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American Morning
Since 9/11, Members of Military Reserves Have Been Mobilized
Aired November 26, 2002 - 08:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Since 9/11, members of the military reserves have been mobilized, many coming from small towns across America. And their absence is having a major effect on their employers and the communities. Police departments, schools and hospitals all feeling the impact. And now the Pentagon and employers are trying to ease that burden.
To the Pentagon now and Barbara Starr, who is tracking this for us -- Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, right now there are about 50,000 reservists on active duty. If there is war in Iraq, that number may grow to 200,000. Today, reservists are very much in demand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): Air Force Master Sergeant Ken Morris counts himself lucky compared to other reservists in his security unit at Andrews Air Force Base. Since the September 11 attacks when he was called to active duty, Morris' employer, Virginia Dominion Power, has made up the difference between his civilian and military pay and benefits. Others in his unit don't have such understanding civilian bosses.
MASTER SERGEANT KEN MORRIS, UASF: We've got people that are, you know, some of them are almost losing their house and cars because on the outside they make $80,000 or $100,000 or whatever, and when they come in, they're a senior airman or staff sergeant and they're making, you know, a lot less.
STARR: The impact on reservists, their families and employers, will only grow if there is war in Iraq. Use of reservists has more than doubled in the last decade, working as pilots, policemen and mechanics. At UPS, the company has paid up to $800,000 a month for the salaries and benefits of employees on active duty, leaders in employee support for reserves.
Brigadier General Leon Johnson flies 767s for UPS and is frequently called up.
BRIG. GEN. LEON JOHNSON, U.S. AIR FORCE: If you take a look at most of the jobs in America are generated by small companies with 50 employees or less. Now, you take a company like that and you take four or five employees away from that operation, you have really severely impacted that operation and its ability. STARR: Reservists are some of the most frequently deployed forces these days, stretched thin and looking at the possibility of a long war ahead in Iraq. Concern is growing that some may leave.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: So with so much strain on the reserve forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is now looking at the possibility of shifting some of those reserve jobs back into the active duty force, an effort to make sure that people who signed up to be weekend warriors don't become full time soldiers -- Bill.
HEMMER: Barbara, turn our attention now to this report about the potential for the U.S. government putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to crack down on these alleged financiers who may be funneling money, other forms of support to terrorists who might be operating in this country.
Any reaction from the Pentagon or other folks you talk with in D.C. about this?
STARR: Well, there was some pretty interesting reaction earlier this morning because according to that "Washington Post" story, one of the things the National Security Council was contending is that there would be "unilateral action," according to the "Post" story, if the Saudis didn't crack down. Unilateral action, of course, sometimes is a code word or code phrase for military action.
So we asked about that. And very senior officials here this morning say no. They have heard nothing, no sense that any of the unilateral action against Saudi Arabia might be military oriented. If there is going to be some pressure on Saudi Arabia, it clearly is going to come somewhere in the regulatory, economic, Department of the Treasury world.
There is no indication here, and, in fact, Pentagon leaders are in very close touch with the Saudis right now, trying to shore up, make sure the military to military relationship is in good shape in case there is war with Iraq in the weeks ahead -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you, Barbara.
Good clarification.
Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Mobilized>
Aired November 26, 2002 - 08:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Since 9/11, members of the military reserves have been mobilized, many coming from small towns across America. And their absence is having a major effect on their employers and the communities. Police departments, schools and hospitals all feeling the impact. And now the Pentagon and employers are trying to ease that burden.
To the Pentagon now and Barbara Starr, who is tracking this for us -- Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, right now there are about 50,000 reservists on active duty. If there is war in Iraq, that number may grow to 200,000. Today, reservists are very much in demand.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): Air Force Master Sergeant Ken Morris counts himself lucky compared to other reservists in his security unit at Andrews Air Force Base. Since the September 11 attacks when he was called to active duty, Morris' employer, Virginia Dominion Power, has made up the difference between his civilian and military pay and benefits. Others in his unit don't have such understanding civilian bosses.
MASTER SERGEANT KEN MORRIS, UASF: We've got people that are, you know, some of them are almost losing their house and cars because on the outside they make $80,000 or $100,000 or whatever, and when they come in, they're a senior airman or staff sergeant and they're making, you know, a lot less.
STARR: The impact on reservists, their families and employers, will only grow if there is war in Iraq. Use of reservists has more than doubled in the last decade, working as pilots, policemen and mechanics. At UPS, the company has paid up to $800,000 a month for the salaries and benefits of employees on active duty, leaders in employee support for reserves.
Brigadier General Leon Johnson flies 767s for UPS and is frequently called up.
BRIG. GEN. LEON JOHNSON, U.S. AIR FORCE: If you take a look at most of the jobs in America are generated by small companies with 50 employees or less. Now, you take a company like that and you take four or five employees away from that operation, you have really severely impacted that operation and its ability. STARR: Reservists are some of the most frequently deployed forces these days, stretched thin and looking at the possibility of a long war ahead in Iraq. Concern is growing that some may leave.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: So with so much strain on the reserve forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is now looking at the possibility of shifting some of those reserve jobs back into the active duty force, an effort to make sure that people who signed up to be weekend warriors don't become full time soldiers -- Bill.
HEMMER: Barbara, turn our attention now to this report about the potential for the U.S. government putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to crack down on these alleged financiers who may be funneling money, other forms of support to terrorists who might be operating in this country.
Any reaction from the Pentagon or other folks you talk with in D.C. about this?
STARR: Well, there was some pretty interesting reaction earlier this morning because according to that "Washington Post" story, one of the things the National Security Council was contending is that there would be "unilateral action," according to the "Post" story, if the Saudis didn't crack down. Unilateral action, of course, sometimes is a code word or code phrase for military action.
So we asked about that. And very senior officials here this morning say no. They have heard nothing, no sense that any of the unilateral action against Saudi Arabia might be military oriented. If there is going to be some pressure on Saudi Arabia, it clearly is going to come somewhere in the regulatory, economic, Department of the Treasury world.
There is no indication here, and, in fact, Pentagon leaders are in very close touch with the Saudis right now, trying to shore up, make sure the military to military relationship is in good shape in case there is war with Iraq in the weeks ahead -- Bill.
HEMMER: Thank you, Barbara.
Good clarification.
Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Mobilized>
