ROA Department of Minnesota Congressional

Breakfast

LtCol Doug Kveene, PresidentLTC Karl Rasmussen, Director,

Legislative Affairs

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

OVERVIEW

• Reserve Presence in Minnesota

• Spotlight: 934th Airlift Wing, USAF Reserve

• Legislative Priorities– Reserve Compensation Review– Military Construction– Tax Relief for Reservists

Reserve Presence In

Minnesota

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Minnesota Reservists

Branch: Drilling Reservists:

Army 5,500

Air Force 1,300

Navy 930

Marine Corps 250

Coast Guard 25

Total*: 8,005

* Does not include roughly 12,600 MN Army and Air National Guard personnel

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Minnesota Reservists

• Over 8,000 Reservists reside in Minnesota

• Reservists in all congressional districts

• All services have members activated

Spotlight: 934th Airlift Wing

US Air Force Reserve

Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Air Reserve Station

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

The Wing

• Mission:– Provide theater air transport to combat

commanders anywhere in the world

• Aircraft:– C-130H2

• Cargo:– Personnel

– Equipment

– Paratroopers

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom

• Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)

• Operation Noble Eagle (Homeland Defense)

• Coronet Oak (Caribbean)

• Joint Forge (Kosovo)

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

The Base

• Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Air Reserve Station

• Winner of Air Force Reserve Command’s 2003 Installation Excellence Award– Finest Base in the

Air Force Reserve

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Base Highlights

• 934 AW hosts the largest joint-use military facility in Minnesota

• Perimeter now includes:– Navy / Marine Corps

Reserve Center (USN/USMC)

– 88th RRC (Army)

– 133rd AW (Air National Guard)

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Base Highlights

• 934 AW provides numerous joint-use facilities, including:– The North Country Inn

– Physical Fitness Center

– Family Support Center

– Base Exchange

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Base Highlights

• 934 AW provides numerous joint-use facilities, including:– Officers’ Club

– Enlisted Club

– Military Clothing Sales Store

– Small Arms Firing Range

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

934 AW Employment ImpactDistrict Reservists Full-time

PersonnelIndirect Jobs

Created

1 122 19 38

2 88 11 25

3 107 41 49

4 111 69 66

5 178 67 79

6 219 113 118

7 36 5 11

8 122 16 36

Outside of MN

320 14 76

Total 1303 355 498Source: 934 AW/FM 2003 Economic Impact Analysis

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

934 AW Economic Impact

Source Dollar amount

Salaries $ 40,735,000

Construction, Services, Supplies, Equipment, Travel $ 24,617,000

Indirect $ 25,385,000

Annual Economic Impact $ 90,737,000

Source: 934 AW/FM 2003 Economic Impact Analysis

Legislative Priorities

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Legislative Priorities

• Reserve Compensation Review

• Military Construction

• Tax Relief for Reservists

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Compensation Review

• Pay Inequity– Example: Special Duty Pay

• Benefit Inequity– Example: TriCare Coverage

• Retirement Inequity– Age 60 versus immediate

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Military Construction

Joint-use requirements at Mpls-St. Paul ARS:– Upgrade security facilities to meet post-9/11

terrorist threats– Upgrade passenger and cargo processing facility

to meet increased activation and deployment requirements

– Upgrade Physical Fitness Center

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

Tax Relief for Reservists

• Restore tax deductibility of non-reimbursed expenses– Uniforms, hotel, mileage expenses

• Provide tax credits for employers of reservists– Offset costs related to employee activation

What we need

28 January 2004 Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

What we need

1. Support a thorough review of Reserve compensation and retirement benefits

2. Support joint-use military construction projects at Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS

3. Support a plan for tax relief for reservists and their employers

Thank you!

Reserve Officers AssociationDepartment of Minnesota, ROA P. O. Box 11769

St. Paul, MN 55111-0769