In the case of Montreal and the Olympics there, we have provided for six consular officers on TDY to handle the extra workload. Funds have also been authorized for 18 locals at Canadian posts, so if there is the anticipated demand we feel will occur, enough resources will be devoted to handle that problem. Mr. FLYNT. During periods of heavy visa workload, do you have other divisions and bureaus within the Department of State upon whom you can call for supplemental manpower? Mr. WALENTYNOWICZ. Yes, we do, and we do that through Mr. Eagleburger's office. Mr. FLYNT. Thank you very much. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1976. FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE WITNESS HOWARD E. SOLLENBERGER, DIRECTOR Mr. FLYNT. The next item is entitled "Foreign Service Institute." It appears in the justifications book beginning on page 147. Mr. EAGLEBURGER. Let me introduce Mr. Sollenberger, Director of the Foreign Service Institute. Mr. FLYNT. Mr. Sollenberger, we welcome you to the committee. The request for fiscal year 1977 is for 261 positions and $9,532,700, an increase of $230,400 over current year amounts. Are all of the increases in this item of a mandatory nature? Mr. FLYNT. What role does the Foreign Service Institute play in the assignment of personnel? Mr. SOLLENBERGER. This is handled by personnel. Mr. FLYNT. Does the Institute determine what type training should be given? Mr. SOLLENBURGER. Yes, and training needs are also determined by the Director General's Office. Mr. FLYNT. Do you make recommendations? Mr. SOLLENBERGER. We sit with the Director General and make recommendations, yes, sir. Mr. FLYNT. Thank you very much. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1976. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT WITNESS WILLIAM M. WATSON, M.D., DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MEDICAL SERVICES Mr. FLYNT. The next item is entitled "Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Management" and begins on page 153 of the justification book. The request for fiscal year 1977 is for 417 positions and $12,992, 900, an increase of $367,400 over current year amounts. How much of this increase is of a mandatory nature? Mr. EAGLEBURGER. All of it, sir. HOSPITALIZATION AND DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATIONS Mr. FLYNT. Page 154 indicates, Mr. Secretary, that you are requesting an increase of $122,600 for hospitalization and diagnostic examinations. Would you please comment on this increase? Mr. EAGLEBURGER. I would like to ask Dr. Watson to come up for a moment. Dr. WATSON. With regard to the increased cost for hospitalization and diagnostic examinations, we have a $100,000 increase in hospitalization costs, and $22,600 in diagnostic examinations. Mr. FLYNT. Could you briefly describe the activities which involve hospitalization and diagnostic examinations with emphasis on continental United States and overseas functions? Dr. WATSON. Our hospitalizations are permitted under the law for individuals who are posted overseas in the Foreign Service. The examinations are done in connection with problems that may develop overseas, and in developing clearances for individuals to be assigned overseas to determine whether or not their health is satisfactory to withstand some of the conditions they might encounter abroad. Mr. FLYNT. Is this activity concerned with what might be called exotic diseases? Dr. WATSON. Yes, we refer to them as exotic diseases. Mr. FLYNT. And their prevention and cure? Dr. WATSON. Yes, sir. Mr. FLYNT. I assume one of your objectives is to prevent the introduction of these exotic diseases into the United States? Dr. WATSON. Absolutely. Mr. FLYNT. We thank you, Dr. Watson. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1976. OFFICE OF SECURITY WITNESS VICTOR H. DIKEOS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY Mr. FLYNT. The next item is entitled "Office of Security" and this appears in the justifications book beginning on page 157. The request for this office for 1977 is for 371 positions and $18,676,800, an increase of $620,800 over current year amounts. Mr. EAGLEBURGER. Let me introduce Mr. Dikeos, head of the Security Office in the Department. Mr. FLYNT. Mr. Dikeos, we welcome you. Is all of this increase of a mandatory nature? NUMBER OF POSITIONS Mr. FLYNT. How many positions were assigned to this office in fiscal year 1975? Mr. DIKEOs. 279. Mr. FLYNT. How many additional positions were authorized for fiscal year 1976? Mr. DIKEOS. The Congress authorized 100 extra positions. Mr. FLYNT. That would make 379, would it not? Mr. DIKEOS. Yes, sir. Mr. FLYNT. And you are requesting appropriations for 371? Mr. DIKEOS. That is correct. May I offer a correction so that the figures agree? The Congress authorized 100 positions to us last year under an amendment that included 8 positions to which we testified that were actually assigned to the Office of Communications. Mr. FLYNT. Thank you very much for that explanation. How many of these positions which have been authorized have you filled? Mr. DIKEOS. At the present time we have filled 53 of the special agent positions and 10 of the support positions, a total of 63. We have also filled seven of the eight positions for communications. TERRORISM Mr. FLYNT. In the last few years considerable resources have been devoted to combating terrorism, yet the lives of American employees and officials abroad continue to be in danger. What steps have been taken within the past year to improve this situation? Mr. DIKEOS. During the past year we have taken many steps to tighten up the security of our public access areas. The experience of our embassy in Kuala Lumpur led to a review of the problem of public access