ROA Department of Minnesota Congressional Breakfast

1. ROA Department of Minnesota Congressional Breakfast LtCol Doug Kveene, President LTC Karl Rasmussen, Director, Legislative Affairs

2. OVERVIEW • Reserve Presence in Minnesota • Spotlight: 934th Airlift Wing, USAF Reserve • Legislative Priorities • Reserve Compensation Review • Military Construction • Tax Relief for Reservists Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

3. Reserve Presence In Minnesota

4. Minnesota Reservists * Does not include roughly 12,600 MN Army and Air National Guard personnel Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

5. Minnesota Reservists • Over 8,000 Reservists reside in Minnesota • Reservists in all congressional districts • All services have members activated Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

6. Spotlight: 934th Airlift WingUS Air Force Reserve Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Air Reserve Station

7. The Wing • Mission: • Provide theater air transport to combat commanders anywhere in the world • Aircraft: • C-130H2 • Cargo: • Personnel • Equipment • Paratroopers Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

8. Current Operations • Operation Iraqi Freedom • Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) • Operation Noble Eagle (Homeland Defense) • Coronet Oak (Caribbean) • Joint Forge (Kosovo) Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

9. The Base • Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP Air Reserve Station • Winner of Air Force Reserve Command’s 2003 Installation Excellence Award • Finest Base in the Air Force Reserve Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

10. Base Highlights • 934 AW hosts the largest joint-use military facility in Minnesota • Perimeter now includes: • Navy / Marine Corps Reserve Center (USN/USMC) • 88th RRC (Army) • 133rd AW (Air National Guard) Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

11. Base Highlights • 934 AW provides numerous joint-use facilities, including: • The North Country Inn • Physical Fitness Center • Family Support Center • Base Exchange Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

12. Base Highlights • 934 AW provides numerous joint-use facilities, including: • Officers’ Club • Enlisted Club • Military Clothing Sales Store • Small Arms Firing Range Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

13. 934 AW Employment Impact Source: 934 AW/FM 2003 Economic Impact Analysis Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

14. 934 AW Economic Impact Source: 934 AW/FM 2003 Economic Impact Analysis Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

15. Legislative Priorities

16. Legislative Priorities • Reserve Compensation Review • Military Construction • Tax Relief for Reservists Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

17. Compensation Review • Pay Inequity • Example: Special Duty Pay • Benefit Inequity • Example: TriCare Coverage • Retirement Inequity • Age 60 versus immediate Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

18. Military Construction Joint-use requirements at Mpls-St. Paul ARS: • Upgrade security facilities to meet post-9/11 terrorist threats • Upgrade passenger and cargo processing facility to meet increased activation and deployment requirements • Upgrade Physical Fitness Center Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

19. Tax Relief for Reservists • Restore tax deductibility of non-reimbursed expenses • Uniforms, hotel, mileage expenses • Provide tax credits for employers of reservists • Offset costs related to employee activation Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

20. What we need

21. What we need • Support a thorough review of Reserve compensation and retirement benefits • Support joint-use military construction projects at Minneapolis-St. Paul IAP ARS • Support a plan for tax relief for reservists and their employers Dept of Minnesota ROA Congressional Breakfast

22. Thank you! Reserve Officers Association Department of Minnesota, ROA P. O. Box 11769 St. Paul, MN 55111-0769