Defense act authorizes pay raise, takes another look at C-5 fleet

  • Published
  • By TSgt. Timm Huffman
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --  On Jan. 2, President Barack Obama signed the $633 billion fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act into law, authorizing the funding the Department of Defense needs for this year.

However, until Congress signs the Defense Appropriations Bill, the DOD and Westover remain under a continuing resolution, according to a DOD press release.

This is because the NDAA recommends funding levels for the DOD, but does not actually appropriate the funds, said Maj. Ryan Biladeau, Westover's reserve financial management officer.

Under the NDAA, the Air Force is allowed to institute pay raises, bonuses and incentive pay for personnel. The 2013 NDAA includes a 1.7 percent pay raise for military members.

The NDAA also includes a provision requiring the Air Force Reserve to re-evaluate its air mobility needs before enacting the cuts proposed by the DOD last year. Those cuts could result in a reduction of Westover's fleet by eight C-5s in fiscal year 2016.

According to Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek, the C-5s are still slated for transfer, but the new legislation requires the Air Force to conduct a "mobility requirements study" before making any final decisions on the transfer.

The new law delays the retirement of 26 older C-5As until 45 days after the mobility requirements study is completed. At the same time, it terminates the moratorium on retirement, reduction, realignment and transfer of aircraft.

"Now that the (act) has been signed, we have to work through what impact this will have at each location," said Stefanek.

"The major commands are going to need a little time to develop implementation plans."

Other changes that come with the NDAA are an increase in co-pay for medication under TRICARE through 2022, limits on annual increases in pharmacy co-payments and retiree cost of living adjustments, funding for abortions for servicewomen in cases of incest and rape, and authorization to enact changes needed to deter sexual assaults across the military, according to a DOD press release.

Under the continuing resolution, the DOD and Westover will operate at 2012 budget levels until March. At that point, Congress must either sign the Defense Appropriations Bill into law or extend the continuing resolution to ensure DOD remains operational.