Resolutions for 2024

Resolution 2024-01
No More Continuing Resolutions

WHEREAS, a continuing resolution is an appropriations stop-gap tool, used to temporarily fund the government when Congress and the President fail to agree on and pass one or more of the regular appropriations bills prior to the beginning of a fiscal year (FY); and

WHEREAS a continuing resolution only continues the pre-existing appropriations at the same levels as the previous fiscal year for a set amount of time, until it expires, regular appropriations bills are passed, or it is further extended; and

WHEREAS continuing resolutions stymie the services’ ability to grow, equip, and train the total force necessary to meet today’s dynamic and growing threats; force the services to fund obsolete programs, wasting billions of taxpayer dollars; and delay starting new programs that combatant commanders need and compromise mission-critical training and required maintenance; and

WHEREAS our senior military leaders have consistently warned that our national security is dependent on the stable, predictable funding – and prudent long-range planning – afforded by the timely funding of our national defense priorities; and

WHEREAS, for the ten consecutive years prior to FY 2019, Congress had begun the fiscal year by funding the federal government through a continuing resolution rather than a traditional spending bill, in recent years delaying real appropriations for as long as half a year or more; and

WHEREAS the White House and Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate (HASC and SASC) worked hard to ensure timely authorization and funding of both FY 2019 and FY 2020 National Defense priorities; and

WHEREAS, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 was not passed until December 23, 2023, thereby delaying defense funding until more than halfway through FY 2023; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the United States Army Warrant Officers Association that it strongly urges the United States Congress – on a bipartisan, bicameral basis – to work with the White House to again pass timely defense authorizations and funding, reversing a return to the seemingly habitual reliance on continuing resolutions to fund our crucial national defense priorities, and those supporting Veterans, families, and survivors.

Resolution 2024-02
Survival of the All-Volunteer Force

WHEREAS, the nation’s All-Volunteer Force has repeatedly proved itself over more than one and a half decades of sustained conflict on multiple fronts without reinstating the draft. This required the implementation of the most aggressive force generation models since World War II, necessitating multiple deployments and cross-leveling of uniformed service personnel, straining recruiting and retention efforts necessary to sustain adequate force structure levels, and

WHEREAS budget constraints are limiting the uniformed services’ recent efforts to increase force structure, and threats to America and her allies have arguably increased, with challenges such as continued challenges in the Middle East, the resurgence of an aggressive Russia and China, sustained threats from Iran, and a nuclear weapon-armed North Korea, and multiple further instances of global turmoil threatening our nation’s interests; and

WHEREAS uniformed service members are not only exhausted from performing multiple missions – amidst severe recruiting challenges in 2023 – they are concerned about the uncertainty of their future careers and the welfare of their families, considering the under-manned force and reductions in inflation-sensitive service member benefits. Their leaders are very concerned about potential burnout in a military that is continually tasked to do more with insufficient resources and

WHEREAS the combined effect of these multiple stressors presents a very real threat to the continued viability and existence of the All-Volunteer Force and

WHEREAS, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 effectively ended automatic sequestration, created by the 2011 Budget Control Act, which the United States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) and The Military Coalition (TMC) have decried for years and

WHEREAS, the White House and Congress have forecasted a “flat line” defense budget for FY 2021, with virtually no increase in spending in FY 2020; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the United States Army Warrant Officers Association, that together with its partners in The Military Coalition, it will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to continue to raise defense spending and recommend legislative initiatives designed to strengthen and preserve the All-Volunteer Force, which faces perhaps the most unpredictable and dangerous challenges of its history.

