News>Welsh: Sequestration will 'undermine' readiness
Photos
Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III testifies with a panel of Defense Department witnesses on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2013, during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the potential impact of sequestration and a full-year continuing resolution. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III testifies with a panel of Defense Department witnesses on Capitol Hill, Feb. 12, 2013, during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the potential impact of sequestration and a full-year continuing resolution. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
2/13/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Unprecedented budget factors have placed the nation's defense strategy in jeopardy, senior Department of Defense leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 12.
During his opening remarks, the chief of staff of the Air Force stressed the severity of the current fiscal situation.
"Sequestration threatens to carve crucial capability from America's Air Force, with alarming and immediate effects on people, readiness and infrastructure, and, eventually, on modernization," said Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "If it occurs, it will significantly undermine your Air Force's readiness and responsiveness today."
The common theme of the day was attempting to quantify the relationship between risk and sequestration.
"If sequestration occurs, it will severely limit our ability to implement our defense strategy," said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It will put the nation at greater risk of coercion. And, it will break faith with the men and women who serve this nation in uniform."
Unless sequestration is averted, the impacts on the Air Force include budget cuts resulting in cancelling about 200,000 flying hours this year. This includes training and non-support of combatant commander requirements like theater security packages and continuous bomber presence missions.
Welsh went on to emphasize the impacts sequestration will have on readiness.
"Roughly two-thirds of our active-duty combat Air Force units will curtail home station training, beginning in March, and will drop below acceptable readiness levels by mid-May," said Welsh. "Most will be completely non-mission capable by July."
Sequestration was delayed until March 1 by a bill passed in January. If implemented, it would mandate about $500 billion in across-the-board defense spending cuts over 10 years in addition to $487 billion in cuts mandated over that period by the 2011 Budget Control Act.
The Defense Department is, and will continue to be, part of the nation's economic recovery, the chairman said, but to do so requires budget certainty.
"Finally, we need the flexibility to transfer and reprogram money to our highest priorities," the chairman said. "Readiness loses when major portions of the budget are untouchable. Everything needs to be on the table."
Failing to act is a choice in itself, Dempsey said, "one that will eventually require a progressive contraction of security commitments around the world and a less proactive approach to protecting our interests."
If the budget uncertainty isn't addressed, Dempsey said, the nation's defense options will be reduced and risk will increase in turn. "Our military power will be less credible, because it will be less sustainable. Now, we are only a few days away from making that a reality," he added.
"Our nation, our service members and their families expect us to do better," the chairman said. "Most importantly, a turbulent world that relies on American leadership demands that we do better."
(Staff Sgt. David Salanitri, Air Force Public Affairs Agency, contributed to this story.)
Comments
2/21/2013 1:49:57 AM ET WAKE UP AND QUIT VOTING FOR INCUMBENTS. ONLY THEN WILL WE THE PEOPLE BEGIN TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT. IF THEY WONT INSTITUTE TERMS LIMITS WE WILL.TIME TO STOP WASHINGTON LARGESSE.
D, Iraq
2/20/2013 4:01:08 PM ET I say let it happen... with a cut of 200000 flt hrs the flightlines would be quiet the workload would be dramatically decreased and for the first time in over a decade alot of us would get a well deserved break. We will still collect a paycheck. I for one welcome saving millions over the summer. Cut all the flying hours you need DoD.
Witt, nevada
2/20/2013 2:18:00 PM ET MSgt C - You are talking about the elimination of a HUGE force shaping tool If we cant test folks twice a year how will we ever be able to meet the whole 4 PT failures in 2 years thing goal prior to discharge My thoughts are let those that want to get out of the AF early out of the AF. How much money would that save us
MSgt M, OCONUS
2/20/2013 12:35:23 PM ET Our country is in hard times right now so we all have to do our part including the top down. By not paying our Congress and Senate memmbers unless they come to an agreement on the budget is a start. Secondly cancel TDYs conferences air shows decrease PCS moves more online training etc. etc. I can think of many ways the Govt can save money. How about more consolidation of services versus separated. We are after all one nation....all serving our country. W
Love My Country, Florida
2/20/2013 12:21:47 PM ET I don't see congress reaching into their pockets to make sacrifices for the American people. It is time we stopped serving our own self-interest and really looked at what our people really need. We can no longer afford selfish leaders.
