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Show I NEWS (3 In) In) Feb. 15, 1991 Hilltop Timei D)rng(S II Secretary Cheney briefs Congress on '92 budget by SSgt. David P. Masko Air Force News Service WASHINGTON As the third week of the Persian Gulf war came to a close, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney told Congress the capacity of the United States military to perform is directly related to its technological edge. Secretary Cheney elaborated on what he thinks those future forces ought to look like, and offered some of the rationale for supporting B-- and programs in the fiscal 1992 defense budget. "One lesson that's come through loud and clear out of the gulf conflict is the value of stealth techC-1- 2 7 nology. "We simply could not have done what we've done as effectively and as efficiently and at low cost to lifeboth ours and the enemy's if we hadn't had that stealth capability," Secretary Cheney said, stealth fighter. referring to the work of the "The B-- represents that capability in a strategic F-11- 7 2 bomber. "We've got an enormous amount invested in it, and it's very important, we think, that we go forward with the program, and that's in the budget that I'm submitting." The defense chief and Army Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to Capitol Hill Feb. 7 to present the fiscal 1992-9defense budget to the House Armed Services Committee. If approved by Congress, the budget request would continue spending for four B-- aircraft in fiscal 1992 with seven stealth bombers the following 3 2 fiscal year. B-2- ." C-1- 7 C-5- C-14- 1s Critics charge that the Air Force does not need the B-- to update its strategic forces, and that it's too expensive at almost $500 million per aircraft. At the same time, the Pentagon said the aging fleet of bombers are to be retired with more 30 than years' service and stealth aircraft are needed to modernize the force. "We can afford to get rid of a lot of aircraft if the ores we've got left are stealthy and can drop bombs with enormous precision on hard targets, as we're doing right now," Secretary Cheney said. "I think it's absolutely vital that we complete the B-program. If we stop it now, as many have suggested, we will have spent close to $40 billion for 15 2 B-5- Furthermore, with the Soviet Union remaining as the one country with the capability to destroy the United States, Secretary Cheney said, the United States must plan its security posture accordingly. "We must make sure that our strategic forces are second to none, ever. And thus, we will aggressively pursue the With respect to tactical air programs proposed in will continue in dethe fiscal 1992 budget, the velopment and become the next generation of the Air Force's strategic airlift capability. "We are absolutely flying the wings off the old and the s in connection with this (Desert 2 2 airplanes. "For a relatively modest additional investment, relative to what we have already spent, we can reap the benefits of that investment and go ahead and complete the buy of 75 that we recommended last year," he said. Q?Q(i Storm) operation," Secretary Cheney said. "We badly need a replacement transport aircraft." The is designed to be an airlift workhorse, combining the best attributes of today's airlift aircraft. The has approximately the same wing-spaas the but can carry twice the payload and can deliver the same type of equipment as the C-into small airfields previously restricted to the C-1- 7 C-1- 7 n C-1- 5 C-13- 0. is now in production with a budget request for six aircraft in the fiscal 1992, and an additional 12 planes in 1993. The 7 is scheduled to fly for the first time later this year. "If there's one thing I've learned in the 16 months that I've been chairman, it is that the transportation capability that exists in the Department of Defense is a national treasure, a national asset," General Powell said. "We have used it for war. We have used it for contingencies. We have used it for national disasters. The C-1- 7 C-1- RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) non-critic- al skills can now apply to separate or retire prior to service completion of their active-dut- y commitment under the fiscal 1991 Officer Early Release Program, officials at the Air Force Military Personnel Center said. The Air Force plans to separate and retire up to 600 officers. Officers otherwise eligible for this program are not excluded from eligibility solely on the basis of a Stop Loss restriction, said Capt. Bobby Norwood of the AFMPC officer separations branch. "All officers must understand before they submit their application they may be affected by Stop Loss," he said. Officers who are affected by Stop Loss criteria currently in effect may request a separation or retirement date, but they will not be allowed to separate until Stop Loss is terminated or an exemption to Stop Loss is is that have come along. "It's an underlying bedrock capability that we have to keep in the structure at any cost," General Powell said. "And that's why you will find the chiefs so very, very much in support of the and for sealift assets as well in order to make sure that we can't lose this national asset." As Secretary Cheney called for continued acquisitions of the B-- and aircraft in the defense budget, he also told Congress that changes in the Warsaw Pact and the turmoil in the Soviet Union are influencing national security policy at this time. In addition, he expressed pessimism about the Soviet economic situation,. calling it "as bleak as it has been perhaps in the last 50 years." "In spite of all the grief that the Soviet people are currently being subjected to because of the failures of their government to undertake meaningful reform, we still see that the Soviet military is insisting upon retaining an excessive claim to Soviet C-1- 7 C-1- 2 7 resources." Consequently, he said the Soviet military is insisting upon continuing to modernize and upgrade their forces, and the greatest threat comes as they expand their influence by military means. "Today, our focus when we think about the Soviet Union is much more upon having to deal with the problem of a collapsing Soviet empire," Secretary Cheney said. "And that presents us with a radically different set of circumstances than we faced in the past." fffieeirs Air Force plans to retire up to 600 officers Officers in We have used it for natural emergencies processed and approved. Eligible officers may ask for a date of separation through Sept. 29. Retirement eligible officers can retire through Sept. 1. Those excluded from the program are: 66 All officers must understand before they submit their application they may be affected by Stop Loss. All pilots in the rank lieutenant colonel and below. Medical officers. U.S. Air Force Academy graduates who will not complete a minimum of five years' active-dut- y by their reCapt. Bobby Norwood Air Force Military Personnel Center quested date of separation. Officers attending formal training, such as the Air Force Institute of and various waivers of ADSCs, up to Technology, or any professional mili18 months, may be granted for sepaeducation. tary Officers who entered active duty ration due to promotion. Active-dut- y service commitments on or after Jan. 1, 1989, regardless of career field. may be waived for several categories active-dutof permanent change of station moves: Liberal waivers of most service commitments are being consiQ CONUS to CONUS, 18 months. Overseas to CONUS, six months. dered, Captain Norwood said. 12 of CONUS to overseas, 12 months. For example, waivers up to - - Waiv-ers of 24 .months may be re- months may be requested-for-AFIT- 99 y T -- quested for PME, tuition assistance, Minuteman education, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarships and selective continuation and Officer Training School and Airman Education Commissioning Program. Waivers of 36 months may be requested for navigator flying training non-scholarshi- ADSCs. Unlike previous early release programs, some officers will have to serve a length of time in the Individual Ready Reserve. This affects Reserve officers who have between eight and 20 years of service, as well as regular officers who have between eight and 18 years of service, who waive any active-dutservice commitment to y separate. They will now be required to serve a length of time in the Individual staReady Reserve in a tus, Captain Norwood said. Interested officers should apply as early as possible. More information is available from consolidated base personnel offices and deployed personnel teams. non-affiliate- d |