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ARMY
Studies on Makua to be discussed
The Army is holding a public meeting July 16 in Wai'anae to discuss proposed soil, water and air studies at Makua Military Reservation.
The 7 to 9 p.m. meeting at the Wai'anae Army Recreation Center will include technical details of the studies, which will evaluate the effects of live-fire training in the 4,190-acre valley on soil, water and air.
The public is invited to submit written comment on the Army's plan for the studies. The comment period is open through Aug. 6.
The Army's plan is available online or at the following libraries: Hawai'i State Library, Wai'anae Public Library, and Pearl City Public Library.
The results of the soil, water and air tests will be incorporated into an Environmental Impact Statement.
Florida company to get contract
Concluding an efficiency study of more than five years, the Army has decided to contract with a Florida-based company for some Directorate of Logistics maintenance, supply and transportation jobs instead of using in-house civilian workers.
The decision by the secretary of the Army to use BAE Systems of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., affects more than 200 civilian workers at Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter and Pohakuloa Training Area.
The decision is a result of a "Commercial Activities" study mandated by the Department of Defense to improve efficiency in government operations.
The new contract with BAE will become effective about September.
"We will continue efforts in providing our employees with job placement assistance, separation incentives, severance packages, retirement options, job counseling, and other assistance through various transition programs," said Col. David Anderson, Schofield Barracks' garrison commander.
Anderson also noted that "qualified, affected government employees must also be considered first when filling vacancies created by the award of this contract."
The initial cost comparison was conducted in October 2000 and BAE was found to be the most cost efficient.
The decision was appealed and overturned, resulting in a win for the in-house work force.
BAE then filed a protest, and the General Accounting Office ruled that the "performance work statement" did not clearly state the government's actual requirements, and recommended the Army complete a new evaluation.
The second cost comparison, conducted Jan. 10, again resulted in a contractor win. The decision was appealed again and was upheld.
PACIFIC COMMAND
U.S., Philippines plan for training
Gen. Roy A. Cimatu, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, recently finished details of a five-year work plan that is the basis of Mutual Defense Treaty activities.
The U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty is in its 51st year. Board members of the Mutual Defense Board met June 26 and 27 at Camp Smith.
Pacific Command said Fargo and Cimatu discussed the transition of anti-terrorism training in the Philippines involving more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers into a "sustained program of security cooperation and counter-terrorism training and assistance."
The present exercise is scheduled to end this month.
The co-chairmen approved a program of activities for 2003 including combined military exercises, exercise-related construction activities, personnel exchanges and ship visits, security assistance activities, conferences, workshops and symposiums, civic action projects, and the AFP-Hawaii and Guam National Guard partnership.