Confused, Texas
2/20/2013 10:17:55 AM ET I always love the whole paid for by tax payers' dollars bit. Last time I checked we pay taxes too. Less than some people but I think we give up a disproportional amount of things for a little tax break. I do agree that we spend A LOT of money on unnecessary things...
Cap, US
2/20/2013 9:40:45 AM ET Might be worth dropping the PT test back to once a year. It will cut the workload of the FACs in half and return more Airman to work.
MSgt C, Texas
2/20/2013 9:32:28 AM ET We have such an irresponsible government...how is not cutting anything and not raising any new money going to get us out of debt Oh I knowlets hit our budget with a proverbial axe. Forget how damaging it is going to be
Chris, New Mexico
2/19/2013 9:12:35 PM ET If sequestration occurs...If it occurs it will significantly undermine your Air Force's readiness and responsiveness today.My from understanding this has already taken place...atleast for the faith part.
Broken Dreams, Dyess Penitentiary AFB
2/19/2013 1:12:32 PM ET Airman Earth I retired from active duty and most of the time I was in a 10 hour day was the norm and if we had to work ovetime we didn't cry -- we worked. Now I am an Air Force civilian still working as hard as I did and have not had a pay raise in almost 4 years. Over paid and under worked Where do you work? A hard working civilian
Sam Butler, VA
2/19/2013 8:39:50 AM ET SB you either have a meal card or receive BAS therefore you are not exactly paying for your lunch out of your own pocket. I invite you to show me another employer that provides you additional money specifically to be used to feed you. I also hate to see the military used as the first bargaining chip but lets not exaggerate our situation.
Buzzy, Buzzkill
2/18/2013 2:25:29 PM ET If this goes into effect then there would be an additional 1M people added to the list of unemployed. We know there is waste in every area of government but I guess we have to ask ourselves at the end of the work day what impact have we made to reduce such waste. The same question should be asked of those in the highest levels of Government. The one thing that urks me right now is that we have come to within days of this happening and our Commander in Chief is in Florida playing golf with Tiger--not to mention the millions it costs the gov't to fund these vacations with security and aviation support.
Jerry, Colorado Springs CO
2/17/2013 6:07:41 PM ET The first thing that should go should be all of the special programs like the Thunderbirds and Air shows. The Thunderbirds have nearly 1B in budget just to show case and advertise. What is the reason for this Recruiting is down our lowest numbers as a force is in ranks E-3 and below and we are filled with scandal from failure in our selection process for special duty assignments and individual accountability. As far as Anna Ramstein comment goes a single military member can stay and live however they deem necessary. Their BAH and BAS is no different from yours your spouse or anyone else with the same pay grade living in that area. It is based on cost of living within an area an individual personal preference doesnt mean budget constraints should affect their lifestyle If you drove a new BMW and the government didnt feel it fit your pay grade so they seized it would you be upset.
RR, Ohio
2/15/2013 7:35:39 PM ET Today airman have never been introduced to the SWAT team...Seeds Weeds And Trash. That should save some money on just about every Air Force installation.
Bs, KS
2/15/2013 5:42:27 PM ET I understand Airman's concerns about picking up the slack however I work in a career field at a location that doesn't have enough Airmen to pick up the slack. Also even though I've seen and heard overpaid and underworked many times I didn't think I would be hearing it from another DoD employee. I don't equate a furlough day every week for 22 weeks if sequestration hits as an extra day off. Unlike times in the past when civilians got back pay when a continuing resolution was not passed to cover the beginning of a fiscal year I highly doubt that any civilian will get back pay for any furlough days they may have to take.
A Civilian, South
2/15/2013 4:31:08 PM ET PB- There is a bit more to the story on the lodging front. They recently almost doubled the prices which when deployed or TDY people have to stay and pay with AP funds brings in a ton more. It has to make up for the anchoring Golf Courses.
