FederalDaily - August 3, 2005
DoD to Close 11 Bases in Germany
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced yesterday that approximately 6,100
1st Infantry Division troops stationed at military bases in Germany
will be returning home. According to DoD officials, the bases are being closed
as part of a restationing of more than 50,000 soldiers from Germany and Korea
to the United States. The 6,100 troops now stationed at 11 different bases
in Germany will be transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, under the Army’s
realignment plan. In addition to the 6,100 troops, DoD officials said the move
will also affect 11,000 family members, 1,000 Department of the Army civilians
and 1,000 host nation workers.
:: Back to Top ::
Scientist Unhappy with EPA Leadership
According to a report released by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
(PEER), there is a growing disconnect between scientists and managers within
the research arm of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). PEER claims
that while employee morale within the agency remains high, results show there
are increasing doubts about the competence and trustworthiness of managers
within the agency’s Office of Research and Development. “These
survey results are the early warning signs of a scientific organization drifting
toward dysfunction,” said PEER Program Director Rebecca Roose. According
to the report, only 23 percent of scientists within the Office of Research
and Development trust laboratory managers. The report can be viewed at www.peer.org.
:: Back to Top ::
How to Prepare for Succession
As the baby-boom generation quickly moves towards retirement age, there is
more government agencies can do to enhance their succession efforts and protect
themselves from a massive brain drain, according to a new study released by
the Government Accountability Office (GAO). While the Census Bureau, the Department
of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Veterans Health Administration
were held up as leaders in implementing successful succession planning and
training programs, GAO said there is sill more that can be done. One recommendation
is to link succession efforts to strategic planning. Other recommendations
include establishing committees that are directly responsible for succession
efforts, looking for gaps in occupations and competencies in agencies and implementing
effective training and development programs that can enhance the government’s
ability to achieve results. The report can be found at www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-585.
:: Back to Top ::
Senate Approves Increase in Military Life Insurance
Before breaking for the summer recess, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committee has approved two bills sponsored by Chairman Craig, R-Idaho. The
first is a measure that increases the pay rates for disabled veterans and survivors
compensation by an estimated 2.3 percent. The second bill increases life insurance
coverage for military personnel from $250,000 to $400,000. The two bills are
expected to be voted on when Congress reconvenes in September. The increase
in life insurance to $400,000 was approved temporarily in May. If Congress
does not make the law permanent by October 1 of this year, coverage will revert
to $250,000.
:: Back to Top ::
|
