Bill Overview
Title: Flying Mission Oversight and Transparency Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Defense, prior to the relocation or elimination, to submit a report describing the justification for its decision to relocate or eliminate any flying mission with respect to an active or reserve component of the Army, Navy, or Air Force.
Sponsors: Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Target Audience
Population: Military personnel and related stakeholders involved in flying missions
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill impacts those involved in flying missions of the active or reserve Army, Navy, or Air Force.
- The personnel involved in these flying missions include pilots, navigators, support staff, and their families who might be affected by relocations.
- The bill also impacts civilians employed at affected military bases.
- It indirectly affects communities surrounding military bases involved in such missions.
- Relocation or elimination of missions can have economic and social impacts on these communities.
Reasoning
- The policy is likely to have a varying impact on different individuals, largely due to their occupation and proximity to flying missions.
- Military personnel directly involved in flying missions may experience a significant impact due to changes in jobs and relocation possibilities.
- Civilians employed at military bases may face job security concerns, influencing their wellbeing.
- Families of military personnel may also face disruptions due to relocation, affecting community ties and family stability.
- Communities near military bases may witness economic changes due to shifting population dynamics, impacting local businesses and infrastructure needs.
- Considering the policy's implementation budget, prioritization will likely be needed to focus on major bases influencing a large number of personnel and families.
Simulated Interviews
Air Force Pilot (Tucson, AZ)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about potential relocations which might affect my family and my career progression.
- Having a transparent process reduces uncertainty and allows better planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Navy Support Staff (Virginia Beach, VA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy helps me understand any upcoming changes in my job situation.
- I hope it supports job security and ensures I can stay at my current location.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Army Helicopter Navigator (Fort Worth, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Relocations are a big concern for my family, especially with a young child.
- I see this policy as a step towards more stability for people like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Community Business Owner (San Diego, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The local economy heavily depends on the military base.
- Any changes in flying missions could have a ripple effect on my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Air Force Reserve Pilot (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a new pilot, I am uncertain about where and when I might be relocated.
- The policy offers some relief by ensuring decisions are made transparently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Retired Military Spouse (Killeen, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having been through many relocations, I understand the strain it places on families.
- If there were such policies during my husband's service, it would have been helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Active Duty Officer - Air Force (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy should bring clarity to resource management.
- It might reduce bureaucratic surprises and let us prepare better for changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Army Flight Mechanic (Clarksville, TN)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The stability of my job and family's location is uncertain with potential relocations.
- This policy seems promising in terms of adding security for jobs like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Navy Navigator (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy would help in planning our joint careers more effectively without sudden redeployments.
- Both of us being in the military, any relocation adds a significant layer of complexity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Air Force Medical Support Staff (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The community and my role are interwoven with the base's stability.
- Transparent decisions about missions help secure civilian jobs in remote areas like Alaska.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 3: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Key Considerations
- The policy increases transparency and accountability in military base operations and mission assignments, which is crucial for maintaining public trust.
- Requires additional administrative procedures from the Department of Defense, possibly necessitating an increase in budget and personnel.
- The long-term savings from better decision-making and transparency could outweigh the initial and recurring administrative costs.
- Potential secondary impacts on local economies near military installations should be monitored, though the main focus is on defense operations.