Dave Brett, Florida
2/15/2013 10:40:29 AM ET @Anna Ramstein please let me know where 6-12 room houses are that cheap where one person can pay rent for the whole house. Even with overseas housing allowances you're gonna be paying out of pocket if you're the only one paying for it while you're getting single rate BAH.
AS, CONUS
2/15/2013 9:17:05 AM ET To Airman Earth Wrong on many counts. I do not doubt that enlisted men and women may feel more effect of a civilian furlough on their day to day operations and could bear some of the load. But to imply that these would be paid days off for the civilian civil service employees is totally incorrect. This will account to approximately 20percent lost wages - pay reduction for the six month period.To imply that most civilian workers are over paid and under worked is also off the mark and very disrespectful to many of us in Civil Service. Shame on you for that.
RC, GA
2/15/2013 9:03:27 AM ET We have to cut the DoD buget in order to fund the welfare state. Each day over 11K are added to the food stamp roles.
Wayne, Maxwell AFB AL
2/15/2013 2:07:36 AM ET If Sequestration does happen it will mostly affect the enlisted men and women. The enlisted will have to pick up the slack if a furlough is implemented. It would equate to an extra day off for the already overpaid and under worked civilian force. I know that there are some civilians who are absolutely critical to our day to day operations but those are rare.
Aiman, Earth
2/14/2013 2:57:50 PM ET I dislike how the military budget and pay is usually the first bargaining chip when things go wrong. As a Senior Airman I brown bag my meals and snacks to work. Why can't congress do the same Why don't we start cutting some funds there If a Senator wants lunch he should pay out of pocket like we all do. I feel like we are looking for money in all the wrong places. We need to sit down and really look at where the money is going beause I assure you the military is not the cause of these problems. Don't get me wrong everyone can afford to tighten their belts around here but it should be fair and even across all areas of the government.
SB, Malmstrom AFB
2/14/2013 2:46:11 PM ET I do not understand what point Ann Ramstein is trying to make. It should not be the governments responsibility if you choose to get married and have 10 kids. A single military person should not be penalized. Everyone should get paid the same based on rank not marital status.
Candy, CO
2/14/2013 2:37:07 PM ET You know when my family needs to save money during hard times we STOP spending it on stuff we want so there is more to spend on what we need What the country NEEDS are the men and women in uniform doing thier jobs What we DON'T need are countless BRAND NEW builings under construction at every AF facility around the country replacing structures that are barely 20 years old Wanna save money Take us back to the old days when we used to DETAIL airmen to maintain our real property and grounds. Quit hiring contractors to clean cook mow gaurd train educate maintain etc. LET US DO OUR JOBS
Ski, Florida
2/14/2013 2:03:55 PM ET DC all the items you mention come from non-appropriated funds which includes money paid for lodging as well as morale welfare and recreation funds from the base exchanges. The sequester by definition only affects those areas funded by appropriated funds.
PB, US
2/14/2013 12:51:06 PM ET Isn't this how we won the cold war making the old USSR spend too much money iI bet they are laughing their asses off
Old Guy, USA
2/14/2013 10:39:09 AM ET It will do way more than 'undermine' readiness. It will start an avalanche
Arctic Warrior, Colorado Springs
2/14/2013 9:58:14 AM ET A thought on how to start saving money Unproportional housing allowances... I have at least 8 single friends who have been living in huge expensive houses all by themselves 6-12 rooms--all paid for by tax dollars. Might I add they are hardly ever home because they work a lot. Put that next to a hard-working low or even moderate-income family in the US
Anna, Ramstein
2/14/2013 8:56:35 AM ET But we have to keep the mission critcal items such as cable in lodging internet in lodging cable and TV's in fitness centers staff carsall those posters flyers and banners printed with commanders vision statments and goals Tops in Blue and many-many other nice to have pet projects.
DC, South
2/14/2013 8:41:38 AM ET Non-supportcancel all the CODEL flights out of Andrews. Let them travel commercial. That'll get their attention.
RB, SATX
2/13/2013 10:24:34 AM ET He said we need the flexilbilty to transfer and reprogram money to our highest priorities...cheap talk when just recently he approved dropping millions on a NASCAR sponsorship. Someone is pulling the wool over his eyes and big time.
