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The Department of Defense Twelve Days of Christmas
- Day 1 - Partridge in a pear tree: The Army and Air Force
are in the process of deciding whose area of responsibility Day 1 falls under.
Since the partridge is a bird, the Air Force believes it should have the lead.
The Army, however, feels trees are part of the land component command's area of
responsibility and has discussions and repeated Ops Deps tank sessions, a $1M
study has been commissioned to decide who should lead this joint program.
- Day 2 - Two turtle doves: Since doves are birds, the Air Force claims
responsibility. However, turtles are amphibious, so the Navy-Marine Corps team
feels it should take the lead. Initial studies have shown that turtles and doves
may have interoperability problems. Terms of reference are being coordinated for
a four-year, $10M DARPA study.
- Day 3 - Three French Hens: At State Department instigation, the Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs has blocked off-shore purchase of hens, from the
French or anyone else. A $6M program is being developed to find an acceptable
domestic alternative.
- Day 4 - Four Calling Birds: Source selection has been completed, with
the contract awarded to AT&T. However, the award is being challenged by a
small disadvantaged business.
- Day 5 - Five Golden Rings: No available rings meet MILSPEC for
gold plating. A three-year, $5M accelerated development program has
been initiated.
- Day 6 - Six Geese a-Laying: The six geese have been acquired. However,
the shells of their eggs seem to be very fragile. It might have been a mistake
to build the production facility on a nuclear waste dump at a former Air Force
base that was closed under BRAC.
- Day 7 - Seven Swans a-Swimming: Fourteen swans have been killed trying
to get through the Navy SEAL training program. The program has been put on hold
while the training procedures are reviewed to determine why the washout rate
is so high.
- Day 8 - Eight Maids a-Milking: The entire class of maids a-milking
training program at Aberdeen is involved in a sexual harassment suit against
the Army. The program has been put on hold pending resolution of the
lawsuit.
- Day 9 - Nine Ladies Dancing: Recruitment of the ladies dancing has
been halted by a lawsuit from the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Association. Members
claim they have a right to dance and wear women's clothing as long as
they're off duty.
- Day 10 - Ten Lords a-Leaping: The ten lords have been abducted by
terrorists. Congress has approved $2M in funding to conduct a rescue operation.
Army Special Forces and a USMC MEU(SOC) are conducting a "NEO-off" competition
for the right to rescue.
- Day 11 - Eleven Pipers Piping: The pipe contractor delivered the pipes
on time. However, he thought DoD wanted smoking pipes. DoD lost the claim due
to defective specifications. A $22M dollar retrofit program is in process to bring
the pipes into spec.
- Day 12 - Twelve Drummers Drumming: Due to cutbacks only six billets are
available for drumming drummers. DoD is in the process of coordinating an RFP to
obtain the six additional drummers by outsourcing; however, funds will not be
available until FY 08.
As a result of the above-mentioned programmatic delays, and due to a high
OPTEMPO that requires diversion of modernization funds to support current
readiness,
Christmas is hereby postponed until further notice.
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