Future SecDefs could get government quarters

[unhappycamper]

Future SecDefs could get government quarters
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 26, 2008 17:44:35 EDT

Future defense secretaries would live in government quarters on a secure military base if the Defense Department has its way.

It would be leased space, similar to privatized military family housing, rather than a government-owned facility, under a proposal included in a March 21 package of legislative initiatives sent to Congress by the Pentagon’s legislative counsel.

If Congress goes along with the idea — and that is not certain — it would be some time before the housing was available. A location and builder would have to be selected, which could take several years.

Providing on-base housing, similar to quarters provided to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and to service chiefs on bases scattered throughout the Washington, D.C., area, would be “far more cost-effective than installing, maintaining, and protecting sensitive Department of Defense equipment along with secure information facilities, and security and detection systems in private residences,” defense officials say in the request.

Additionally, military housing “substantially reduces the logistics, public disruptions and costs associated with protecting” the defense secretary and makes it easier to equip the residence with security and communications equipment, the request says.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/military_gates_housing_032608w/