Please note, this is Part II of Secretary England's testimony
Quality of Service
We will continue to provide an environment where our Sailors and Marines, and their families have confidence in themselves, in each other, in their equipment and weapons, and in the institution they have chosen to serve. This year, with your help, we continued the significant advances in compensation, in building the structure to realize the promise of the revolution in training, in improving bachelor and family housing, and in strengthening our partnership with Navy and Marine families.
The Department remains committed to improving living conditions for Sailors and Marines, and their families. Our policy is to rely first on the private sector to house military families. As a result, along with the initiative to increase Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), the need and consequently the inventory for military family housing is going down. Additionally, we are partnering with the private sector in Public/Private Ventures (PPV) to eliminate inadequate housing.
At the top of nearly any list put together in our partnership is the promise of medical care for Sailors, Marines, and their families. Naval medicine is a force multiplier, ensuring our troops are physically and mentally ready to whatever challenges lie ahead. High quality care and health protection are a vital part of our ability to fight the Global War on Terrorism and execute other worldwide mission. Naval medicine today is focused on supporting the deployment readiness of the uniformed services and promoting, protecting and maintaining the health of all those entrusted to Naval Medicine care – anytime, anywhere.
Safety
The Navy and Marine Corps are working to meet the Secretary of Defense’s goal of reducing mishaps by 50 percent from FY 2002 to the end of FY 2005. We have many initiatives in place and planned for the near future. We have seen real progress in reducing private motor vehicle fatalities, which are down 20 percent from the FY 2002 baseline. We have begun applying technologies now used in commercial aviation to provide a visual and quantitative feedback loop to pilots and mechanics when either the pilot or aircraft has exceeded specific safety of flight parameters. We will continue to press forward with safety both to take care of people, our most precious asset, and to allow us to invest elsewhere.
Shaping the Force
The Navy is making an effort to reduce its active duty manpower as part of the DoN transformation program. This is the first step and an integral part of our strategy to properly shape both the officer and enlisted force. Today, as the Navy moves to a more efficient and surge-ready force, maintaining the correct skill sets is more important than ever. We are convinced we can get the job done with fewer people; by eliminating excess manpower we can focus better on developing and rewarding our high-performing forces. Additionally, reducing manpower gradually today will ensure the Navy is properly manned when a new generation of optimally manned ships joins our force, with completely revised maintenance, training, and war-fighting requirements. We will ensure any manpower reductions will be preceded by reductions in functions.
VII. Summary
Naval forces remain a critical and unique element of our national security strategy. The Navy and Marine Corps Team answers the President's call to duty by being the first on station -- with staying power. Our forces exploit the open oceans and provide the Combatant Commander with persistent sovereign combat Naval forces. This is the value that credible forward deployed Naval forces provide our Nation.
The FY 2005 Budget unifies many of our innovative and transformational technologies with Naval Power 21. Sustaining investment in Naval forces continues to protect and promote American interests by allowing the forward deployed Navy and Marine Corps Team to shape the international security environment and to respond to the full spectrum of current and future crises. With our FY 2005 Budget request we focus on people, combat capability, technology insertion, and improved business practices. Additionally, we continue to work with our Joint Service partners in organizing, equipping and training to fight jointly. With continued Congressional support the Department of the Navy will position the Navy and Marine Corps Team as part of the most formidable military force in the 21st Century.
