FederalDaily - October 13, 2005
Military Recruitment Down for the Year
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Oct. 11 that the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps and Air Force met or exceeded their active duty recruiting goals
in September. In terms of retention, the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps
exceeded their annual retention goals; the Navy achieved 91 percent of its
mid-career goal. Three of the six reserve components, Army Reserve, Marine
Corps Reserve and Air Force Reserve, exceeded their September recruiting goals.
Regarding reserve forces retention, DoD said, “Losses in all reserve
components in August were within acceptable limits. Indications are that trend
continued into September.” DoD did not give specific numbers. For the
year, the Army has not met its active duty recruitment goals and the Army National
Guard, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve and the Air National Guard have all
fallen short of their recruiting goals.
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Proposal to Increase Disabled Vets’ Travel
Reimbursement
Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., introduced legislation to increase the mileage reimbursement
rates for disabled veterans who travel to and from health care facilities.
Under federal law, eligible disabled veterans who travel for specialty treatments
for injury-related care are entitled to have their mileage reimbursed. Currently,
those veterans are reimbursed at $0.11 per mile—less than one fourth
of the $0.48 per mile reimbursement that federal employees presently receive
for their travel. Due to increases in gas prices following Hurricane Katrina,
the mileage reimbursement rate for federal employees was increased to $0.48
per mile on Sept. 1, up from the previous rate of $0.40 per mile. However,
Barrow said the mileage reimbursement rate for disabled veterans was not increased
at that time. He added that the rate has not been raised in nearly 30
years, since 1977.
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Defense Logistics Agency Needs Better Information
Security
The Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) mission is, in part, to provide
food, fuel, medical supplies, clothing, spare parts for weapon systems, and
construction materials to sustain military operations and combat readiness.
The Government Accountability Office said in a new report that it is “critical” that
DLA implement an effective information security program. DLA has not yet fully
implemented some essential elements of its information security program, GAO
said. For example, the agency did not consistently assess risks for its information
systems; sufficiently train employees who have significant information security
responsibilities; or annually test the effectiveness of operational security
controls. Until DLA makes improvements, GAO said it may not be able to protect
the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its information and information
systems.
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Commerce Reaches Out to Small Businesses
A new Department of Commerce Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC)
is aimed at helping U.S. businesses—especially minority and small businesses—participate
in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. The HCIC is being staffed by representatives
from various federal agencies, including: Department of Commerce, Department
of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services,
Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation,
Department of Education, General Service Administration, Small Business Administration,
and Department of Agriculture.
HCIC has a Web site at www.rebuildingthegulfcoast.gov and
a phone number (888)-4USADOC.
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