Marine Corp programs fare well in final procurement

Sea Power, Dec 1998

The Marine Corps also fared well legislatively with the 105th Congress, with the FY 1999 Defense Appropriations Act providing approximately $11 billion in funding. A Marine spokesman characterized the funds allocated as a "fair share," but noted that additional funds are still needed for equipment modernization-notwithstanding plusups to Marine Corps accounts totaling nearly $293 million above the president's budget request. Active-duty Marine Corps end strength is set at 172,200. Marine Corps funding in the FY 1999 spending bill includes:

$6.3 billion for active-duty personnel;

$406.6 million for reserve personnel;

$2.6 billion for operations and maintenance;

$117.9 million for Marine Corps reserve operations and maintenance;

$370.3 million for research, development, test, and evaluation; and

$ $108 million for military construction.

Plus-ups to Navy acquisition accounts directly supporting the Marine Corps include $112.4 million for two KC-130 Hercules refueling and transport aircraft, $16.0 million for the LCAC (landing craft air cushion) service-life extension program, and $45 million in advance procurement funding for an additional amphibious assault ship of the LHD-1 Wasp class.

Multiyear procurement for the AV8B Harrier VSTOL (vertical/short takeoff and landing) aircraft was supported by Senate and House authorization bill conferees, but was not approved in the report accompanying the DOD FY 1999 appropriations bill.

During his 29 September testimony on Marine Corps readiness before the Senate Armed Services Committee, USMC Commandant Gen. Charles C. Krulak estimated that an additional $1.5 billion would be needed to meet the Corps' current modernization requirements. The FY 1999 Defense Supplemental Appropriations folded into the omnibus spending package added funding of $60.9 million for Marine Corps operations and maintenance, $3.3 million for Marine Corps Reserve operations and maintenance, $11.9 million for Marine Corps personnel, and $2.5 million to repair storm damage at Marine Corps facilities in North Carolina.

Secretary of Defense Cohen met with Marines stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on 30 October during a scheduled week-long trip to Asia that was cut short by renewed tensions with Iraq. According to the American Forces Information Service (AFIS), the Hawaii-based Marines did not hold back, telling Cohen they need new aircraft, spare parts, and equipment.

AFIS reported that Cohen had acknowledged that concerns over shortfalls in spares and equipment-which have direct consequences for readiness and morale-were raised during all of his visits to defense installations in recent months. The defense secretary said that recent DOD funding increases should begin to "flow through" during the next few months. Cohen also pledged to work closely with Congress during the next two months to obtain targeted pay increases as well as reforms to the retirement system. The results of his efforts would be reflected in the FY 2000 DOD budget proposal.