KUAM.com-KUAM News: On Air. Online. On Demand.Congress reviewing DOD plans

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - First the Senate and now the House, congressional leaders are reviewing the Department of Defense planned budget for Fiscal Year 2013 incorporating their new strategy in shaping an adaptable rapidly deployable military force. It's a strategy that puts emphasis on our corner of the world.

After appearing before the Senate, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey went before the House Armed Services Committee today pitching DOD's proposed 2013 budget, one that incorporates the Defense Department's new strategy to create a smaller, more agile flexible force to conduct a full range of military activities that it believes is necessary to defend U.S. national interests. At the core of their strategy is strengthening the military's power in the Asia Pacific region.

The plan includes implementing a 2006 accord between Japan and the United States. During today's oversight hearing Panetta said it was time to get it done and for the marines to maintain a forward presence. "We're trying to be innovative in the way that we're doing that.  The approach we're taking in Australia is an example of the kind of rotational presence that we think can make sense. We're talking to the Philippines about doing the same thing, but the bottom line is we want to maintain the marine forward presence in the pacific that's an essential element of our strategy," he said.

But the strategy, as a result of recent discussions with Japan and the U.S., includes reducing the amount of Marines coming from Guam from the 8,000 originally projected to slightly less than 5,000. Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said, "Will this lead to a reduction in support for civilian infrastructure that's needed to support the military population on Guam? If the Japanese do reduce the funding commitment how will the department ensure that the infrastructure needs continue to be addressed?" Panetta replied, "That's also one of the things that we're discussing  as you know one of the elements here is the development of a new Futenma Air Facility and it's an expensive process because it involves environmental permits that have to be obtained it's a very expensive project.

"But at the same time they have been very generous in saying that whatever moves that have to be made they'll support, they'll give us a lot of the funds to try to support that. That continues to be a part of our conversation, I think. As I said, I'm very pleased with the attitude the Japanese are taking." Bordallo said, "Do you don't think that there will be any reduction?" Panetta said, "No", then Bordallo said, "At this point."

Overall DOD's 2013 budget is set $525.4 billion, $5 billion less than last year's budget. The savings are a result of canceled or delayed department projects, one of them being the termination of the Global Hawk Block 30 program at Andersen Air Force Base. During today's hearing congressional leaders were concerned about the decision to scrap the program considering just last year DOD certified in a letter that the Global Hawks were critical to the nation's defense.

Bordallo said, "The decision to pull 18 Global Hawk Block 30 aircraft is shortsighted, in my opinion. The decision to terminate Block 30 is a complete reversal of your position can you explain how such a critical asset to national security in less than one year later be terminated? Can you answer how the Air Force will compensate the loss of this capability?"

Panetta said, "Look, we are very committed to unmanned systems that's the future but at the same time we've got to make judgment s about which ones are most cost-effective. I think that was what was behind the decision here."

Dempsey said, "It has become to expensive relative to other capabilities we have."

It was in 2009 a $42 million dollar Global Hawk aircraft maintenance and operations complex at Andersen Air Force Base was completed, the unmanned aerial vehicles started arriving in Guam during the summer of 2010.