Armed Forces News

Washington DC - Feb 2021: President Biden delivers remarks to DoD personnel, withSecretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Image: BiksuTong/Shutterstock.com

A proposed $715 billion in discretionary defense spending for 2021 will include provisions intended to enhance readiness among the force and ensure that the family members and care providers who support them get the benefits they need. Details of the mostly top-line request, which is a 1.6 percent above 2021 levels (a slight decrease if adjusted for inflation) are to follow

“The discretionary request prioritized programs that enable the growth and development of our workforce; improves retention, training and education; and directly supports military spouses, caregivers, survivors and dependents,” the Pentagon said in a statement accompanying the budget proposal’s release earlier this month.

The readiness enhancement and maintenance provisions will be crafted with an eye toward confronting and thwarting both foreign and domestic terrorism, to include rooting out hate groups within the military itself.

Protecting the ranks from harassment and discrimination also is getting high priority, according to the Pentagon announcement of the White House spending proposal.

Programs for spouses, caregivers, survivors and dependents would address issues that the administration hopes would foster recruiting and retention among the all-volunteer force.

“Through its focus on personnel readiness, [the budget] request would … achieve a more diverse and effective workforce,” the Pentagon stated.