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FY07 Budget Supports Sailors, Marines and Their Families

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060308-11
Release Date: 3/8/2006 3:24:00 PM

From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Continuing to improve the quality of life for Sailors, Marines and their families is a major theme of the Department of Navy’s (DoN) FY07 Budget request, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee, told lawmakers at the Capitol, March 8.

The services’ two top officers each made statements and answered questions from the House Appropriations Committee, Sub-Committee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, about the Military Construction and Quality of Life program in the Department of the Navy’s (DoN) FY 07 Budget request.

“I have said this many times since taking this office last July -- family readiness is tied directly to combat readiness,” Mullen told sub-committee members. “I believe that completely, our leaders believe that completely, and I know you and your colleagues believe that completely.”

Mullen said the FY07 proposal focuses on four main areas: maintaining the right bases with the right capabilities; fully supporting health care for service members, their families and veterans; providing quality housing, on or off base, for military families; and meeting environmental responsibilities with good faith and integrity.

“It [the FY07 proposal] will eliminate all inadequate Navy housing and finish the privatization of 97 percent of our U.S. housing inventory,” Mullen said. “It keeps out-of-pocket BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) expenses down to zero, and it permits us to continue our Homeport Ashore Initiative by providing barracks for 98 percent of the 13,000 junior Sailors worldwide who now must live aboard ship while in homeport.”

The proposed budget represents a $4.4 billion increase from last year’s baseline appropriations. It includes a 5.9 percent increase in BAH, a 2.2 percent pay increase and improved facilities for schools and child care.

Mullen also advocated the need to continue helping Navy families affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

“Only in the last couple of weeks did we stand Task Force Navy Family down, transitioning their duties to other intrinsic Navy organizations,” Mullen said.

He noted that task force personnel resolved 82 percent of issues reported before transferring responsibilities to local commands, but there is still much to be done.

“We estimate that some 1,300 severe issues -- mostly housing and financial-related -- still affect nearly 900 families,” Mullen said. “We are committed to resolving each and every one.”

Hagee echoed Mullen’s sentiments on the growing awareness and recognition of military families and their vital role in supporting Sailors and Marines worldwide, noting that retention is higher among married Marines.

“Today we have more dependents than we do active-duty Marines,” Hagee said. “We say we don’t retain Marines, we retain families.”

Hagee also noted that quality of life efforts are not just about amenities like housing, it’s also about ensuring Sailors and Marines are properly trained and well equipped to meet the challenges they confront on a daily basis. He said the Department’s budget request is committed to upgrading several Marine training sites, and past investments are already paying off on the battlefield.

“They know they’re well equipped, they know they’re well trained, they know they’re well led,” Hagee said about Marines serving in Iraq. “And they know they have the backing of the American people and their Congress. And that makes a big difference. They also know that they are making a difference.”