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Senate Panel Examines Military Personnel Programs

On April 17, the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing on the active guard, reserve, and civilian personnel programs in the upcoming FY2014 Defense Authorization bill (as-yet-unnumbered). Chair Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) heard testimony regarding recent Department of Defense (DoD) efforts to improve military personnel programs and recommendations for program reform in the FY2014 Defense Authorization Act. Joint testimony offered by Jessica Wright, acting under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness; Jonathon Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs; Frederick Vollrath, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness and force management; and Richard Wightman, Jr., acting principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, examined DoD’s recent accomplishments and future challenges with regard to issues affecting women service members and their families, including:

  • Sexual assault prevention and response (p. 5);
  • Military pay increase (p. 15);
  • Military family support, including the Family Advocacy Program (p. 16);
  • Criminal history background checks for child care providers (p. 16); and
  • Rising health costs and increased patient cost sharing for military health benefits (p. 24).

The testimony also addressed the elimination of the ban on women in combat roles: “Over the last decade of war, our military women service members have put their lives on the line to defend the country with courage, patriotism and skill…Service should be based on ability, not gender. The 1994 DoD policy prohibited women from being assigned to ‘direct ground combat’ units below the brigade level and permitted the military departments to restrict assignment of women based on privacy and berthing, physical requirements, special operations and long-range reconnaissance, and co-location with a direct combat unit. In February 2013, former [DoD] Secretary [Leon] Panetta completely eliminated the 1994 policy at the unanimous recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

The following individuals also offered joint testimony:

  • Master Chief Joseph Barnes, U.S. Navy (retired), national executive director of the Fleet Reserve Association, and co-chair of The Military Coalition (TMC);
  • Kathleen Moakler, government relations director at the National Military Family Association, and co-chair of the TMC Personnel/Compensation/Commissaries Committee;
  • Colonel Steve Strobridge, U.S. Air Force (retired), director of government relations at the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and co-chair of the TMC; and
  • Captain Marshall Hanson, U.S. Navy Reserve (retired), director of legislative and military policy at the Reserve Officers Association, and co-chair of the TMC Guard and Reserve Committee.