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Monday, October 28, 2013 Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs testifies during hearing of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air ForceRichard O. Wightman, Jr. urges commission to considerunique role of the Reserve Component during the last decade of war

By Jenny SwigodaROA Content Manager

In a hearing before the National Commission on the Structureof the Air Force, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of ReserveAffairs Richard O. Wightman, Jr. asserted the unique role that members of theReserve Component play in the current environment of the U.S. military.

Our 1.1 million members of the Ready Reserve representabout 43 percent of the total force for approximately nine percent of thedefense budgetThese dedicated men and women have met, and continue to meet,the current and anticipated requirements of the services and combatantcommands, said Wightman during the hearing on Friday, Oct. 25.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, about 900,000 RC members have beenactivated, Wightman explained, creating an eight-fold increase from an averageof 8.5 million duty days prior to the last decade, to 68.3 million duty daysduring the height of the surge in Iraq.
Wightman explained that his office has received positivefeedback from employers regarding employees that serve in the ReserveComponent.
One of the reasons I believe is the current dwell ratiogoal of 1:5 which promotes predictability and accessibility, two keys to thesuccessful utilization of our Reserve Component members, said Wightman.
However, in the current draw down state of the military inAfghanistan, Wightman emphasized the need to continue utilization of theReserve Component as a part of the operational total force in order to ensurenational security and readiness.
Today, the Reserve Component is at a level of readiness,reliability, accessibility, and combat experience never before see in ournations history. We must continue to preserve the quality of the all-volunteerforce and not break faith with our men and women in uniform, their families, ortheir employers, Wightman urged.
Posted byReserveOfficerat1:47 PMNo comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Tuesday, October 15, 2013 ROA Demands an End to Government ShutdownBy ROA Staff


Today in front of the national World War II memorial, ROA demanded an end to the government shutdown, emphasizing the disproportionateimpact on Reserve service members and their families.
Participating in a nationally televised press conferencewith our partners in the Military Coalition, ROA Executive Director MajorGeneral Andrew Davis, USMC (Ret) called on lawmakers to pay attention to thelasting impact this shutdown is having on the Citizen Warriors they haveoverlooked yet again.
Frustration grows among the Reserve Component population asthey are unable to fulfill their mission, Davis said.
After returning from war or disaster, they see that theyare again being overlooked, making them feel that they are second classwarriors. This federal government shut down proves to them that they are right,as it is unlikely that they will be able to make up lost training time and income,unlike furloughed civilian employees who will get retro paid. Our militaryreadiness is being impaired, and 1.1 million people in the Reserve force areoffended by how they are being treated.
The Military Coalition, a coalition of 33 of the leadingveterans and uniformed services organizations that represent more than 5.5million members, organized the press conference Tuesday morning to demand anend to the government shutdown. The shutdown has been devastating for thenations military readiness and for the veterans, service members, families andsurvivors in the uniformed services community.
Veterans who receive disability and GI Bill benefits andsurvivors who rely on survivor benefits don't know if they'll get their nextcheck. National Guard and Reserve monthly training has been cancelled,affecting critical troop readiness and pay. Many services that militaryfamilies count on daily are suspended. Veterans make up 27 percent of thefederal workforce and dont know when they will get to go back to work. The435,000 veterans in the VA disability claims backlog have to wait even longer.
ROA members are urged to help build on the momentum oftodays event by reaching out to their representatives in Congress and demandingaction to end the government shutdown now.
View the full press conference
View a photo gallery of the press conferencePosted byReserveOfficerat1:28 PM3 comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Wednesday, October 9, 2013 H.R.3274 Amends Pay Our Military Act to Continue Appropriations to Fallen Heroes and Their FamiliesFallen Heroes and Families Assistance Act willensure appropriations through a government shutdown


By Jenny SwigodaROAContent Manager
After an egregiousoversight and widespread outrage from service members, their families andthe public at large, lawmakers on the Hill want to ensure appropriations aremade available to the families of fallen Soldiers during the shutdown.
Rep. Ron Barber, D-AZ, yesterday introduced legislation thatwould authorize death gratuity and other survivor compensation now and in the eventof another lapse in FY14. The bill, H.R.3274, entitled the Fallen Heroes andFamilies Assistance Act, amends the Pay Our Military Act by redesignatingemergency appropriation of funds to provide death gratuity and othercompensation on behalf of deceased members of the armed forces and certainother persons during government shutdown.
Today, ROA sent a letter of support for the proposedlegislation to House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader NancyPelosi. In the letter, ROA Executive Director Major General Andrew B. Davis,USMC (Ret.), said, H.R.3274 would remedy the horrific situation that thefamilies and military members face. Passage would allow the families to grieveand bury their loved one without financial stress, and deployed members of theuniformed services wouldnt be distracted from the mission by worries aboutunsupported families.
A staff member for Speaker Boehner expressed that the billwould be voted upon tomorrow and is expected to pass.


*UPDATE*
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the House passed H.R.3274 by a vote of 425-0.

We will continue to keep readers informed on the progress of this important legislation.Posted byReserveOfficerat11:43 AMNo comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Friday, October 4, 2013 In Support of H.R.3241, Pay Our Guardsmen and Civilian Defense Personnel Act
After the unsuccessful push of H.Res.370, ROAlends support of legislation that would amend the Pay our Military Act(H.R.3210)
By Jenny SwigodaROA Content Manager
Earlier in the week, the Senate voted down H.Res.370, ajoint resolution that included funding for Reserve inactive duty training andother groups affected by the government shutdown.
Today, Rep. Austin Scott, R-GA, introduced H.R.3241, the PayOur Guardsmen and Civilian Defense Personnel Act. This bill would amend the PayOur Military Act to include: funding for inactive Reservists, removes Secretaryof Defense Chuck Hagels determination as to what civilians he deems areproviding support to members of the Armed Forces, thereby clarifying that weintended to fund all defense civilians, and covers dual status militarytechnicians.
ROA offered a letter in support of Rep. Scotts proposedlegislation and continues to work with Congressional offices on both sides ofthe aisle, advocating for immediate passage of a provision to continue inactiveduty drills and maintain compensation for all Reservists regardless of dutystatus.Posted byReserveOfficerat4:53 PMNo comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest Older PostsHomeSubscribe to:Posts (Atom)Five by FiveA blog by Reservists for Reservists, where you're sure to be heard loud and clear.

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