. Additionally, the 101st has a snow removal and winterization plan to be executed as required.

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

Question. What steps are being taken to ensure the large quantities of equipment deployed are ready for future requirements? The desert is very hard on vehicles and aircraft and we must have a plan to rebuild/repair this equipment that has been used extensively.

Answer. The Army is taking steps to maintain the large quantities of combat equipment, both ground and air, for use in future operations. This initiative includes repair of pre-positioned war reserves used by Combined Forces Land Component Command in Operation Iraqi Freedom for future operational use. Currently there are five Forward Repair Activities (FRA's) within Iraq. Those FRA's support air and ground equipment and are provided by the Tank Automotive Command, Communication Electronic Command, and Aviation Missile Command. Combined Joint Task Force Seven C4 has established a "High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) Support Center" in Logistics Support Element Anaconda. This maintenance activity is designed to support up to 40 HMMWVs per day. Over time, the plan is to build maintenance support centers that service all ground vehicles. In addition to these initiatives, the Army Material Command (AMC) has maintenance support teams in Iraq in support of combat units. AMC is continuing to expand the repair and rebuild capabilities and build fixed maintenance facilities into Iraq. Central Command, AMC and Combined Joint Task Force Seven are assessing this initiative to determine contractual and material costs to set up fixed maintenance facilities.

The Marine Corps Maritime Pre-positioned Squadrons (MPSRON) 1 and 2 are completing maintenance and loading of equipment used in Operation Iraqi Freedom for use in future operations.

REST AND RECUPERATION LEAVE

Question. How are we paying for the thousands of soldiers taking leave from Iraq? I have seen news reports of these soldiers returning home on leave to two weeks and am concerned about transportation requirements for such a large effort.

Answer. The FY 2004 Supplemental request includes a request for $300.0 million for the Rest and Recuperation Leave Program. The program provides travel and transportation allowances to each member participating in the program to travel for two weeks on leave at the expense of the United States.

COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Question. Has the efficiency of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA—administered by Ambassador L. Paul Bremer) improved? I still hear great concerns that many promises made by CPA for projects and support are not fulfilled-disillusioning not only the Iraqis, but our service members as well.

Answer. The efficiency of the Coalition Provisional Authority is improving daily as demonstrated by the successful completion of over 14,000 projects as of October 15th. The completion of these projects, valued at over $3 billion dollars, is evidence of the great strides being made in our reconstruction efforts.

Some of the significant accomplishments to date include:

• Increasing electric production to surpass pre-war peak output levels in excess of 4,400 MW;

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Increasing water availability from a pre-war level of 12.9 million liters of potable water per day to 21.3 liters per day in November;

• Iraqi Security Forces now account for 46% of all security forces in Iraq; and • School registration and attendance is stabilizing at approx. 3.6 million primary and 1.5 million secondary students.

[CLERK'S NOTE.-End of questions submitted by Mr. Hobson. Questions submitted by Mr. Tiahrt and the answers thereto follow:]

MILITARY VEHICLE AND AIRCRAFT TIRE PROCUREMENT/SUPPLIES

Question. From previous information provided to Congress we have been told that military tires are not a separately budgeted line-item in the Army/DoD Appropriations request. Tire funding requirements are grouped together with all of the other Class IX items of supply requirements (engines, transmissions, starters, track, etc.) managed at TACOM and this is forwarded to the Army Material Command. Here the funding requirements from TACOM and other Commodity Commands are consolidated and forwarded to Department of the Army (DA) for the annual budget request.

(Army/DoD Tire Procurement Issue Paper submitted to Senator Sessions' office, August, 2003). Given the above information, then please provide for the record the separate tire funding requirements breakout referred to above, specifically, the breakout for military tires prior to tires being "grouped together with all other Class IX items of supply." Provide this information for the original fiscal year 2004 budget request (in terms of total tire units, ground and aircraft) as well as what is assumed in this $87 billion fiscal year 2004 Supplemental request.

Answer. The original fiscal year 2004 budget request for ground tires (President's Budget fiscal year 2004 dated Feb 2003) was $69.1 million. Requirements for Aviation tires are managed by the Defense Logistics Agency. The budget submission did not include requirements for CONOPS and Reset. The total fiscal year 2004 ground tire requirement is $177 million. It is assumed that $107.9 million will be funded out of the supplemental.