areas such as consular sections, the entrances to conslulates and embassies, U.S. information libraries and other areas where a large volume of public access occurs. In an effort to provide security for all of our people in these areas, we have installed closed circuit television, alarm systems, perimeter fencing, defensive equipment of various kinds against riots and demonstrations and additional guards-local guards to protect residences, and Marine security guards in areas where we have never had them before. It is an ongoing program that is well underway. We believe we have improved the security tremendously during the past year. Mr. FLYNT. Would you like to comment on what else you feel can and should be done to improve this situation? Mr. DIKEOS. We should follow through on the programs already started. We need to continue building security in our residential areas. The tragic incident that occurred in Athens indicates that protection at our official buildings alone is not enough. For self protection, we have started a training program to train not only our professional security people, but all of our people who serve overseas. MARINE GUARDS Mr. FLYNT. Page 158 of the justifications book shows a request of $77,500 for Marine security guard rotation. How many Marine guards are assigned to the Department of State? Mr. DIKEOS. At the present time I believe that figure is 1,062. Mr. FLYNT. Are they furnished to the Department of State by the Marine Corps on a reimbursable basis for their pay and allowances? Mr. DIKEOS. No, sir. Mr. FLYNT. In addition to their pay and allowances, what other expenses are incurred? Mr. DIKEOS. Travel and per diem expenses are the expenses which are incurred and for which we are asking funds. Mr. FLYNT. What is the normal tour of duty for a Marine guard? Mr. DIKEOS. It varies at different posts, but it is 2 years at most posts. Mr. FLYNT. Is that ever extended? Mr. DIKEOS. Yes; in some cases it is extended. Mr. FLYNT. Always with or sometimes without the concurrence of the individual concerned? Mr. DIKEOS. I would say always with the concurrence of the individual concerned. Mr. FLYNT. The normal tour of duty is 2 years? Mr. DIKEOS. Yes, sir. Mr. FLYNT. If you have a man you want to keep and he agrees to it, do you extend him? Mr. DIKEOS. That can be arranged. Mr. FLYNT. Are there any other questions? MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1976. OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS WITNESS WILLIS E. NAEHER, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY Mr. FLYNT. The next item is entitled "Office of Communications" and begins on page 161 of the justifications. Mr. EAGLEBURGER. Let me introduce Mr. Naeher, the director of that office. DIRECT CIRCUIT COMMUNICATIONS Mr. FLYNT. Welcome to our committee. The request for fiscal year 1977 is 402 positions and $28,437,300, an increase of $344,700 over current year amounts. I believe that your 1976 budget includes funds to install direct circuit communications with 14 embassies which up until this time have been without such facilities. Do all embassies now have direct circuit communications? 68-780 0-76-18 Mr. NAEHER. No, sir, not yet. As the communications equipment is provided to us by the suppliers, these installations are proceeding, and we expect to complete all the installations by early 1977. Mr. FLYNT. At all 14 embassies? Mr. NAEHER. Yes, sir. MILITARY POSTAL SERVICE REIMBURSEMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Mr. FLYNT. Page 165 shows an increase of $2,196,000 for military postal service reimbursements to the Department of Defense. Would you explain and comment on this item? Mr. NAEHER. The Department of Defense informed the Department of State and the Office of Management and Budget that it did not have the authority to provide military postal services without reimbursement, and the reimbursement for this service would be necessary beginning with fiscal year 1977. The Department of Defense has performed a worldwide survey during July and August of 1975 to determine the cost of this service as it applies to the Department of State. As a result of this survey, it was determined that the Department would be required to reimburse the Department of Defense in the amount of $3,656,000. This is for transportation costs only. The Office of Management and Budget has determined this amount should be included in the Department of State's fiscal year 1977 budget and that there would be an equal offset in the fiscal year 1977 budget of the Department of Defense. The Office of Communications portion of this amount is $2,196,000, and this covers the number of employees currently on the Department of State's direct payroll. The remaining $1,460,000 is for SAS employees currently funded from reimbursements. These funds will be transferred to the Department under the new FAAS system which has been explained. Mr. FLYNT. Do you concur this figure is reasonable? Mr. NAEHER. Yes, sir, I concur it is reasonable. Mr. FLYNT. I ask that because I wondered if it was arrived at after consultation with you or whether it was just a figure which was assessed against you by DOD. Mr. NAEHER. It was assessed to us by DOD after a survey of the population and the costs per individual at the posts. Mr. FLYNT. How many embassies and consular posts are served by Department of Defense postal facilities? Conversely, how many aren't? Mr. NAEHER. We will have to supply that information, sir. [The information follows:] Embassies and consular posts numbering 101 are serviced by Department of Defense postal facilities. Embassies and consular posts numbering 147 are not serviced by Department of Defense postal facilities. Mr. FLYNT. Are there any other questions? |