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ARMY
Housing plan to be discussed
The Army will host an industry forum Aug. 28 to provide information on plans to partner with the private sector to upgrade and operate family housing on O'ahu.
The 8 to 11 a.m. forum, part of an Armywide program called the Residential Communities Initiative, will be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Site tours of housing at six Army installations are scheduled for the afternoon of Aug. 28, and all day Aug. 29.
Through RCI, the Army is offering the housing industry the potential of long-term partnerships to improve and sustain Army family housing.
Hawai'i represents the Army's largest RCI project. Under the program, soldiers who live on post will receive their Basic Allowance for Housing and pay rent to the RCI partnership equal to the BAH.
At the forum, which is open to the public, RCI officials will explain how the Army plans to solicit the best-qualified partner to initiate a Community Development and Management Plan to improve and operate Army housing on O'ahu over the next 50 years.
The transfer of Army housing operations on O'ahu is planned for the spring of 2004. The Army's goal is to complete 28 RCI projects involving about 70,000 homes by 2007.
Energy projects pay off for 25th
The 25th Infantry Division (Light) has received national recognition for initiating two energy efficiency projects, including the nation's largest individual solar water heating project.
In a recent ceremony at the Pentagon, Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White awarded the 25th the Renewable Energy award. The award is part of White's Annual Energy and Waste Water Management Awards program.
The Army's two efficiency projects included installation of solar water heating systems on 650 homes at Helemano Military Reservation, Wai'anae Army Recreation Center cabins, and the Wheeler Army Airfield Fire Station, as well as an energy-efficient "chiller" to provide air conditioning to eight historic barracks buildings at Schofield Barracks.
Designed and built with Hawaiian Electric Co. supervision, the projects are expected to save the Army almost $395,000 a year in energy costs.
The Army also received energy efficiency rebates totaling $610,650 from HECO to help pay for the capital investment.
NAVY
Shipbuilding effort backed
In a letter to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, (R-Va.), Navy League National President Timothy O. Fanning expressed support for legislation the congresswoman introduced to increase shipbuilding construction.
The legislation titled "National Naval Force Structure Policy Act (H.R. 5196)" states that it should be the "policy of the United States to rebuild, as soon as possible, the size of the fleet of the U.S. Navy to no fewer than 375 vessels in active service."
Fanning said the construction is "essential for the recapitilization of our naval fleet."
Fanning said the present build rate will not result in the type of force needed to defend the United States, fight the war on terrorism and maintain freedom of the seas.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark also is calling for a minimum of 375 ships to meet commitments.
The Navy League said the present build rate will result in a fleet "considerably below" 300 ships, and poses a national security concern.
