Legislative Issues - FY2002 Unfunded Naval Reserve Equipment

Over the past few years, Reserve Components had equipment dollars added to the President's budget by Congress through use of the National Guard Reserve Equipment (NGRE) Allowance. That process is on the decline and from a high of over $1 billion only a little over a decade ago, Congress only provided an average of $5 million in NGRE funds per Reserve Component last year. Congress wants the Active Service Components to include the Reserve Component in their budget process. It appears that the services believe that they can continue to submit budget requests excluding Reserve Component requirements, making the overall DOD budget appear smaller. During the past few years, Department of Defense has depended on Congress to fund the shortfalls.

It is an open question whether Congress will respond to this challenge, especially since the Bush Administration has announced that it will be using the Clinton DOD budget for FY2002. This makes it even more important that the efforts of your Naval Reserve Association, working with the Military Coalition and National Military Veterans Alliance, educate and assist Congress in identifying and funding the "real requirements" of the Naval Reserve and other Reserve Components.

Below is a list of equipment items that the Naval Reserve Association considers vital to be added to the upcoming National Defense Authorization and Appropriation Acts. It is not anticipated that these requirements will be included in the President's Budget for funding for the Naval Reserve. As you can see, this list is long, but the requirements are real and vital, covering the waterfront for air, surface, and support element equipment. We believe that the Naval Reserve needs a sustaining rate of $350 million per year in procurement dollars.

FY-02 UNFUNDED EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

Airlift, C-40A Transport Aircraft (3), replacing aging C-9 aircraft	$181.00 M
ADT, Fleet support funding to meet CINC requirements	$ 13.10 M
Base Operation Support, collateral equipment furnishings and vehicles to complete MILCON projects	$ 6.40 M
Coastal/Expeditionary Warfare, upgrade equipment for CB/ELSF/NCW units	$ 35.10 M
CBT, Computer Based Training, to train maintenance/aircrew on NR logistics aircraft	$ 7.30 M
C-130T Avionics Modernization, to standardize cockpit configurations of all N&MCR aircraft	$ 2.35 M
Increase C-130T Depot Level Maintenance Funding, funding for (5) aircraft not currently funded	$ 1.50 M
C-9 Upgrades, to maintain and improve an aging C-9 Fleet	$ 1.40 M
FLIR Kits (AAS-51Q) for SH-60B, procure forward looking infrared	$ 7.00 M
Funding for Boot Camp and "A" Schools for NPS Personnel per year recruited directly into USNR	$170.00 K
F/A-18 Mod, ECP 560, upgrade Reserve F/A-18A precision munitions capability (6) aircraft	$ 36.60 M
F-5 Global Positioning System, procure for fleet by FY2005	$ 8.10 M
F-5 Avionics Modernization, upgrading the 25 year old F-5 package for 12 aircraft	$ 47.00 M
F-5 Radar Upgrade, replace existing radars	$ 3.73 M
Individual Protective Equipment, to procure IPE and train units in gear required for CINC tasking	$ 3.40 M
IT CNRF Infrastructure, upgrade network infrastructure not included in NMCI	$ 17.00 M
IT Legacy, Reserve sustainment, funding required to operate legacy IT systems at minimal levels	$ 6.00 M
IT Reserve Modernization, upgrading existing legacy systems to perform enhanced & new functions	$ 8.60 M
Littoral Surveillance System, procuring (1) system for year for regional/port surveillance	$ 30.00 M
NMCI, Naval Marine Corps Intranet, expanding system to SELRES and TAR personnel	$ 45.00 M
Non Prior Service Enlistment Bonus, implementing NPS bonus program to compete with other RC's	$ 2.48 M
Operational Flight Trainer upgrade/mod, to match current P-3C configuration	$ 5.00 M
P-3C/BMUP Kits, to achieve commonality with Active P-3C UD III squadrons	$ 49.90 M
P-3C CDU upgrades, to increase counter drug capabilities	$ 3.00 M
P-3C Synthetic Aperture Radar, (1) aircraft	$ 3.00 M
P-3C Update III Simulator, Deployable Embedded Tactical Trainer System Units	$ 1.00 M
P-3C ESM Trainer upgrade, to match upgraded equipment included on improved aircraft	$ 4.50 M
Reserve Ship Depot Maintenance, funds required to meet guidance levels	$ 13.90 M
Reserve Aircraft Modernization, upgrade various avionics on RN P-3C's	$ 2.50 M
RPM, Funds needed to arrest the accumulating growth in Backlog of Maintenance and Repair	$ 20.30 M
RPM Funding for Demolition in RESFOR projects	$ 3.98 M

Alphabetical listing, not in order of priority. The Naval Reserve Association support of Mission and Equipment needs before Congress ranked 4th in importance on the NRA member survey.

M = Million K = Thousand