03/31/2009 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

HJR 29-DESIGNATING 2009 AS THE YEAR OF ARMY NCO                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTO announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE JOINT  RESOLUTION NO. 29,  Designating 2009 as the  Year of                                                               
the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:09:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SANDRA WILSON,  Staff to Representative Carl  Gatto, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  on  behalf  of  the  prime  sponsor  of  the  bill,                                                               
Representative  Gatto, stated  that 2009  has been  designated as                                                               
the  year of  the  Noncommissioned  Officer by  the  U. S.  Army.                                                               
Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) are the  backbone of the Army and                                                               
are  a   source  of   information,  knowledge,   and  experience.                                                               
Furthermore,  they  remain  in the  background  and  ensure  that                                                               
operations run smoothly,  working side by side  with soldiers and                                                               
setting  a  good  example.     The  Army  will  be  honoring  the                                                               
sacrifices  and the  contributions of  NCOs throughout  2009, and                                                               
Ms. Wilson asked for the committee's support of the resolution.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:10:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN disclosed  that his  mother and  step-father                                                               
were NCOs.   He inquired  why the  recognition is limited  to the                                                               
Army  and  does not  honor  NCOs  serving  in other  branches  of                                                               
military service.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:11:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. WILSON  explained that  the Army  is the  only branch  of the                                                               
armed services planning to honor NCOs this year.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:11:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GATTO added  that the  Army is  planning celebrations  and                                                               
activities.   He  noted that  the legislature  does not  have the                                                               
authority  to expand  the designation  to other  branches of  the                                                               
military.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN  pointed out that a  resolution may recognize                                                               
that the  importance of NCOs  in the  military is similar  to the                                                               
importance of the valuable staff at the legislature.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:12:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTO opened public testimony.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:13:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MAJOR  RICK  WILLIAMS,  Strategic  Communications  Chief,  United                                                               
States Army  Alaska (USARAK), stated  that the Department  of the                                                               
Army initiated  this designation; however,  he said that  he will                                                               
invite NCO  participation to the  celebrations in  Alaska "across                                                               
the services."  Major Williams  observed the celebratory displays                                                               
at Fort  Wainwright include  all members  of the  NCO Corps.   In                                                               
fact, the  celebrations will include retirees,  wounded warriors,                                                               
and  others, to  show that  the NCO  Corps is  as diverse  as the                                                               
services are.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:16:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAMRAS  reminded  the committee  of  the  pending                                                               
return  in  September  of  3,000  to  4,000  soldiers  from  Fort                                                               
Wainwright.    He  invited  members   to  come  to  Fairbanks  to                                                               
participate in their welcome home.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:17:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BUCH  asked  for further  information  about  the                                                               
soldiers' welcome.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:18:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAMRAS  responded  that  the  community  will  be                                                               
celebrating  the  soldiers'  return, and  that  Fairbanks  enjoys                                                               
being a military town.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:18:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GATTO closed public testimony on HJR 29.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:19:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved  to report HJR 29,  26-LS0782\A, out of                                                               
committee with individual recommendations.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There  being no  objection, HJR  29 was  reported from  the House                                                               
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.