NCOA Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America 225 N. Washington Street · Alexandria, Virginia 22314 STATEMENT OF Telephone (703) 549-0311 SERGEANT MAJOR MICHAEL F. OUELLETTE, USA, (RET) DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AS ENDORSED BY THE MILITARY AND VETERANS ALLIANCE TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE U.S. COAST GUARD BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 1999 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SECOND SESSION, 105TH CONGRESS MARCH 4, 1998 Chartered by the United States Congress NCOA Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America 225 N. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 · Telephone (703) 549-0311 DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL GRANTS OR CONTRACTS The Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA (NCOA) does not currently receive. nor has the Association ever received, any federal money for grants or contracts. All of the Association's activities and services are accomplished completely free of any federal funding. NCOA Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America 225 N. Washington Street. Alexandria, Virginia 22314 Telephone (703) 549-0311 BIOGRAPHY MICHAEL F. OUELLETTE DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Mr. Michael F. Ouellette currently serves as Director of Legislative Affairs, Non Commissioned A retired Sergeant Major, Mr. Ouellette joined the NCOA National Capital Office in 1991 following twenty-six years of military service with the United States Army. His final assignment was as the Sergeant Major to the Adjutant General of the Army, US Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM), Alexandria, Virginia, and covered the period 1988 through 1991. Ouellette's period of service included numerous tours of duty within the United States and overseas tours in the Republic of Vietnam, Japan and Germany. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), and the Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters). He is a graduate of the US Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class #25) and holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science and General Management from El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas. He is a former President of the Potomac Chapter, AG Corps Regimental Association and the Chartered by the United States Congress Mr. Chairman, the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA (NCOA) appreciates the opportunity to present testimony to this subcommittee on the FY 1999 U.S. Coast Guard Budget. The Association's comments and recommendations represent the views and concerns of it's noncommissioned and petty officer membership and those of the Apprentice Division (E1 – E3) and will address a wide range of compensation, personnel, medical care and quality-of-life issues of significant importance. Hopefully, this subcommittee will consider recommendations from an enlisted view point to be of value and assistance during deliberations. NCOA is a federally chartered organization representing 160,000 active-duty, guard and reserve, military retirees, veterans and family members of noncommissioned and petty officers serving in every component of the Armed Forces of the United States; Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. This testimony has been endorsed by the National Military and Veterans Alliance (NMVA). The Alliance is comprised of nationally prominent military and veterans organization who collectively represent over 3 million members of the seven uniformed services - officer, enlisted, active-duty, National Guard and Reserve, retired and veterans plus their families and survivors. The Alliance organization endorsing this testimony are: American Military Retirees Association; American Retirees Association; Air Force Sergeants Association; Korean War Veterans Association; Military Order of the Purple Heart; National Association for the Uniformed Services; Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, and the Naval Reserve Association. PRELUDE Mr. Chairman, NCOA wishes to extend its appreciation to the members of this subcommittee for their efforts on behalf of U.S. Coast Guard enlisted men and women. Just as the other services look to other authorizing subcommittees for funding assistance, the Coast Guard relies on the favorable actions of this subcommittee to provide parity which allows this relatively small, but important, military service to meet its quality-oflife obligations to those who serve. There is no question that continued positive actions by this subcommittee are paramount to the Coast Guard's ability to recruit and retain quality enlisted people to meet its wide-ranging mission responsibilities. At the very top of enlisted members' list of priorities is the ability to meet their financial responsibilities to financially support themselves and /or their families. NCOA understands the difficult deficit reduction climate in which the Congress and the Coast Guard must operate. The efforts of this subcommittee have been and will continue to be vitally important to the well-being of the enlisted force. Mr. Chairman, the Coast Guard is at a critical personnel juncture. The average ship that goes to sea today will be manned at 80 percent of its normal crew compliment. Recruiting is down substantially. In an effort to meet recruiting goals, the service has had to implement two and three year contracts, offer bonuses up to $12,000 and G.I. Bill kickers of up to $30,000. Still the |