Naval Reserves: The Frigate Trainer Program Should Be Canceled

The Department of the Navy's March 1993 posture statement states that the Reserve Frigate Trainer Program will be terminated by the end of fiscal year (FY) 1994 with the decommissioning of the 8 active training frigates and the disposal of the 35 companion FF-1052 mobilization assets held in category B (mothballs) as global war contingent forces. Subsequent Navy and Department of Defense (DOD) budget documents indicate that the program will terminate in midyear in FY 1994 (Mar. 31, 1994). Total reductions of $875 million were identified in the current 6-year budget projections through FY 1999. DOD later requested permission, granted by Congress, to lease up to 33 of the fast frigates to nine countries. Lease income would be transferred to the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. This recommendation should be closed.

DOD's decision to cancel the entire Knox class (FF1052) frigate trainer program includes decommissioning the eight trainer ships. Therefore, the recommendation should be closed.