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Morning on the military and civilian 

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personnel programs in the department , 

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defense and the military services . In 

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review of the administration's defense 

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authorization request for fiscal year 

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2023 . This is the subcommittee's 

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annual personnel posture hearing that 

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establishes a foundational record for 

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the committee of the department's full 

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range of activities concerning matters 

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affecting service members , their 

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families , retirees and the 

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department's civilian workforce . And 

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it provides the department the 

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opportunity to discuss their personnel 

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policy priorities for witnesses . 

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Welcome . Thank you for appearing and 

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we will have two panels today . The 

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first panel consists of officials from 

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the Office of the Secretary of Defense 

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who cover the full range of military 

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and civilian personnel programs . The 

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Honorable Gil Cisneros , Undersecretary 

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of Defense for Personnel and readiness . 

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MS . V . Penrod . Acting Assistant 

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Secretary of Defense for Manpower and 

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Reserve Affairs . Dr David J . Smith . 

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Acting Principal Deputy Assistant 

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Secretary of Defense for Health fairs 

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and Miss Elizabeth . Be Foster . 

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Executive Director of forced resiliency . 

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Executive Director . Office of force 

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resiliency . Same thing . The second 

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panel will include the Senior personnel 

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Chiefs of Military Services . 

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Lieutenant General Gary M Brito , 

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Deputy Chief of Staff G . One , Vice 

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Admiral john Be Noel , Junior Deputy 

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Chief of Naval Operations and one and 

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Chief of Naval Personnel . Lieutenant 

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General David A Little attention . 

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Deputy commandant of the Marine Corps 

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for Manpower Reserve Affairs , Miss 

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Gwendolyn , R G . PhillipE Assistant 

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Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force 

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for manpower , Personal services 

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and Miss Patricia Mulcahy . Chief Human 

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capital officer , United States new 

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york . United Space Force . Before I 

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continue , I want to recognize MS 

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Penrod who has appeared before the 

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subcommittee on a number of occasions 

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but for whom this hearing will be her 

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last . She is retiring imminently . I'm 

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told after more than five decades of 

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service to the department defense . 

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This includes 16 years as a senior 

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executive and OSD and 35 years in the 

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air force as both an enlisted airman 

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and an officer working on behalf of our 

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service members , their families and 

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the civilian workforce who supports 

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them . Thank you for your service Miss 

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Pendragon . Right 

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At this hearing last year in May , I 

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began by noting that our country has 

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been in a state of continuous war for 

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nearly 20 years and that was the 

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impending withdrawal of combat troops 

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from Afghanistan . We were closing one 

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chapter in the beginning , another in 

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the years since we have indeed seen a 

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new chapter unfold with continued 

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resurgence of great power competition 

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and Vladimir Putin's unjustified , 

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unprovoked , unprovoked and unwarranted 

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war on Ukraine coupled with the 

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persistent effects of global pandemic , 

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increasingly sophisticated cyber and 

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other asymmetric threats and the 

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disruptive effects of ecological 

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degradation and changing climate . The 

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need for highly trained and capable 

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military and civilian workforce within 

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the department defense and throughout 

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the federal government has never been 

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greater . We must commit to meeting 

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these challenges by developing fielding 

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and maintaining the world's most 

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capable workforce . I'm going to submit 

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the rest of my statement for the record 

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and I turn it over to Senator Tillis . 

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Thank you madam Chairwoman . Thank you 

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to the witnesses for being here . MS . 

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Penrod . Given your future plans , I 

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look forward to your just unabridged 

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and unbridled responses to our 

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questions . But congratulations again . 

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Um The 2023 National Defense 

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Authorization Act will coincide with 

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the 50th anniversary of the creation of 

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the all volunteer force . But I think 

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it may be more accurate to describe the 

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military as an all recruited force 

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because it takes a large amount of 

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resources to attract sufficient numbers 

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of high quality americans to military 

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service . To put it bluntly , I'm 

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worried we're now in the early 

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days of a long term threat to the all 

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volunteer force , small and declining 

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number of americans who are eligible 

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and interested in military service . 

