Military Awards Program of the Departments of Defense and Transportation Message to the Congress Transmitting Two Reports.

To the Congress of the United States:

Forwarded herewith in accordance with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 1124 are reports of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation on awards made during Fiscal Year 1979 to members of the Armed Forces for suggestions, inventions and scientific achievements.

Participation by military personnel in the cash awards program was authorized by the Congress in 1965. More than two million suggestion submissions since that time attest to the success which the program has had as a means of motivating military personnel to seek ways of reducing costs and improving efficiency. Of those suggestions submitted, more than 338,000 have been adopted with resultant tangible first-year benefits in excess of one billion dollars.

Of the 82,813 suggestions which were submitted by military personnel (including Coast Guard military personnel) during Fiscal Year 1979, 13,001 were adopted. Cash awards totalling $962,305 were paid for adopted suggestions during Fiscal Year 1979. These awards were based not only on tangible first-year benefits of $55,683,093 during Fiscal Year 1979 realized from adopted suggestions, but also on many additional benefits and improvements of an intangible nature.

Enlisted personnel received $776,780 in awards during Fiscal Year 1979 representing 81% of the total cash awards paid during these periods. Officer personnel received $185,525 during Fiscal Year 1979. The attached reports of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation contain statistical information on rite military awards program and brief descriptions of some of the more noteworthy contributions made by military personnel during Fiscal Year 1979.

JIMMY CARTER

The White House,

March 14, 1980.