ment report for fiscal year 1989 reflects that equipment valued at $9.9 billion was delivered to the National Guard and Reserve Forces in fiscal year 1987. The projections from this report also indicate a continued high level of distribution to the Reserve components averaging $8 billion annually over the next 4 years. On the basis of our representative sample, we think that if we were mobilized at the beginning of fiscal year 1989, we could field approximately 80 percent of the equipment which would be required by the Guard and Reserve Forces. Through the use of substitute items, this capability could be raised to approximately 84 percent. Now, the outlook for continued progress, of course, is one of a question mark and it is less certain in light of our budgetary constraints, but the progress thus far has been very good when equipping the Guard and Reserve Forces. Another significant recent development involving the Reserve Forces was my recent release on March the 3rd of the results of the first, and I emphasize the first one ever, comprehensive survey of the attitudes and the personal characteristics of members of the Select Reserve. More than 52,000 enlisted personnel and 12,000 officers actually filled out questionnaires and participated in the survey, and the results give us a real good profile on who they are. The results also, interestingly enough, reflect their attitudes, something we have never had before on such issues as: Why are you remaining in the Reserves? What do you consider most benefi cial about your training? How do you react to a weekend drill versus annual training? What are your own perceptions of promotion opportunities? What are your own perceptions of your employer's reaction and your family's reaction to your participation as a drilling guardsman and reservist. In summary, there is no doubt in my mind that the overall readiness and war fighting capability of our National Guard and Reserve Forces have improved significantly in recent years. Today, we have more qualified people who work with better equipment and who receive more realistic training than in any previous time in our history. Our implementation of an effective Total Force Policy, however, also requires us to be honest and to recognize that we are not where we want to be, yet. We have to be relentless in our efforts to ensure that the National Guard and the Reserve recruit and retain sufficient numbers of properly skilled and trained personnel and sufficient modern equipment to be ready for combat on short notice. In short, I think we face several challenges. We have made a good start, but we have a lot of work to do. I would like in summary, Madam Chairman, to express my gratitude to both you and to Mr. Montgomery for introducing and sponsoring H.R. 3856, the Reserve Officer's Personnel Management Act. I am happy for that support and I am looking forward to hearings on this matter later in the session. I will be glad to participate. At this time, I have no further questions, but I certainly would be happy to respond to any questions the committee might have. [The prepared statement of Secretary Duncan follows.] Madam Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: I'm very happy to be here today in my first appearance before this Committee as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Under the Total Force Policy, we are increasingly basing the national security interests of our nation on our ability to rapidly mobilize, deploy, and employ combat ready Reserve component units and members anywhere in the world. Today, many of our military contingency plans simply cannot be executed effectively without committing National Guard and Reserve Forces in the same time frame as our Active Forces. This kind of reliance on our Reserve Forces requires that units of the Selected Reserve, especially the early deploying units, be manned and equipped at levels which make them ready for combat on short notice. This has been one of our primary goals and it will continue to be one of our most difficult challenges during this time of severe budgetary constraints. Significant progress is being made in the training and equipping of the Reserve components and the size of our Reserve Forces has continued to increase. As we ask our National Guardsmen and Reservists to assume greater responsibilities, however, it becomes even more essential that we give them the tools to do the job. In this regard, I solicit your active support to ensure that we have the resources that are necessary for the maintenance of highly trained and ready Reserve Forces. |