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Every single metric tracks the military 

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recruiting environment is going in the 

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wrong direction . In most cases we're 

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seeing the worst numbers in the last 

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two decades . Only 8% of young 

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Americans have seriously considered 

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joining the military . That's the 

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lowest number since the late 90s and 

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it's 50% lower than it was during the 

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deadliest days of the Global War on 

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Terror . Perhaps most alarming Today , 

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only 23% of Americans are even eligible 

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to enlist . That's down from 

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29% . Only a few years ago we're 

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fighting a war on two fronts . Right 

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now . On the one side , we have a 

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shrinking number of americans who meets 

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the minimum qualifications for military 

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service . On the other side . Those who 

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are qualified have have historically 

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low levels of interest in putting on a 

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uniform . This two front recruiting war 

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is already affecting our military 

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readiness . The army plans to shrink by 

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12,000 soldiers next year . Not because 

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they want to and not because they were 

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told to the new national defense 

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strategy does not call for a smaller 

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army . The army is cutting in strength 

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because there are simply not enough 

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recruits to go around . And the other 

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services are experiencing similar 

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struggles at varying levels , ensuring 

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our military is sufficiently manned is 

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the most important job this 

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subcommittee has . I intend to spend 

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most of today's hearing asking our 

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expert witnesses what you intend to do 

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and how we can help address these 

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growing challenges things again to the 

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witnesses for appearing before the 

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committee . I look forward to your 

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testimony and and Madam Chair . I do 

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think we're gonna have a vote in the 

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middle of this or we're gonna do a tag 

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team so that we can keep things moving . 

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So excuse us , if one or one of us have 

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to leave the room momentarily . Thank 

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you very much . Senator Tillis . I'd 

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now like to call on Secretary Cisneros 

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chairwoman Gillibrand ranking member 

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Tillis . And and members of the 

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personnel subcommittee . Thank you for 

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the opportunity to testify before you 

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today . We're here to discuss the 

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department's greatest strength , our 

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people , We are proud to represent the 

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3.3 million service members and d . o . 

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d . civilians who defend our nation 

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every day and their families who serve 

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alongside them . One of Secretary 

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Austin's earliest messages to the 

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Forest made clear that taking care of 

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people as a national security 

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imperative this administration has 

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shown both in their words and actions 

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that D . O . D . Will invest in our 

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greatest strategic advantage . This 

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commitment is evident in the FY 23 

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defense budget request and our personal 

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policy efforts . While many personal 

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personal priorities are reflected in 

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the budget request , I will focus my 

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remarks on a few priority areas first 

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recruiting . Economic security support 

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to military families . Independent 

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Review Commission on Sexual Assault in 

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the military or IRC and suicide . To 

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build and maintain our global 

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competitive advantage . We must recruit 

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quality applicants in an ever changing 

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landscape . The department is in fierce 

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competition for skilled , relevant and 

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innovative talent . The labor market , 

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exasperated by the effects of the 

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pandemic and the military civilian 

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divide creates a challenging recruiting 

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environment . You will hear from the 

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services later today , but my team and 

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I are working closely with them to 

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leverage all authorities , resources 

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and tools to address these challenges 

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The pay raise of 4.6% in the budget 

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request will enable recruiting will 

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appropriately compensate our workforce 

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and support the overall economic 

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security of service members and their 

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families . I cannot stress this enough . 

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The economic security of our service 

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members is critical to readiness and in 

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total the current military compensation 

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and benefits packages fair and compares 

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favorably with the private sector . To 

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remain competitive . We must keep peace 

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with private sector wage or keep pace 

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with private sector wage growth . Which 

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this pay raise does . We are addressing 

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rising housing costs by temporarily 

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adjusting the basic housing allowance 

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for housing and high cost areas . And 

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thanks to your leadership , we are 

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implementing the basic needs allowance 

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with the first payment scheduled to go 

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out in January 2023 . Our military 

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families are vital to the readiness of 

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our force . We are broadening 

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employment support to military spouses 

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by expanding the military spouse 

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employment partnership job search 

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portal . We are working with all 50 

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states to improve state laws to ease 

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occupational license portability . 

