In fiscal year 1960 70 new center starts are planned for construction from funds which were made available under Public Law 86-275. This will provide a total of 461 centers constructed or under construction through fiscal year 1960.

The total requirement for new center construction to support the USAR authorized strength is 1,103. In addition to the planned 461 centers through fiscal year 1960 642 more centers will be required in fiscal year 1961 and future years.

In fiscal year 1959, 25 additions to existing buildings were placed under construction and 79 more are planned for fiscal year 1960. These projects consist of expansions, assembly halls, and maintenance shops as shown on the next chart, inclosure 2.

Chart 3 summarizes the status of Army Reserve construction funds. You will note that by the end of fiscal year 1959 we had obligated $101.4 million of the $106.5 million available and appropriated up to that time.

During fiscal year 1960 we plan to obligate $23 million, which brings the total to $124.4 million of the $126.5 million which has been appropriated for obligation through fiscal year 1960.

It is anticipated that the remaining $2.1 million will be obligated in early fiscal year 1961 and a like amount will be carried over into fiscal year 1962.

On February 8 we appeared before the House Armed Services Committee concerning our construction authorization program as contained in H.R. 10220. This same program as listed an S. 3006 consists of 52 line item projects, 6 minor construction projects and land acquisition, for a total of $11,674,000. The cost estimates used for these projects are based upon the standard plans that we have been using for past construction projects.

Through experience we have recognized that the present standard plans for our centers needed to be revised. In this connection, there have been so many modification change orders to these plans that they have become unwieldy and uneconomical for continued use.

The Department of Defense has approved the establishment of new criteria for improved standard plans for Army Reserve Center construction.

In the development of the new plans based upon this criteria, the recommendations of the using agencies-that is, the ZI armies and corps have been incorporated to the extent possible to take advantage of user experience.

These new facilities will have improved rifle ranges, arms security vaults, classroom and storageroom arrangements-all of which will reduce operating and maintenance costs. The outward appearance of the buildings has also been changed so that they will blend in with other structures in residential areas.

In August 1959 the Department of Defense, in anticipation of completion and approval of the new plans, directed that certain projects in the fiscal year 1960 program, plus future programs, be constructed using the new plans. The Chief of Engineers did not receive the new plans from the architect-engineer until February, subsequent to our appearance before the House Armed Services Committee.

The cost review of these new plans, which include increased space allowances, indicates that the funds and scope now programed will be insufficient to construct these centers.

In order to provide more adequate training facilities for the Army Reserve by using the new and improved standard plans, increased authorization is requested for 11 projects previously authorized by legislation and 39 projects in the fiscal year 1961 bill.

Another matter is that of insuring that future center projects include all necessary ancillary items for complete centers at the time of contract award. These are such things as surfaced hardstand areas for equipment parks, chain link security fencing, and security lighting for equipment parks, paved walks and curbs and very limited landscaping.

This increase in authorization includes that required to complete the fiscal year 1960 execution program; to accomplish the fiscal year 1961 funding program based on appropriation request; to cover those residual projects authorized but not included in a funding plan; and to provide all ancillary items for the complete centers.

Whereas the value of the projects in this bill is $11,674,000 the revised cost for the same projects is $12,786,000 or a total increase of $1,112,000 including land acquisition.

Additionally we request an increase in authorization of $25,000 for 1 project previously authorized by Public Law 85-685 and $541,000 for 10 projects authorized by Public 86-149.

This increase amounts to a grand total of $1,678,000.

I am pleased to report that the reorganization of the Army Reserve is virtually complete. Throughout the implementation of this vast undertaking a consideration foremost in our planning was proper utilization of the centers provided by chapter 133, title 10, United States Code.

Consequently we feel that we have a sound and valid construction program that will, upon completion, fulfill the training facilities requirements for the Army Reserve.

In conclusion we have made good progress since we last appeared before you. The MCAR program has played and will continue to play a major role in attaining, at the earliest practicable date, the readiness which will permit reserve units to meet their mobilization requirements.

It is recommended that this program be approved.

Gentlemen, this concludes my statement on the Army Reserve construction program. If you have any questions, I will be pleased to answer them.

(The charts referred to follow :)

UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE CONSTRUCTION
Starts On Additions To Existing Centers

By Fiscal Year

1 Jan '60

TARGET

79

30

25

Senator STENNIS. I hope you have been getting a little more attention from the Regular Army than you were a few years ago, General. I believe the program is moving along well.

General WARREN. Very satisfactorily, sir.

Senator STENNIS. And you have some good units. You heard about what I said concerning the one I was privileged to visit down in North Carolina. I didn't understand why you took so long though to get these plans in.

You say you made this decision last fall some time, early enough, but you didn't get your revised plans in until after the House had passed the bill.

General SEEMAN. Sir, we were using the previous budget estimate at that time, and there is always a little decision as to whether you have got enough information really to come in with a new cost estimate or whether you should wait and sharpen your pencil a little bit more.

Senator STENNIS. All right, let's bring the Reserves on in here as early as you do the rest though. It seems to me they ought to stand

right on a par with the Regular Army. You get a lot for your money I think in reserve units. What about that, General Warren; do you agree with that?

General WARREN. We have been getting the full cooperation and support of the active establishment, sir, and we feel that the status of the Reserve, or condition is the highest it has ever been in its history, and we thank you for your complimentary remarks.

Senator STENNIS. That is fine, splendid. Now Senator Engle, do you have something with reference to this program? Senator Cannon? We don't ordinarily cover all these different units, as you know, gathered throughout the United States.

What is the total amount of new authorization you are asking for now after you have revised your figures?

General WARREN. Slightly less than $13 million, $12.7 including the land acquisition, $12.1 is total construction.

Senator STENNIS. At that rate now how long will it take you to complete your present needs, physical equipment?

General WARREN. We require almost $208 million to complete our program. We are now down to $12 million annually, if we could retain the 24 million authorization per year, and we feel that we could obligate that much, then it necessarily would not take as but we are limited to $12 million. So it will take us that much longer.

long,

Senator STENNIS. It is rather difficult for the committee to decide these matters unless we have some plans on the trestleboard here by the Army itself.

General WARREN. We appreciate that, sir.

Senator STENNIS. We don't know where to turn, where to go to make additions and all.

General WARREN. That is all we are requesting at this time, sir. Senator STENNIS. It seems to me that $12 million requested to spread all over the United States is a mighty thin spread. You don't get very far at any particular place.

Senator ENGLE. I was going to ask, Mr. Chairman, how do you establish the priority to set up these recommendations?

General WARREN. It is almost the same as was explained by General McGowan. Except we do not have State limitations. We have the Army areas. Each Army commander reviews and surveys the requirements within his respective Army. It is based upon first the strength of the unit, the authorized strength and its attained strength, the availability of adequate facilities, the need for the constructed center and availability of a site. The Army commander then lists these projects in his own priority. Each Army commander sends his program to the Department of the Army where it is reviewed by our staff, and the best qualified projects throughout the United States, not by State, but the entire United States are included in our final program.

Senator ENGLE. What are you driving at here? I see you have a total requirement of what is it?

General WARREN. That is what we will have attained at the end of this year if we get the money we are asking for. We actually require 1,100 plus constructed centers to take care of all of our existing units.