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> -USN-

>DOD to release 1999 budget
> The Department of Defense will release its 1999 budget
>Monday, Feb. 2. The budget will be available at 0800 EST
>electronically at www.navy.mil (under What’s New) or at
>www.dtic.mil/comptroller/99budget.
> -USN-

> Top News and Policy
>NNS0401. USS Independence, escort ships depart Japan to
>relieve USS Nimitz
>by JO3 Jason L. Moore, USS Independence Public Affairs
> YOKOSUKA, Japan (NWSA) — USS Independence (CV 62), USS
>John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and USS
>Charlotte (SSN 766) are enroute to the Arabian Gulf to
>relieve the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Battle Group. Indy’s Battle
>Group is scheduled to arrive on station next week.
> Because of the recent decision to maintain two aircraft
>carriers in the Gulf for as long as needed, on Jan. 21
>Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen personally announced
>the orders to deploy to the crew: the 39-year-old aircraft
>carrier would relieve USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Arabian
>Gulf.
> According to LT Andy Mueck, readiness officer, 600
>pallets of material were brought aboard during three days
>spent in port. Most of the supplies are “fast moving
>consumables used by everyone on the ship,” said the
>Woodbridge, Va., native. “The remainder of the material
>loaded was high priority parts needed to support the
>airwing’s planes, ship’s systems or to replenish our on
>board stock.”
> LT Tom Dailey, ship services officer from Dracut,
>Mass., said, “to ensure sustainability without re-supply we
>load aboard 30 days of frozen food, 60 days of dry
>provisions and 14 days of fresh vegetables. [The crew]
>loaded over 125 pallets in the past three days to meet these
>endurance levels.”
> “Prior to sea trials we completed steam plant testing
>in three days instead of ten days,” said CDR Craig W.
>Little, chief engineer, from Virginia Beach, Va.
> The steam plant testing is a requirement prior to
>pulling out after a maintenance period to ensure the
>engineering plant is ready for steaming.
> -USN-

>NNS0407. This Week in Navy History: Jan. 26, 1911
> The first naval seaplane flight was launched in San
>Diego.
> -USN-

>NNS0412. Military strength figures, Nov. 30, 1997
>by DOD Public Affairs
> WASHINGTON (NWSA) — The total numerical strength
>of the Armed Forces on Nov. 30, 1997 was 1,428,110. This
>is a decrease of 3,403 from Oct. 31, 1997 and a decrease
>of 37,509 from Nov. 30, 1996.
> These figures represent full-time military
>personnel comprising both regular and reserves on active
>duty and officer candidates, including cadets and
>midshipmen at the three military academies.
> Excluded from these figures are approximately
>65,000 full-time military personnel who are paid from
>other than active duty military personnel
>appropriations. This group is funded from appropriations
>for reserve components and Corps of Engineers civil
>functions. A comparable figure for Fiscal Year 1997 was
>also 65,000 military personnel.
> November 1997 strength figures for each service
>with month-ago and year-ago figures for comparison are:
> 11/30/97 10/31/97 Change from Prev. Month
> (Actual) (Actual) Amount Percent 11/30/96
>DOD 1,428,110 1,431,513 -3,403 -0.24% 1,465,619
>Army 489,752 490,878 -1,126 -0.23% 491,242
>Navy 389,804 391,134 -1,330 -0.34% 413,869
>M/C 173,538 173,396 142 0.08% 174,806
>A/F 375,016 376,105 -1,089 -0.29% 385,702
> The active duty personnel strength data provided does
>not include Selected Reserve strength ordered to active duty
>by the President under Title 10, United States Code 12304.
> -USN-

>NNS0414. Status of the Navy: Jan. 28, 1998
>Personnel:
> 386,415 active duty
> 55,514 officer
> 326,901 enlisted
> 4,000 midshipmen
> 202,057 civilians
> 219,733 Ready Reserve Force:
> 94,202 SELRES/125,531 IRR
>Aircraft: 4,666
>Ships: 347
>Underway: 172 ships (49%)
>Deployed: 102 ships (29%)
> 50,047 personnel
>Exercises: 9
>Carriers/Airwings at Sea:
> USS Nimitz (CVW-9): SOUTHERN WATCH, Arabian Gulf
> USS George Washington (CVW-1): SOUTHERN WATCH, Arabian
>Gulf
> USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74): JTFEX 98-1, west Atlantic
> USS Independence (CVW-5) west Pacific
>LHAs/LHDs/LPHs at Sea
> USS Peleliu/13th MEU: ops, Indian Ocean
> USS Guam/24th MEU: PHIBLEX, Mediterranean
> USS Belleau Wood: ops, west Pacific
> USS Wasp: JTFEX 98-1, west Atlantic
> USS Essex: COMPTUEX 98-2, Pacific
>Ships assigned to Maritime Interception Operatons:
> USS Young, USS Ingersoll, USS Roberts
>Other Exercises/Operations:
> COUNTER DRUG OPS, east Pacific/Caribbean Sea
>Information source: OPNAV Staff
> -USN-