Oil prices hit military budgets hard
Across the oil-thirsty U.S. military, commanders are scrambling for ways to offset the ever-rising cost of fuel. But their best efforts so far have fallen short.
The military services have found ways to save millions of dollars through conservation, but the price of oil has outpaced the cost-cutting efforts. The Navy, for example, estimates that it is saving $300 million a year through conservation. That sounds impressive until the oil price jump is taken into consideration.
"From July through Sept. 30, we will see a $400-million increase in our fuel bill," said Navy Capt. Arthur Cotton, head of the Fleet Training and Readiness reporting branch. "So all of those energy savings we have done are wiped out, and then some, just over the period of 90 days."
Overall, the Pentagon will spend $16.4 billion on fuel this year, up from $5.2 billion in 2003.
The increase has made the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan more expensive, adding $140 million to the cost of operations in Afghanistan and $565 million in Iraq. The wars combined are costing $12.1 billion a month. Military officials emphasize that the increases have not affected how combat operations are being conducted.
The Defense Department's biggest fuel users are the Air Force, which accounts for 52% of the fuel bill, and the Navy, which uses 32%. Within those branches, conservation efforts are wide-ranging.
A decades-old initiative to scrub the hulls of Navy ships, reducing drag and making them faster and more efficient, is gaining new importance.
The Navy also is stepping up efforts to replace live exercises with virtual maneuvers that allow sailors to train while keeping the ships in port. This year the Navy will conduct 124 "synthetic exercises," up from 84 last year. A study last year showed that the initiative saved $160 million.
The Air Force and the Navy also are considering increases in flight simulator training, although a large-scale shift is likely to wait until after a Defense Department study is completed by late next year.
For its part, the Air Force is attempting to reduce planes' taxiing and idling time. It is working to reduce aircraft weight, lower the amount of excess fuel some planes carry, and make flight paths more efficient. And on Air Force bases, the service is beginning to replace pickup trucks with souped-up golf carts.
