Federal Daily - October 15, 2008

DoD: All Services Met 2008 Recruiting Goals

DoD on Oct. 10 announced that all military services either met or exceeded active-duty recruiting goals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, which ended last month. The Army reported 80,517 accessions, making 101 percent of its 80,000 goal; the Navy reported 38,485 accessions, making 100 percent of its 38,419 goal; the Marine Corps reported 37,991 accessions, or 100 percent of its 37,967 goal; and the Air Force reported 27,848 accessions, or 100 percent of its 27,800 goal. The services did nearly as well in retaining those personnel already enlisted. The Army and Navy exceeded their FY 2008 active duty retention targets. However, the Marine Corps did not meet its first term re-enlistment goals, achieving 95 percent retention for FY 2008. Although the Air Force missed its end-of-year mission in each re-enlistment zone, DoD said it expected Air Force retention rates to improve through FY 2009. All six reserve components met or exceeded their accession goals for FY 2008. The Army National Guard reported 65,192 accessions. or 103 percent of its goal; the Army Reserve reported 39,870 accessions, or 106 percent; the Navy Reserve reported 9,134 accessions, or 100 percent; the Marine Corps Reserve report 7,628 accessions, or 100 percent; the Air National Guard reported 10,749 accessions, or 126 percent; and the Air Force Reserve brought in 7,323 accessions, or 105 percent. To see more, go to: www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12277.

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Group Posts Details of Outsourced Investigation Contract

The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) last week posted an unredacted copy of a $4.4 million contract between the State Department and U.S. Investigations Services (USIS)—a private information services company—that calls for the firm to staff a special team to investigate possible crimes committed by American private security contractors in Iraq. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., last month protested the contract to the State Department, saying that the department’s commitment to improving oversight of its contractors is “called into doubt by the outsourcing of its responsibilities.” Feingold cited regulations listing “direct conduct of criminal investigations” as an inherently governmental function, and urged the department to cancel the contract. To see the contract, go to: http://pogoarchives.org/m/co/usis-contract-20080601.pdf. See Feingold’s letter at: http://pogoarchives.org/m/co/feingold-letter-20080919.pdf.

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Bush Signs Bill to Improve Vets’ Housing, Disability, and Employment Benefits

President Bush on Oct. 10 signed a $169 million veterans’ aid bill that promises to improve veterans’ housing benefits, streamline disability claims processing, enhance judicial review and assist veterans in maintaining their employment rights. The bill, the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act (S. 3023), was sponsored by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, and was approved by Congress just before it recessed for the November elections. The bill includes a claims assistance provision, which mandates simplification of letters and notices to veterans claiming disabilities. It also includes a veterans housing enhancement measure to expand home loan refinancing options, increase the maximum loan guaranty amount and extend the expiring authority for the Department of Veterans Affairs to guarantee adjustable-rate mortgages. The bill also increases the number of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims so it can more quickly handle the increased number of cases filed, and updates laws regarding veterans’ right to return to work. To see more, go to: http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Press
Releases.Home&month=10&year=2008&release_id=2465.

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