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Show if n. COMBAT r.:::::cry AH P STRENGTH THROUGH LOGISTICS cj- AMI - set and sold out Vol. 43 No. 28 See story, Pcz 2. Non-essenti- July 21 , 1 989 Hill AFB, Utah items cut $7.5 billion a year al us to attract and recruit and retain sonnel in an era of a shrinking pool of first-clas- s by TSgt. Mark Walsh Air Force News COLLECTIONS correspondent 66 of Defense WASHINGTON (AFNS)-Secre- tary Dick Cheney released the Pentagon's review calling for a major overhaul of the weapons procurement system and streainlining acquisition procedures throughout the Department of Defense. Known as the Defense Management Review, the plan focuses on cutting unnecessary, or "non-valu- e added," acquisition functions, resulting in an expected annual $7.5 billion reduction in defense spending by fiscal 1993; The review was made public July 11. President Bush called for the review in February in an address to the joint session of Congress. At the president's direction, the review identifies actions to be taken in the areas of personnel and organization, defense planning, acquisition procedures and relations between government and industry. The Pentagon's acquisition force now consists of 30,000 military and 550,000 civilian employees. The exact number of jobs to be reduced as a result of. the review has not been determined. Likewise, details of consolidating Air Force commands involved in buying military hardware were not made available since they are still under review The secretary said, however," that DOD cannot carry the burden of fulfilling the concepts alone, but requires the assistance of the executive branch and, more importantly, Congress. A "If we're going to be successful in the venture that the president wants us to undertakeit will be in part because we're able to get. the Congress of the United States to help us cut away some of the regulatory burden and underbrush that we are now forced to operate under," Secretary Cheney said. One of the things that frankly should help pave the way on Capitol Hill is the recognition (by) most of my former colleagues ... that we've entered into a period of some austerity with respect to defense spending. and a full employment economy, it's absolutely essential that we spend our money on what's important," he said. "Not upon unnecessary bureaucracy, not upon unnecessary requirements that have little to do with maintaining the nation's military capability." He called for redoubled efforts "which are essential if the U.S. defense efforts" are to be managed in a way that: Ensures continued strength and readiness of the nation's armed forces. Helps acquire needed weapons systems that meet the military's most pressing needs, at less cost, in less time and with greater assurance of promised performance. Promotes greater, public confidence in the department's stewardship of defense resources. The report provides that the secretary of defense chair an executive committee of DOD 's top civilian leaders and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to serve as the key policy-makin- g body for all major defense issues. That committee has been formed and held its first meeting July 11. Under the review, the department will also attempt to improve its management of the civilian and military acquisition work force, including establishing a dedicated corps of military officers in each department who will be .career acquisition specialists. : Additionally, the report calls for measures that: D Consolidate defense contract administration under a single agency. ethics council to oversee , Create a senior-leve- l a vigorous ethics program for the department's acpersonnel. quisition " and bet-- t Encourage contractor ter contract performance. . 99 Dick Cheney Secretary of Defense "One of the things that frankly should help pave the way on Capitol Hill is the recognition (by) most of my former colleagues . . that we've entered into a period of some austerity with respect to defense spending." The secretary cited the perception of the declining Soviet threat, the U.S. proposals of conventional force drawdowns in Europe, and the bleak budget outlook for defense spending over the next several years as the circumstances for taking a better look at the way business is conducted at the Pentagon. "If they want to preserve those weapons systems that are crucial to the security of the nation, if they want to maintain the kinds of incentives that allow : per- ds , self-governan- ce O O DOD leaders speak on defense management (AFLCNS) Editor's notes The following ques- tions and answers are excerpts from the Washington, D.C. press conference that featured both Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney and Deputy Secretary of Defense Don Atwood, when the Defense Management Review was briefed July H. Q: There's been some printed speculation listing exact numbers of job cuts. What can you say to those people who are worried about job cuts at military bases? Mr. Atwood: The answer is I can't give you a number because I don't have a number. Basically we've set as a target that we will effect efficiency ; improvements both in acquisition, in material costs, in burden costs and in head count reductions where that work is not necessary amounting to about $7.5 billion a year by 1993. I'll stick with that. Q: Can you translate that into numbers of people? Mr. Atwood: No, because it'll be a mix of them. It may be more efficient, for instance, to do something on the outside and we would lose people but not have taken any work out. On the other hand, if we take out let's say suddenly Congress demanded no reports, then you could take the number of heads involved in writing those reports and say they probably aren't necessary, but I don't have a good mix for you. D See Q's and A's IN-- ..: Two-sta- r Nw visit . ''''" 1 : U.S. Air Force Photo - Maj. Gen. Dale W. Thompson, center, chief of staff for the Air Force Logistics Command, and Col. Paul T. Welch, director of the aircraft division in the Directorate of Maintenance, visit with sheetmetal mechanic Chris Wayment in the led the AFLC staff assistance visit to Ogden OV-1- 0 Air production area of MA. General Thompson Logistics Center on Monday and Tuesday. Page 2, please. 3 B-- 2 lifts off to cheers of crowd 7 Cucllty The Dons train PATs 12 Providing tho woclhor Hill weather detachment keeps busy "Tl U J |