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Likewise , the department is addressing 

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access to childcare by increasing staff 

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hiring , Applying the $15 per hour 

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federal minimum wage to childcare 

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workers and providing service members 

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fee assistance to offset the cost of in 

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home childcare , taking care of our 

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people goes beyond compensation . We 

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must eliminate sexual assault and 

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harassment to preserve readiness and 

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support of resilient and cohesive force . 

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The entire department continues to work 

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to implement the IRC recommendations . 

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Our budget request of $489 million 

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dollars will enable us to invest in 

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prevention to eliminate those wrongs . 

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We are committed to making a cultural 

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change at every installation worldwide . 

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To tackle this problem , we're also 

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steadfast in our commitment to suicide 

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prevention and the well being of 

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service members and their families , 

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especially in light of the recent 

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incidents involving those assigned to 

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the USs George Washington . They are 

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tragedies . And we are working to learn 

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more and to ensure the Navy has every 

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resource they need . We're taking a 

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public health approach targeting the 

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various underlying risk factors and 

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mental health stressors . We are 

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enhancing protective measures such as 

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social connections , coping skills and 

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safety . And we are working to address 

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the shortage of mental health providers , 

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which is a national nationwide problem . 

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This includes providing care for anyone 

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who needs it , whether this is in our 

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direct care system or using our private 

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sector networks . One last issue . I 

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would like to highlight our efforts in 

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the diversity equity , inclusion and 

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accessibility , space enhancing the EEA 

279
00:10:05,084 --> 00:10:07,084
across our department maximizes our 

280
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ability to recruit and retain top 

281
00:10:08,973 --> 00:10:10,950
Talent Secretary Austin recently 

282
00:10:10,950 --> 00:10:13,006
designated me as the chief diversity 

283
00:10:13,006 --> 00:10:14,672
and inclusion officer for the 

284
00:10:14,672 --> 00:10:16,617
department . In this role . I will 

285
00:10:16,617 --> 00:10:18,506
continue to bring about long term 

286
00:10:18,506 --> 00:10:20,728
changes and work to support the factors 

287
00:10:20,728 --> 00:10:22,839
that promote racial ethnic and gender 

288
00:10:22,839 --> 00:10:24,950
diversity and inclusion . I will take 

289
00:10:24,950 --> 00:10:27,117
steps to ensure our total force has an 

290
00:10:27,117 --> 00:10:28,728
opportunity to achieve their 

291
00:10:28,728 --> 00:10:30,839
professional goals . It is a cohesive 

292
00:10:30,839 --> 00:10:32,728
and ready force that reflects the 

293
00:10:32,728 --> 00:10:34,783
diversity of our nation . I shared a 

294
00:10:34,783 --> 00:10:36,728
few of our major initiatives in my 

295
00:10:36,728 --> 00:10:38,672
remarks today , but I would like I 

296
00:10:38,672 --> 00:10:40,339
would also like to mention an 

297
00:10:40,339 --> 00:10:42,394
approaching milestone next year . We 

298
00:10:42,394 --> 00:10:44,561
will celebrate the 50th anniversary of 

299
00:10:44,561 --> 00:10:44,480
the all volunteer force . When this 

300
00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:46,591
country eliminated the draft , we did 

301
00:10:46,591 --> 00:10:48,369
not imagine the success the all 

302
00:10:48,369 --> 00:10:50,536
volunteer force would have in creating 

303
00:10:50,536 --> 00:10:52,591
the most educated , professional and 

304
00:10:52,591 --> 00:10:54,758
lethal military force in history As we 

305
00:10:54,758 --> 00:10:56,647
look to the next 50 years , it is 

306
00:10:56,647 --> 00:10:58,647
imperative that we do not take what 

307
00:10:58,647 --> 00:11:00,647
makes our military and parallel and 

308
00:11:00,647 --> 00:11:02,758
unmatched for granted for granted our 

309
00:11:02,758 --> 00:11:04,869
people . Thank you for your continued 

310
00:11:04,869 --> 00:11:06,813
support of our service members and 

311
00:11:06,813 --> 00:11:06,470
their families . We look forward to 

312
00:11:06,470 --> 00:11:07,470
your questions . 

