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Show HILLTOP TIMES Hilltop TIMES Jan. 30, 2014 Legion opposes threat to military commissaries U.S. Air Force WASHINGTON — The leader of the nation's largest veterans service organization says he is incensed by a threat to the survival of military commissaries — the U.S. military's grocery stores. The Department of Defense reportedly is discussing a $1 billion cut over the next three years to the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) budget. As a consequence, all but a handful of servicemembers' and military retirees' grocery stores could be closed. "This is yet another undeserved blow to our men and women in service — and their families — in the name of 'nec- essary cutbacks' to reduce an ungainly national deficit," said Daniel M. Dellinger, national commander of the 2.4-million member American Legion. "Like the trimming of expenses to be made by reducing military retirees' pensions, this is an inexcusable way of attempting to fix a fault by penalizing the blameless." The DeCA currently operates nearly 250 stores worldwide with a $1.4 billion annual budget. With the proposed budget cut to S400 million annually by fiscal 2017, all but 24 stores would close. Those remaining would be overseas and in rural areas stateside. "Commissaries are extremely important to young military families who are just trying to make ends meet," Dellinger said. "By using commissaries, financially challenged save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared with commercial supermarkets. "This important benefit helps compensate for the significant difference between military pay and comparable civilian salaries. In addition to improving the quality of life for the troops and their families, commissary privileges help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve our country" The American Legion leader's comments echo the points made in a resolution adopted ow by Legion leadership n 2012, which ow stated, "The value Ear • of commissaries . m the quality of life S. equation for junior enlisted families and military retirees and others is indisputable. Military commissary usage has ranked second only to medical health care in the non-pay compensation package ... Any effort to reduce or dis- Swear In mantle the integrity of the military commissary system would be seen as a serious breach of faith with a benefit system that currently serves as a mainstay for the active and reserve components, military retirees and military survivors, military personnel involuntarily discharged or released from active duty, and 100 percent service connected disabled veterans and others." Dellinger encouraged DoD to reconsider the proposal, saying, "The costs in both fiscal and human terms would be far higher than the temporary savings realized. It's a bad idea, plain and simple." Dempsey: No plans to close military By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service JIM VARHEGYI/U.S. Air Force Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (left) ceremoniously swears in Deborah Lee James (second from left) as the 23rd secretary of the Air Force, as her family looks on during a ceremony in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. on Jan. 24. James ceremoniously sworn-in by Hagel U.S. Air Force WASHINGTON —Deborah Lee James, the 23rd secretary of the Air Force, was ceremoniously sworn in by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon on Jan. 24. Hagel called James well suited to lead the Air Force as the nation faces an increasingly uncertain security environment. "The rise of emerging powers, dangerous rogue states, affiliated terrorist organizations, and the proliferation of technology will mean more contested and complicated domains, from space to cyber to sea lanes," he said. Hagel noted that James has spent the last 30 years serving on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, at the Pentagon, where she served three secretaries of defense, as well as in the private sector. Her approach, he said, "has been to understand the problems and opportunities, listen carefully, and then act decisively." This, he added, will make her a success lead- ing the Air Force. At today's ceremony, Hagel said he, James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark. A. Welsh III are deeply concerned "about the overall health and professionalism and discipline of our strategic forces," and called the problems facing the new Air Force secretary daunting. But he credited James with a "swift, decisive and thoughtful response," to the matter after she visited missile bases around the country in recent days. Even so, he said, "restoring confidence in the nuclear mission will be a top priority." James, who was officially sworn in as secretary last month, thanked her family, friends and mentors for their support along the way. "I owe a deep debt of gratitude to everyone who has been a source of support to me," James said. "As our former Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton famously wrote, 'It takes a village.' Well, look around you, for you are the village of my life. I am humbled and grateful that you are with me. " From the start, James' focus has been on people. "Our Airmen form the foundation of all we do," James said. "Over the last few weeks, I have been able to look into the eyes of young Airmen who stand sentinel for our country. I have heard the pride in our Airmen's voices, the pride they have in their profession and as members of the United States Air Force." James pledged to leave the Air Force some years from now on a path toward greater See SWORN I Page 11 WASHINGTON — Contrary to some news reports, there are no plans to close military commissaries, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. But Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey added that the budget environment is forcing the department to look for savings anywhere possible. The chairman first addressed this issue during his Facebook town hall meeting last month. The Joint Staff did not ask the Defense Commissary Agency to come up with a contingency plan to close 100 percent of U.S. commissaries, senior military officials said. Officials did ask the Defense Commissary Agency for a range of options, including how the system would operate with reduced or no taxpayer subsidies, the chairman said, noting that military exchanges work on this system and that the same potential exists with commissaries. In the most recent year, the Defense Commissary Agency received $1.5 billion in subsidies. "But we haven't made any decisions," the chairman said. "We've got to drive toward greater efficiencies, and this is just one of the potential areas." The Bipartisan Budget Act, which President Barack Obama signed earlier this month, alleviated some of the sequester pressure on the department through fiscal year 2015. But the Budget Reduction Act of 2011 is still law, and sequester-level spending cuts will be back in play in fiscal 2016, unless Congress changes the law. Still, the chairman said, the department must find ways to ensure that service members are prepared to perform their missions. "We're well aware of the need for acquisition reform, as well as the need to reduce unnecessary infrastructure and retire unneeded weapons systems," Dempsey said. "All of the institutional reforms are intended to produce a single outcome: the best-trained and bestequipped service men and women on the planet." 5 |