Resolution 2024-03
Support Army Senior Warrant Officer Leaders and the Army Warrant Officer Council

WHEREAS, in 1999, the National Guard Bureau approved a Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) program for implementation in the 54 states and territories of the United States. The duties of the CCWOs included addressing Warrant Officer strength problems and Warrant Officer recruiting; coordinating professional development; and serving as senior Warrant Officer advisor to the State Adjutants General on Warrant Officer management and career development, and

WHEREAS, in 2000, the ARNG CCWO position was authorized as the Senior Warrant Officer Advisor to the Director, ARNG, and soon after the Warrant Officer Senior Advisory Council (WOSAC) was chartered – as the body of all ARNG CCWOs – to collectively develop and work Warrant Officer-specific issues in the ARNG; and

WHEREAS, also in 2000, the USAR CCWO position was authorized together with CCWO positions at each USAR Regional Support Command and

WHEREAS, in 2002, the CSA-approved recommendations from the Army Training and Leader Development Panel (ATLDP Phase III – Warrant Officer) mandated the resourcing and appointment of CWOBs, RCWOs, and Warrant Officer Advisors in each of the offices of the Secretary of the Army (SA), the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA); and

WHEREAS, on 1 November 2005, the Senior Warrant Officer Advisory Council (now the Army Warrant Officer Council [AWOC]) was chartered by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and

WHEREAS, On 7 April 2020, the CSA announced his selection of CW5 Yolondria Dixon-Carter as his Senior Warrant Officer Advisor (SWOA-CSA), and

WHEREAS, in recent years, USAWOA has successfully worked closely with the SWOA-CSA, ARNG CCWO, USAR CCWO, and other senior Warrant Officer leaders on key Warrant Officer-specific Army Talent Management policy and legislative initiatives to holistically update Warrant Officer management guidance codified in the Warrant Officer Management Act (passed 5 December 1991); now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, by the United States Army Warrant Officers Association that it will continue to support and assist – in any way it can – the vital, collective mission of senior Warrant Officer leaders in support of the total Army.

Resolution 2024-04
Adequately Fund Retirements of the Future Force

WHEREAS a sufficiently robust uniformed service retirement system is crucial to retaining well-trained, highly skilled volunteers (in combination with their patriotism, equitable compensation, and expectation of service in a dynamic and respected force); and

WHEREAS past drawdowns of overall force structure and continuing high OPTEMPO continue to strain the capabilities of the total force, it remains crucial to recruit and retain an all-volunteer force of trained career professionals in our active duty and reserve component formations and

WHEREAS all branches of the Armed Forces have reported difficulty in achieving minimal recruiting goals in 2023 and

WHEREAS, beginning on January 1, 2018, the new blended retirement system cut the uniformed service-defined benefit retirement of new service entrants by 20% in exchange for a 1%-of-base-pay government contribution to Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts and then up to 4 % more through a government match beginning in year 3 of service (ceasing at 26 years of service); and

WHEREAS, the original recommendation of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) had recommended a government match of 5% (20 % more), beginning in year one (vesting at the end of year two); and

WHEREAS the new blended retirement system only represents a 20% cut in retirement benefits as applied to time spent by reserve component soldiers when drilling in return for retirement points only; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, by the United States Army Warrant Officers Association that it will work with Congress to increase the government’s TSP contribution to the level originally recommended by the MCRMC (and payable throughout a career); work to correct the unfair disparity imposed on reserve service conducted in exchange for retirement points; and closely monitor the impact of this system on the all-volunteer force, moving forward.

Resolution 2024-05
Provide Complete Concurrent Receipt of Military Retirement and VA Disability Compensation

WHEREAS the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2004) allowed for the gradual phase-in of full concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation for service-connected wounds, illnesses, or injuries; and

WHEREAS, the 10-year phase-in period ended in 2014, resulting in 20-year (or more) uniformed service retirees with VA disability ratings of 50 percent or higher no longer having their retirement pay offset by the amount of their VA disability compensation and

WHEREAS the law did not provide the same equity to service-connected disabled military retirees with VA ratings of less than 50%, or to Chapter 61 retirees who were medically retired with less than 20 years, regardless of VA disability rating; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, although ultimately unsuccessful, bills were introduced that would have either partially or completely provided for the full concurrent receipt of these benefits; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, by the United States Army Warrant Officers Association that it will continue to support legislation for the full concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and VA disability compensation, without offset – to include vesting of earned retirement credit for Chapter 61 retirees with less than 20 years of service – and regardless of rating percentage.