ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE  April 11, 2009 9:02 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative John Coghill, Chair Representative Bob Herron, Vice Chair Representative Mark Neuman Representative Kurt Olson Representative Berta Gardner Representative Beth Kerttula MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Charisse Millett COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE JOINT RESOULTION NO. 17 Designating 2009 as the Year of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army. - MOVED SJR 17 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SJR 17 SHORT TITLE: DESIGNATING 2009 AS THE YEAR OF ARMY NCO SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGGINS 03/27/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/27/09 (S) STA 04/07/09 (S) STA RPT 5DP 04/07/09 (S) DP: MENARD, FRENCH, MEYER, KOOKESH, PASKVAN 04/07/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 04/07/09 (S) Moved SJR 17 Out of Committee 04/07/09 (S) MINUTE(STA) 04/08/09 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 04/08/09 (S) VERSION: SJR 17 04/10/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/10/09 (H) STA 04/10/09 (H) RLS REPLACES STA REFERRAL (HJR 29 COMPANION BILL) 04/11/09 (H) RLS AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 120 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE CARL GATTO Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HJR 29, the companion legislation to SJR 17. JOSH TEMPEL, Staff Senator Charlie Huggins Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke on behalf of the sponsor of SJR 17, Senator Huggins. ACTION NARRATIVE 9:02:54 AM CHAIR JOHN COGHILL called the House Rules Standing Committee meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. Representatives Coghill, Herron, Olson, Neuman, Kerttula, and Gardner were present at the call to order. SJR 17-DESIGNATING 2009 AS THE YEAR OF ARMY NCO 9:03:14 AM CHAIR COGHILL announced that the only order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 17, Designating 2009 as the Year of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army. 9:04:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE CARL GATTO, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the sponsor of HJR 29, the companion legislation to SJR 17, related that HJR 29 and SJR 17 are identical pieces of legislation. He noted that he will be carrying SJR 17 when it's on the House floor. 9:04:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER, referring to the language on page 1, line 16 through page 2, line 1, asked if officers come into service with some training. 9:05:26 AM JOSH TEMPEL, Staff, Senator Charlie Huggins, Alaska State Legislature, explained that officers go through two basic training courses and then they enter the military. He characterized the officers as "fresh," and noted that most enlisted military have more experience than officers. Often platoon sergeants have 15-20 years of experience whereas a second lieutenant has no practical experience outside training, although the second lieutenant is technically in charge of the platoon. Therefore, it takes some time for the second lieutenant to adjust and actually become the leader of the platoon simply because of the second lieutenant's lack of [practical] knowledge. 9:06:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER, referring to the reference to "Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Philippines on page 2, asked if the [Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army] has been involved in the Philippines in recent years. MR. TEMPEL replied yes, specifically involved in training exercises as there are many terrorists and insurgency groups in the Philippines at this time. 9:07:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON moved to report SJR 17 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 9:07:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO related that Chair Coghill served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. 9:08:01 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:08 a.m.