Question. For the past two fiscal years (FY), tires have only been funded at about 75 percent of the dollars required. As we approach the end of each subsequent FY, we are further behind in meeting the soldiers' needs from both the current and previous FYs. We currently have $22 million in tire awards we could make today if funding was available. Due to Operation Iraqi Freedom, we are averaging over $4 million per week in tire requisitions and TACÔM is currently out of funds. We could award an additional $32 million this FY if funds were available." Given the statements above, provide for the record the details on tire requirements that the serious funding shortfalls described above are based on.

Answer. As of June 3, 2003, we had approximately $30 million in stacked tire procurements (ready for award, but no available funding). Since that time we received additional fiscal year 2003 funding, and we have received over $1.4 billion in spares funding so far in fiscal year 2004 of which $68.4 million is earmarked for tires. Given this funding, we awarded all stacked tire procurements and have $159.8 million due-in from procurement.

Question. The Army/Department of Defense (DoD) Tire Procurement Issue Paper submitted to Senator Sessions' office in August, 2003 also stated that: "In fiscal year 2002 (fiscal year 2002), we awarded $55 million in tire contracts, in fiscal year 2003, we have already awarded $136 million in contracts. We are currently in a Budget review for fiscal year 2004 and this data is not yet available. It is safe to assume that if our Soldiers continue to be stationed in Iraq at the same Operating Tempo for fiscal year 2004, we will need $208 million for tire support (based on current average of $4 million per week)." Why would fiscal year 2004 "original" budget request data not yet be available in August of 2003, if the original fiscal year 2004 budget request was submitted to Congress in February, 2003? Is this information available today?

Answer. The ground tire data was available in the President's Budget (PresBud) February 2003. The original PresBud fiscal year 2004 budget request for ground tires was $69.1 million. Requirements for Aviation tires are managed by the Defense Logistics Agency.

Question. What was the original budget request (prior to Iraqi Freedom) projected level of contract awards for military tires, ground and air, for both fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004?

Answer. The original fiscal year 2003 budget request for ground tires (President's fiscal year 2003 dated February 2002) was $36.1 million. The original fiscal year 2004 budget request for ground tires (President's Budget fiscal year 2004 dated February 2003) was $69.1 million. Requirements for Aviation tires are managed by the Defense Logistics Agency.

Question. Will any of the current fiscal year 2004 military tire purchases/contracts replenish stockpiles or reserve inventory requirements?

Answer. Tires are managed by two DOD activities. The Army manages tires for tactical wheeled vehicle systems (ground) at the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), a Major Subordinate Command of the Army Materiel Command. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) manages aircraft tires at the Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) located in Richmond, Virginia.

Ground: Fiscal year 2004 funds are being used to replenish stockpiles for military vehicle tires. On average, vehicle tires are procured every 90 days to refill wholesale replenishment stocks. These stocks are then utilized to fill customer requisitions to include requisitions to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. War Reserve stocks on hand were previously funded and are included in the Army Acquisition Objective for the individual tire stock numbers. As of 1 December 2003, no War Reserve military vehicle tire procurements are expected with fiscal year 2004 War Reserve funds.

Aircraft: Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) anticipates no constraints in managing aircraft tire inventory. DSCR is fully funded to support and their current inventory is not depleted. According to analysis completed on 1 Dec 03, DSCR manages 27 National Stock Numbers (NSN) in support of aviation tires. Currently there is a total of eleven (11) items with zero on assets on hand. Of those, five (5) are at zero balance with replenishment stock due in to replenish forecast inventory requirements. There are six (6) items at zero balance; however, the Acquisition Advice Code (AAC) for each is "J" indicating, "Not Stocked" (procurement will be initiated only after receipt of requisition). The remaining item at zero balance is AAC “Y” indicating, "Terminal Item" (Non-stocked). Back Order Lines and quantities are indicated in Column F and due-ins are noted in Column G. Again, all open contracts will replenish forecast requirements for FY04 and beyond. Please note that NSN 2620-01-137-3398 (line 16) and NSN 2620-01-168-0164 (line 18) are type 5 policy back orders in support of Foreign Military Sales.

There are seven (7) items with assets below required levels. All seven have purchase requests in process and/or stock due in on contracts. (Those items are identified in the attached spreadsheet with a "Yes".) The Acquisition Cost for each NSN is included.

Please note, DSCR does not preposition tires for Army use.

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