313
00:11:11,340 --> 00:11:14,170
Thank you very much . Mr . Secretary um 

314
00:11:14,180 --> 00:11:17,040
Secretary scenarios section 15 06 of 

315
00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,690
the 2020 20 Defense 2022 Defense bill 

316
00:11:19,690 --> 00:11:22,280
requires you and the D . O . D . Chief 

317
00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,169
Information Officer to assess the 

318
00:11:24,169 --> 00:11:25,947
feasibility and advisability of 

319
00:11:25,947 --> 00:11:28,002
creating a national cyber Academy to 

320
00:11:28,002 --> 00:11:30,002
train future civilians and military 

321
00:11:30,002 --> 00:11:32,224
personnel for federal service and cyber 

322
00:11:32,224 --> 00:11:32,070
information and related fields 

323
00:11:32,090 --> 00:11:34,312
throughout the federal government . The 

324
00:11:34,312 --> 00:11:36,368
assessment must be completed by this 

325
00:11:36,368 --> 00:11:38,590
fall . Do you believe that the National 

326
00:11:38,590 --> 00:11:40,757
cyber Academy would help us obtain for 

327
00:11:40,757 --> 00:11:42,701
civilian or military service ? The 

328
00:11:42,701 --> 00:11:44,923
cyber talent , we need to meet national 

329
00:11:44,923 --> 00:11:44,780
defense objectives over the next two 

330
00:11:44,780 --> 00:11:47,002
decades . And while creating a National 

331
00:11:47,002 --> 00:11:49,224
cyber Academy is a long term enterprise 

332
00:11:49,224 --> 00:11:51,447
in the near term , what do you think of 

333
00:11:51,447 --> 00:11:53,502
creating an ROTC like scholarship to 

334
00:11:53,502 --> 00:11:55,613
service program for civilian students 

335
00:11:55,613 --> 00:11:57,836
throughout the nation ? Partnering with 

336
00:11:57,836 --> 00:11:57,340
appropriate colleges and universities 

337
00:11:57,340 --> 00:11:59,284
in exchange for a civilian service 

338
00:11:59,284 --> 00:12:01,540
commitment . Thank you for that 

339
00:12:01,540 --> 00:12:04,850
question . Senator . You know , cyber 

340
00:12:04,850 --> 00:12:07,072
is one of the areas that I know all the 

341
00:12:07,072 --> 00:12:09,294
services , both on the civilian and the 

342
00:12:09,294 --> 00:12:12,100
uniform side are . And as I mentioned 

343
00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:15,510
in my remarks in in a 

344
00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,687
competitive competing for talent , you 

345
00:12:17,687 --> 00:12:21,330
know with the private sector um we need 

346
00:12:21,330 --> 00:12:23,441
more of these individuals were trying 

347
00:12:23,441 --> 00:12:25,552
to recruit the best and the brightest 

348
00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,007
I've spoken with the Chief information 

349
00:12:28,007 --> 00:12:30,062
officer . They actually have lied on 

350
00:12:30,062 --> 00:12:32,173
this report . We are there to support 

351
00:12:32,173 --> 00:12:34,340
them but we think anything that we can 

352
00:12:34,340 --> 00:12:36,340
do that will bring more people into 

353
00:12:36,340 --> 00:12:38,562
government service hopefully within the 

354
00:12:38,562 --> 00:12:41,390
Department of Defense as well . Uh You 

355
00:12:41,390 --> 00:12:42,890
know we are looking at all 

356
00:12:42,890 --> 00:12:45,057
opportunities and anything that we can 

357
00:12:45,057 --> 00:12:47,279
do that would kind of help improve that 

358
00:12:47,279 --> 00:12:49,279
and make it better . Thank you MS . 

359
00:12:49,279 --> 00:12:51,279
Foster . The Department of Military 

360
00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:53,223
Services continue to implement the 

361
00:12:53,223 --> 00:12:55,168
recommendations of the President's 

362
00:12:55,168 --> 00:12:54,770
Independent Review Commission on Sexual 

363
00:12:54,770 --> 00:12:56,937
assault in the military , particularly 

364
00:12:56,937 --> 00:12:58,992
those that address prevention victim 

365
00:12:58,992 --> 00:13:01,270
care and command , culture and climate . 

