Testimony of The Retired Enlisted Association

Before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Presented by: Specialist (E-4) Steven L. Garrett, ARNG,

        Deputy Legislative Director, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA)

Date: December 13, 2001

DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL GRANTS OR CONTRACTS

The Retired Enlisted Association does not currently receive, has not received during the current fiscal year or either of the two previous years any federal money for grants or contracts.  All of the Association’s activities and services are accomplished completely free of any federal funding.

Biography of Steven L. Garrett
Deputy Legislative Director
The Retired Enlisted Association

Steven L. Garrett began his legislative career in January 1999 with the late U.S. Senator Paul D. Coverdell (R-GA).  He served as the senator’s staff assistant handling mailroom duties and legislative correspondent handling military affairs.  As a legislative correspondent he researched and drafted responses to constituent mail regarding veteran and defense issues.

Mr. Garrett attended Young Harris College and later graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Social Science Education concentrating in world history in 1999.

In late June 2000 he accepted the legislative assistant position with The Retired Enlisted Association where he assisted Mark Olanoff with legislative research and strategy.  In January 2001 he was promoted to Deputy Legislative Director where he serves as TREA’s lobbyist.  In this role he meets with congressional offices to advocate their support for the issues important to TREA members.

Mr. Garrett enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard on May 16, 2001 and completed basic training and Advanced Infantry Training on November 9, 2001.  He now serves as a Specialist (E-4) with A Company 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry Regiment in Manassas, Virginia.

He is married to Tracy Garrett, a deputy communications director, for U.S. Senator Bill Frist.  They live in Alexandria, VA.

Introduction 

The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) would like to thank the chairman and distinguished members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee for the opportunity to come before you to discuss burials at Arlington National Cemetery.

TREA has over 110,000 members and auxiliary representing all braches of the Uniformed Services, including retired, active duty, guard and reserve.

H.R. 3423

TREA strongly endorses Chairman Christopher Smith’s (R-NJ-4) legislation to create equality for reservists’ burial eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC).  TREA has long supported the idea of a “total force” including equal benefits for all who serve, regardless of their component.  H.R. 3423 would eliminate the age requirement for retired guard and reservists, who would other wise be eligible for burial at ANC, as well as the active duty status requirement for those guard and reservists who die in the line of duty while training. 

Current “Gray area” retirees, those retired from the Guard or Reserve but are under the age of 60, as well as current guard and reserve service members who die while conducting their training periods are ineligible for burial at ANC, while their active duty counterparts satisfy the requirements.  Given that over 52,000 National Guard and Reserve service members are currently answering their nations call to serve on active duty for both home land defense and peace keeping operations over seas it seems most fitting to give the training the guard and reserve members perform the appreciation it so rightly deserves.

The duties of the Guard and Reserve, which include pilots, infantryman, the elite special forces, military police and numerous other vital MOS rolls are ready and waiting for their number to be called.  Personally, my First Sergeant told my unit “it’s not a matter of if, but when”, and my country can rest assured that we are ready.  The duties required of the guard and reserve have increased in value over the years and will likely continue to do so as the active duty requires more and more support.  

Codifying the Rules for Interment in Arlington National Cemetery

In regard to the rules for interment in ANC, TREA continues to support the codification of all the rules governing access to ANC.  The recent situation regarding Captain Charles Burlingame, USNR (Ret.), the pilot of flight 77 which crashed into the Pentagon on September 11^th, confirms that the rules are not well understand, even at times within the defense establishment, and raises again questions about who should “make the call” when the rules come under scrutiny in the future. The Retired Enlisted Association strongly recommends that the Committee take up the issue of the overall codification of the rules governing Arlington National Cemetery burial at their earliest opportunity.  The American people need to be reassured that the rules are clearly defined, properly codified and available for all to see. 

TREA urges passage of H.R. 3423 to codify eligibility of “gray area” reserve service members – those who have completed reserve service requirements and are eligible to retire at age 60 – and National Guard and Reserve service members who die in the performance of inactive duty training and their eligible dependents, for burial in Arlington National Cemetery.   TMC also strongly recommends codification of all the rules governing interment in the nation’s most hallowed final resting place for its military heroes.  

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, The Retired Enlisted Association appreciates the dedication and commitment of the members of this Committee in protecting, defending and restoring all the benefits earned by those who have served our nation in peace and war.  Thank you for this opportunity to submit testimony on behalf of our membership.