[H.A.S.C. No. 94-8] HEARINGS ON MILITARY POSTURE AND H.R. 3689 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES Part 2 of 4 Parts SUBCOMMITTEE ON MILITARY PERSONNEL ACTIVE FORCES-TITLE III RESERVE FORCES-TITLE IV HEARINGS HELD MARCH 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20; 50-219 O U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1975 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES NINETY-FOURTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION MELVIN PRICE, Illinois, Chairman F. EDWARD HÉBERT, Louisiana DAN DANIEL, Virginia G. V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY, HAROLD RUNNELS, New Mexico RONALD V. DELLUMS, California JIM LLOYD, California BOB WILSON, California WILLIAM L. DICKINSON, Alabama LARRY MCDONALD, Georgia HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, March 5, 1975. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, in room 2337, Rayburn House Office Building, at 10 a.m., Hon. Lucien N. Nedzi (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. NEDZI. The subcommittee will please come to order. It is a pleasure for me this morning to chair the Personnel Subcommittee this year as it begins hearings on titles III through VI of H.R. 3689, the Defense Authorization bill. In my judgment, the subject matter within the subcommittee's jurisdiction is the most significant portion of the entire legislation. The number of personnel in the active military, the Selected Reserve, and as civilian employees of the Department of Defense, is the genesis for well over 50 percent of annual defense expenditures, and this subcommittee is charged with sizing these components appropriately. The significance of these figures cannot be overestimated for they represent the major item in a budget which has come under attack as being bloated or excessive, on one hand, yet on the other, too lean or less than adequate in providing for an adequate national defense posture. Whichever it is in fact, if it's either, our decisions as to its composition will be of enormous importance and justifiably will receive careful scrutiny. I would hope that these hearings on the manpower and training authorizations will proceed objectively. In times of the character we are now encountering, the Congress nor the people can be expected to endorse pervasive decisions such as we will make without hard facts in specific justification of the manpower levels necessary for national defense. Nothing less will suffice. As you all know, H.R. 3689 encompasses requested strengths for fiscal year 1976, the transition period of July through September in 1976, and for fiscal year 1977. In this form required by the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the subcommittee will have the opportunity for a better perspective in making its decisions, although this circumstance will also necessitate expeditious action this year in particular as we accomplish this changeover. As our first witness in this set of hearings, the subcommittee will hear the Honorable William K. Brehm, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Mr. Secretary, you may proceed. STATEMENT OF HON. WILLIAM K. BREHM, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) Mr. BREHM. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure to be here this morning. I have a prepared statement which has been distributed |