366
00:13:01,270 --> 00:13:03,326
Most of these recommendations do not 

367
00:13:03,326 --> 00:13:05,548
require legislation . Nevertheless , we 

368
00:13:05,548 --> 00:13:07,492
expect the department to implement 

369
00:13:07,492 --> 00:13:06,920
these recommendations as quickly as 

370
00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,240
possible in including within the 

371
00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,407
reserve components . Please provide us 

372
00:13:11,407 --> 00:13:13,351
with an update on the department's 

373
00:13:13,351 --> 00:13:15,351
implementation and the timeline for 

374
00:13:15,351 --> 00:13:17,573
expected completion . And do you expect 

375
00:13:17,573 --> 00:13:19,907
to implement every one of the I . R . C . 

376
00:13:19,907 --> 00:13:19,800
Recommendations and if not what you're 

377
00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,510
still under review . Senator . Thank 

378
00:13:23,510 --> 00:13:25,677
you so much for that question . As you 

379
00:13:25,677 --> 00:13:27,910
know , implementing all 82 I . R . C . 

380
00:13:27,910 --> 00:13:29,743
Recommendations is a priority of 

381
00:13:29,743 --> 00:13:31,632
Secretary Austin's and all senior 

382
00:13:31,632 --> 00:13:33,854
leadership at the Department of Defense 

383
00:13:33,854 --> 00:13:35,966
um in the interest of time . I'd like 

384
00:13:35,966 --> 00:13:37,910
to provide a few highlights on the 

385
00:13:37,910 --> 00:13:39,966
prevention work that we're doing and 

386
00:13:39,966 --> 00:13:42,077
the response workforce . Uh so on the 

387
00:13:42,077 --> 00:13:44,132
prevention workforce . As you know , 

388
00:13:44,132 --> 00:13:46,466
one of the key recommendations of the I . 

389
00:13:46,466 --> 00:13:48,688
R . C . Was to stand up a dedicated and 

390
00:13:48,688 --> 00:13:50,466
specialized violence prevention 

391
00:13:50,466 --> 00:13:52,688
workforce that would look at addressing 

392
00:13:52,688 --> 00:13:54,854
not only sexual assault and harassment 

393
00:13:54,854 --> 00:13:56,910
but also suicide domestic violence , 

394
00:13:56,910 --> 00:13:58,854
child abuse . Um And so one of the 

395
00:13:58,854 --> 00:14:00,966
things that we've done is established 

396
00:14:00,966 --> 00:14:03,188
the prevention workforce model which is 

397
00:14:03,188 --> 00:14:05,510
essentially the infrastructure that 

398
00:14:05,510 --> 00:14:08,320
will support this new workforce which 

399
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,542
we're building from the ground up . And 

400
00:14:10,542 --> 00:14:12,709
when we look at this workforce we have 

401
00:14:12,709 --> 00:14:14,653
to think where are these personnel 

402
00:14:14,653 --> 00:14:16,820
going to be ? What special skills will 

403
00:14:16,820 --> 00:14:19,130
they possess to do their job ? What 

404
00:14:19,130 --> 00:14:20,908
kind of training , training and 

405
00:14:20,908 --> 00:14:22,908
continuing education do they need ? 

406
00:14:23,140 --> 00:14:25,251
What kind of credentials do they need 

407
00:14:25,251 --> 00:14:26,973
to ensure that this is truly a 

408
00:14:26,973 --> 00:14:29,307
professional and standardized workforce . 

409
00:14:29,307 --> 00:14:31,529
Um So that's that's what we're doing on 

410
00:14:31,529 --> 00:14:33,529
the on the prevention side , on the 

411
00:14:33,529 --> 00:14:35,473
response side we're working really 

412
00:14:35,473 --> 00:14:37,584
closely with the services to redesign 

413
00:14:37,584 --> 00:14:39,250
how we staff , resource and 

414
00:14:39,250 --> 00:14:41,830
professionalize our response workforce 

415
00:14:41,830 --> 00:14:44,000
so that we can ensure that our victims 

416
00:14:44,010 --> 00:14:46,232
are getting all of the care and support 

417
00:14:46,232 --> 00:14:48,780
that they need . Um That includes 

418
00:14:48,790 --> 00:14:50,740
things like eliminating collateral 

419
00:14:50,740 --> 00:14:53,180
duties so they can focus exclusively on 

420
00:14:53,180 --> 00:14:56,010
this work . Um It means looking at 

421
00:14:56,020 --> 00:14:58,242
taking this out of the chain of command 

422
00:14:58,242 --> 00:15:00,520
so that there's no bias in the process . 

