Gates Q&A Misc.

Secretary of Defense Gates sat down with the Senate Armed Services Committee for a Q&A session on Thursday, Januarary 27, 2009. I won't bother to post the questions as they should be able to be figured out by the answers from Mr. Gates. I essentially just took notes and cut out words here and there but here is what I considered miscellaneous information (DoD is Department of Defense):

Making submissions for military infrastructure that could be part of stimulus plan…things that could begin already or have begun but could be accelerated…was asked to do so by Obama
Gates wants to get involved in procurement and management side.

Longest war with a 100% volunteer army since Revolutionary War.

China's military modernization…balance of power in Asia/Pacific region has changed…19.47% increase in military budget...need to proceed with relocation of troops from Guam, South Korea, Okinawa?, with those -with forward deployment of George Washington to Japan
Programs underway to counter China's technological advances that have potential to put carrier's at risk…in place to handle any foreseeable conflict with China.

Veterans bill that passed hit sweet spot…economy helping in recruitment…enhanced education benefits have contributed to increase…transfer of education has helped with retention (put in practice this fall).

Military one of biggest purchasers of oil/fuel…US Air Force 5.6 billion in aviation fuel…affected readiness…Air Force Sec. Donnelly signed policy establish goal -entire air force fleet use synthetic fuel blend by 2011…require 50% of air forces domestic aviation department be alternative blend fuel by 2016.
Department (as in DoD) wide implementation? Yes -consolidate oversight within DoD on energy related issues…have many toward energy conservation and efficiency but no one place to go for information and help…wants to make that happen with broader goals/guidelines...Gates found a company to buy fuel that comes back from middle-east that can re-refine the fuel to sell on the open market.


Navy wants to build up fleet to 313…at 282 which is half of what it used to be…LCS program is integral part of fleet…LCS big part of getting back to 313 ship navy…LCS type ships very needed for possible conflicts around the world…when looking at Persian Gulf, other places –has capability we need.
Majority of substance abuse is started from pain killers or mental medication…responsibility and priority then is to help cure, not end career -get them back to work. Look at making changes to notify commander policy.
Gates concerned about level subversive activity Iranians are carrying in number of places in Latin America…opening a lot of offices and fronts (southern and middle America) behind which they interfere…more concerned with Iranian meddling in the region then Russians…if not for the Georgia conflict Gates would've invited Russians to a port in Miami because they would've had a better time in than in Caracas…best reaction was the US being nonchalant…at 40$ oil Russian navy doesn't bother Gates very much…Gates essentially: "I don't care about the Russian's"
Joint missile-defense with Russia against Iran…Sec. of State Clinton shares this goal…Gates had distinct impression when presenting range of opportunities for cooperation and transparency to then Pres. Putin w/Sec of State Rice…not in writing but yes when Gates met with Putin with Foreign Minister Lavraph(sp?) and counterpart of ours…also informally from some of their military -sharing radar capability, joint data center in Moscow...
Every leader in NATO wants a European/NATO missile defense…NATO would welcome joint works with Russia.

Was dramatic reduction in procurement staff in DoD following end of Cold War…in DoD overall procurement department fell from about 500-600,000 to half that…part of problem is plain numbers…DCMA plans to hire 2,300 more people next couple of months…Army adding 1,000 civilians, 400 military in procurement…Air Force or Navy (Gates couldn't remember which) adding 1,000…services and OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense) are beginning to address this problem. 43% of procurement staff for the US Air Force is empty.
Must institutionalize thinking counter terrorism…proper people in right place so that Army is forced to institutionalize…can get around 1-2 people, can't stop 4-5 top Generals…institutionalize better support for the war fighter in terms of better development, procurement/acquisition process that we use for the longer term kinds of equipment…why did I have to go outside the regular Pentagon bureaucracy in order to build emrad's?(sp?) and get additional ISR -must figure out a way where that happens in the institution and where there are institutional supporters of getting that kind of thing done in a prompt and timely way…the problem is two different mentalities: 1) Typical culture in defense -99% exquisite solutions over 5-10 years 2) 75% solution in 6-8 months…must figure out how to "walk and chew gum at the same time".

Over 20 years or so we've made it very hard for private sector people who truly understand procurement and acquisitions to come into a public job when it isn't for a permanent career but instead only a couple years or so…wasn't helped by Obama's executive order which is why he left it open for waivers/exceptions…worse when trying to lure/get senior level people…not a problem when recruiting out of a university when person decides to make career at DoD…rate of pay isn't an issue.
Joint electronic medical records between DoD and VA…Gates wants to make significant progress on creating one.

National Solidarity Program…gives a few tens' of thousands of money directly to local villages where no money is skimmed off the top by the central government…three villages pulled together to build a school…promised Sen. Carl Levin no Taliban would ever touch it because they'd protect it with their lives.