Hearing of the Military Personnel Budget Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee - Overview--Service Personnel Chiefs' Perspectives

Statement

Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson gave the following opening statement:

"Today, the Military Personnel Subcommittee will receive testimony from the service personnel chiefs on the President's fiscal year 2013 budget request regarding military personnel matters.

"This is an especially important hearing because the Subcommittee will hear the perspective of the military services about the reductions to active duty military personnel programs included in the budget request that so many Congressional Members have found troubling. Last week, the witnesses from the Office of the Secretary of Defense defended the budget request and the Subcommittee Members openly expressed their doubts and concerns.

"As I made clear last week, I must be counted among those Members with serious reservations about the budget request and the reductions in force and to the personnel programs that are included. America remains at war today with a ruthless and committed enemy that shows we must have resolve to stop the enemies overseas to protect American families at home.

"In the face of that reality, this budget offers no apology for program reductions that go to the heart of our military capability by undermining programs that serve our military personnel putting America and its allies such as Israel at greater risk. The proposed major reductions to end strength, compensation programs, and health care programs sap our combat capability and undermine the trust of service members, military families, and veterans.

"Now, the Subcommittee will hear from the personnel leadership within the services--the people with the most direct contact with the real stakeholders in this debate, the men and women serving our Nation in uniform. These are the leaders responsible for providing the manpower so critical to combat capability. If the Subcommittee expects to hear the voice of our service members during testimony on this budget request, these are the witnesses we must rely on to bring us that message.

"I would like to welcome our distinguished witnesses:

Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, USA
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1
Headquarters, U.S. Army

Vice Admiral Scott R. Van Buskirk, USN (VAN-BUS-KIRK)
Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education) (N1)

Ms. Sheryl E. Murray
Assistant Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps

Lieutenant General Darrell D. Jones, USAF
Deputy Chief Staff, Manpower & Personnel
Headquarters, U.S. Air Force"

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