423
00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,742
And we're working very closely with the 

424
00:15:02,742 --> 00:15:04,909
services on developing those workforce 

425
00:15:04,909 --> 00:15:07,131
studies right now that will allow us to 

426
00:15:07,131 --> 00:15:09,353
implement this and I'm happy to provide 

427
00:15:09,353 --> 00:15:11,520
you additional information about other 

428
00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,353
recommendations or your staff at 

429
00:15:13,353 --> 00:15:17,260
another time . Thank you 

430
00:15:17,260 --> 00:15:18,090
very much . 

431
00:15:22,340 --> 00:15:24,451
Dr smith . The personnel subcommittee 

432
00:15:24,451 --> 00:15:26,396
recently held a hearing on suicide 

433
00:15:26,396 --> 00:15:28,729
prevention and behavioral health issues . 

434
00:15:28,729 --> 00:15:30,729
At that hearing , we heard from the 

435
00:15:30,729 --> 00:15:32,729
both D . O . D . And outside expert 

436
00:15:32,729 --> 00:15:32,650
witnesses about the shortage of 

437
00:15:32,650 --> 00:15:34,872
behavioral health providers and D . O . 

438
00:15:34,872 --> 00:15:36,983
D . And in the nation as a whole . We 

439
00:15:36,983 --> 00:15:38,928
continue to see increasing suicide 

440
00:15:38,928 --> 00:15:41,094
rates in the services and we hear from 

441
00:15:41,094 --> 00:15:43,206
constituents about problems assessing 

442
00:15:43,206 --> 00:15:45,317
accessing behavioral health care both 

443
00:15:45,317 --> 00:15:47,594
for service members and their families . 

444
00:15:47,594 --> 00:15:49,539
This has become particularly acute 

445
00:15:49,539 --> 00:15:51,761
during the pandemic dr smith . What can 

446
00:15:51,761 --> 00:15:51,310
be done to increase access to 

447
00:15:51,310 --> 00:15:53,588
behavioral health care , What is D . O . 

448
00:15:53,588 --> 00:15:55,754
D . Doing now and planning on doing in 

449
00:15:55,754 --> 00:15:57,866
the future to address the shortage of 

450
00:15:57,866 --> 00:15:59,921
behavioral health care needed by our 

451
00:15:59,921 --> 00:16:02,143
military personnel and their families . 

452
00:16:02,143 --> 00:16:04,254
We also continue to hear that some of 

453
00:16:04,254 --> 00:16:06,032
some do not avail themselves of 

454
00:16:06,032 --> 00:16:05,860
behavioral health services because of 

455
00:16:05,860 --> 00:16:08,320
the stigma attached seeking that type 

456
00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,542
of health care . What is being done and 

457
00:16:10,542 --> 00:16:12,598
what can be done more can be done to 

458
00:16:12,598 --> 00:16:14,598
reduce stigma of seeking behavioral 

459
00:16:14,598 --> 00:16:18,350
health . Okay . Mhm . 

460
00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:46,970
Why 

461
00:16:53,340 --> 00:16:56,670
we're also adding psychiatric P . A . S . 

462
00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,624
Along with nurse practitioners and 

463
00:16:58,624 --> 00:17:00,624
licensed mental health counselors , 

464
00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,320
family and marriage therapists . We've 

465
00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,450
also started reviewing all initial 

466
00:17:06,450 --> 00:17:08,506
appointments to make sure that we're 

467
00:17:08,506 --> 00:17:10,870
matching the needs of the individual to 

468
00:17:10,870 --> 00:17:13,570
the right level of provider to make 

469
00:17:13,570 --> 00:17:15,681
sure that they're not mismatched once 

470
00:17:15,681 --> 00:17:17,681
they make their first appointment . 

