STATEMENT OF
LIEUTENANT GENERAL DENNIS McCARTHY USMC (RET)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Of the
RESERVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Sub-Committee:
I must begin by first expressing my sincere thanks for the opportunity to appear here today.
I am here to tell you that the Reserve Officers Association believes that the Nation’s commitment to first class military health care – active and reserve, serving and retired - must be honored. Our resolve on that point is unshakeable.
I had the privilege of serving as a United States Marine for almost 41 years. During 33 of those years, our Nation developed and depended upon an all-volunteer force composed of both the active and reserve components. Each is essential to the national security. The active component was never designed to fight a sustained conflict without augmentation and reinforcement. Some of the earliest proponents of the all-volunteer force thought that surge of reinforcements would have to come from a draft. As it turns out, that has not been necessary.
In the Global War on Terrorism, we have fought the first truly sustained conflict with our all volunteer force, and we have done so without recourse to a draft because of the 500,000 men and women of the National Guard and Reserves who have surged forward to augment and reinforce our active forces. Keeping both components of that force together for future service requires a sustained recruiting and retention effort. It is in that context that military health care must be viewed.
Among the commitments that the Nation has made to the warrior citizens of the all volunteer force is to provide first class health care to them and their families, while they are serving in uniform and during their years of retirement. Congress has come to realize that this commitment is critical for both the active and the reserve components.
The Reserve Officers Association has sought to find a path that will meet the Nation’s health care commitments to its warrior citizens and will also enable it to meet other important commitments.
I would like nothing better than to say – just appropriate more money. Whatever it costs for all defense needs, just find the money. Regretfully, I don’t believe life works that way in Washington, or anywhere else for that matter.
As an Association chartered by Congress to advance national security, ROA has chosen to support the position taken by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and by his fellow Service Chiefs who we believe are seeking a balanced approach that recognizes the fiscal reality of life in a time of war. We wish to work with the Congress in finding a balance to meet health care commitments, to fund the training and equipment needs of those serving in uniform today, and to avoid a course that will break the ability of our Nation to have an all volunteer force.
Our key points are these:
1. Independent verification is needed of the total cost of DOD health care benefits. Congress should impose a brief moratorium on changes until true costs are known.
2. Changes to the beneficiary cost share should be phased in. The 2-year period proposed by DOD is too abrupt.
3. For Reserve Component members, a fair three-tier system is attainable. But operational reservists serving today are paying a disproportionate cost. Congress needs to look at this amount.
At the end of the day, we need a first class military health care system that our country can afford, and that our warrior citizens see as a real benefit.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to responding to your questions.
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