ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is urging lawmakers to pass a full-year budget for fiscal 2023, warning that “failure to do so will result in significant harm to our people and our programs.”

The military and the rest of the federal government are operating under a stopgap measure that expires Dec. 16. Known as a continuing resolution, the measure allows federal programs to continue at current spending levels and prohibits the start of new programs.

A supplemental military budget request from the White House to Congress seeks additional funding for Army programs, all aimed at operations in Europe.

The request sent Nov. 16 includes a $3 billion boost in operation and maintenance funds for personnel support, which includes extra flying hours, maintenance, weapons systems sustainment, intelligence analysis and other unit support costs that weren’t included in the budget submitted to Congress earlier in the year.

Delays in passing the fiscal 2023 defense policy and funding legislation is adding to the Army’s problems.

The fiscal year began Oct. 1 with the Army and the rest of the federal government operating under a temporary funding resolution that has limited funds and does not allow for new programs to begin or for any major changes in existing programs.

In a letter to key lawmakers, the Association of the U.S. Army is advocating for adequate funding for Army programs, a pay raise for troops and resources to improve quality of life for service members and their families.

The Heritage Foundation’s 2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength ranks the Army as a “marginal” power, which is better than the “weak” Navy and Space Force and the “very weak” Air Force. 

The Oct. 18 document rates the Marine Corps as “strong.” 

The 2022 Heritage rankings also listed the Army as “marginal.”

Addressing climate change and its impact on military installations is critical to the Army’s readiness and warfighting abilities, a top Army climate leader said. 

“The battle starts here,” said Paul Farnan, the Army’s principal deputy assistant secretary for installations, energy and environment. “[Climate change] is going to impede our ability to get our forces to the battlefield, be it a natural disaster or a cyberattack that takes the grid down. Our installations still have to be able to operate.” 

In the face of rising consumer prices, the Defense Department has unveiled a 13-point plan to help service members and their families.  

“This is personal for me,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin writes in a Sept. 22 memorandum to Pentagon leaders and combatant commanders. “I have seen firsthand how much our military families sacrifice to keep our force strong, healthy and ready to defend this exceptional nation,” he says. “I understand the extraordinary pressures that our military families face, and we are determined to do right by them.” 

Pandemic-fueled learning loss, a shrinking pool of eligible young people and a generation that is less likely to have a personal connection to the military have combined to create an “unprecedented” recruiting season, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said. 

National Guard recruiters have described “just how difficult the current recruiting challenges are that they’re facing,” Gen. Daniel Hokanson said during a Sept. 20 media roundtable. “For many of them, it's unprecedented in their time as a recruiter.” 

The Association of the U.S. Army, joined by three other military associations, is urging key lawmakers to approve a timely defense budget to avoid unnecessary disruptions in modernization and people programs.

The Army must do a better job of connecting with America’s youth if it is going to overcome its recruiting challenges, the service’s top civilian leader said.

In addition to a good economy, a tight labor market and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Army faces a propensity challenge, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said. Only about 9% of young Americans are inclined to serve or interested in serving, she said.