SERVICES STILL REPORT PERSONNEL SHORTAGES
STATEMENT:
The Clinton Administration's military personnel policies including:
increased operation tempo, insufficient pay, sub-par housing and poor retirement
health care options, have led to the services' continued struggle to recruit
and retain qualified personnel.
* * * FACTS * * *
The U.S. Navy, as recently as January 2002, articulated a need for an additional 4,400 personnel above the end strength authorized in FY02. In addition, the Navy's at-sea gap stand at 7,658, which is approximately 2,500 higher than the FY01 gap level.
The U.S. Air Force had an active duty strength requirement of 365,000 for FY01. Unfortunately, due to recruiting and retention challenges they missed that goal by approximately 11,000 personnel.
In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on July 18, 2001,
General Shinseki stated that "the Army is too small for the mission load
it is carrying, under-resourced for the size it is." "And the end-strength
that we have today does not satisfy the mission load that we carry or that
we can foresee coming..."
* * * ACTION * * *
Provide sufficient funding to each service to facilitate the recruiting
and retention rates they need to ensure a sufficient end strength.
Including, approximately $10 billion a year in order to close the existing
pay gap.
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