thedrifter
02-22-08, 04:58 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-- Secretary of Defense, Dr. Robert M. Gates requested and met with combat veterans from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment Jan. 7 looking for their personal and professional opinions about equipment and quality of life issues.
Within a month he responded. In his letter to Col. James B. Seaton III, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Gates addressed the very issues brought forth including: better living conditions in the barracks, increased funding for battlefield technologies, pay difference during deployment, military personnel shortage and the replacement of the M16 with the M4. Gates first addressed the barracks issue.
“New and improved barracks will be available within the next few years. The Marine Corps has programmed $792.6 million in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2009 for 8,920 new barracks at Camp Pendleton,” replied Gates. He added that $78 million has been allocated to improve existing barracks.
Along with improving bachelor housing, the Marine Corps will continue to fund new age battlefield technologies. Technologies include Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) and the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP). To make sure the Marines have the best equipment, the Marine Corps is replacing the M16A2 with the M16A4, Gates replied. The M4 will be assigned to selected units and billets.
Units include Radio Reconnaissance Platoons, Force Reconnaissance companies and most Joint Special Operations Command multi-service combat teams. New battlefield equipment is implemented by Marines who are on deployment.
Gates explained in his letter that military personnel who are stationed in Iraq do not get paid more than service members in Kuwait. When service members are deployed, they receive the same amount of compensation unless they are separated from their spouse and/or children. Along with compensations given to military personnel during deployment, the Marine Corps is increasing the salary for service members who re-enlist.
The Marine Corps bonus was created to persuade Marines to stay on active duty because the Marine Corps is expanding. “It is ultimately not a matter of devaluing an individual’s service, but rather what incentives are deemed necessary to grow and sustain the number of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines required to meet each service’s manpower requirements,” Gates said.
Within a month he responded. In his letter to Col. James B. Seaton III, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Gates addressed the very issues brought forth including: better living conditions in the barracks, increased funding for battlefield technologies, pay difference during deployment, military personnel shortage and the replacement of the M16 with the M4. Gates first addressed the barracks issue.
“New and improved barracks will be available within the next few years. The Marine Corps has programmed $792.6 million in Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2009 for 8,920 new barracks at Camp Pendleton,” replied Gates. He added that $78 million has been allocated to improve existing barracks.
Along with improving bachelor housing, the Marine Corps will continue to fund new age battlefield technologies. Technologies include Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) and the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP). To make sure the Marines have the best equipment, the Marine Corps is replacing the M16A2 with the M16A4, Gates replied. The M4 will be assigned to selected units and billets.
Units include Radio Reconnaissance Platoons, Force Reconnaissance companies and most Joint Special Operations Command multi-service combat teams. New battlefield equipment is implemented by Marines who are on deployment.
Gates explained in his letter that military personnel who are stationed in Iraq do not get paid more than service members in Kuwait. When service members are deployed, they receive the same amount of compensation unless they are separated from their spouse and/or children. Along with compensations given to military personnel during deployment, the Marine Corps is increasing the salary for service members who re-enlist.
The Marine Corps bonus was created to persuade Marines to stay on active duty because the Marine Corps is expanding. “It is ultimately not a matter of devaluing an individual’s service, but rather what incentives are deemed necessary to grow and sustain the number of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines required to meet each service’s manpower requirements,” Gates said.