471
00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:19,850
We've also is I think you're aware 

472
00:17:19,850 --> 00:17:22,072
significantly increased tele behavioral 

473
00:17:22,072 --> 00:17:24,830
health Um and have a goal to increase 

474
00:17:24,830 --> 00:17:28,470
another 63,500 visits over the 

475
00:17:28,470 --> 00:17:31,430
next year . Now tell a behavioral 

476
00:17:31,430 --> 00:17:33,430
health is clearly contingent on the 

477
00:17:33,430 --> 00:17:35,900
consent of the individual . And that 

478
00:17:35,900 --> 00:17:38,122
the provider thinks that it's the right 

479
00:17:38,122 --> 00:17:40,233
modality , but we think that that's a 

480
00:17:40,233 --> 00:17:43,550
I'm going to help increase availability . 

481
00:17:44,740 --> 00:17:47,670
I will point out that most of our MTs 

482
00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,250
um meet the access to care standards 

483
00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:52,360
that that we've set . And actually 

484
00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:55,310
internally we have a standard of 15 

485
00:17:55,310 --> 00:17:58,270
days . Um Most are aware of the 28 day 

486
00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:02,410
For but on average across the system 

487
00:18:02,410 --> 00:18:05,450
we're running at about 13.6 days . 

488
00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:08,870
But there's clearly exceptions that 

489
00:18:08,870 --> 00:18:11,230
occur on a monthly basis at various 

490
00:18:11,230 --> 00:18:13,341
locations and that's part of where we 

491
00:18:13,341 --> 00:18:15,510
hope the staffing model will will will 

492
00:18:15,510 --> 00:18:18,510
help on that . You mentioned the issue 

493
00:18:18,510 --> 00:18:20,680
of stigma , we're working with Pienaar 

494
00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:24,010
and the rest of the uh department to 

495
00:18:24,010 --> 00:18:26,930
look at all of our instructions to make 

496
00:18:26,930 --> 00:18:29,430
sure that we review them and remove any 

497
00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,420
de stigmatizing language that may be in 

498
00:18:32,420 --> 00:18:36,210
them . Um And and I 

499
00:18:36,210 --> 00:18:37,932
hope the fact that there is an 

500
00:18:37,932 --> 00:18:40,154
increasing demand signal for behavioral 

501
00:18:40,154 --> 00:18:42,210
health is an indication that some of 

502
00:18:42,210 --> 00:18:44,580
our efforts are actually working , but 

503
00:18:44,580 --> 00:18:46,524
I might differ to some of my other 

504
00:18:46,524 --> 00:18:48,247
colleagues to see if there are 

505
00:18:48,247 --> 00:18:50,080
additional issues to add to that 

506
00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:53,562
senator . I'll just add on the stigma . 

507
00:18:53,562 --> 00:18:55,670
That is something that we've really 

508
00:18:55,670 --> 00:18:59,000
been focusing on . The Deputy Secretary 

509
00:18:59,010 --> 00:19:01,690
holds the the DW c the deputies 

510
00:19:01,690 --> 00:19:03,523
workforce council where this has 

511
00:19:03,523 --> 00:19:05,690
definitely been a topic that's come up 

512
00:19:05,690 --> 00:19:08,670
for discussion , where you know , we 

513
00:19:08,670 --> 00:19:10,781
are trying to convince commanders and 

514
00:19:10,781 --> 00:19:13,003
everyone not to overreact when somebody 

515
00:19:13,003 --> 00:19:15,450
comes up with a problem that Gordon 

516
00:19:15,450 --> 00:19:17,561
says , you know , hey I need help , I 

517
00:19:17,561 --> 00:19:19,672
need support . Uh that's not a reason 

518
00:19:19,672 --> 00:19:22,050
to take away security clearance . Um So 

519
00:19:22,050 --> 00:19:24,217
we've been discussing this all the all 

520
00:19:24,217 --> 00:19:26,383
the services are on board uh something 

521
00:19:26,383 --> 00:19:28,494
that will work towards to really kind 

522
00:19:28,494 --> 00:19:30,606
of get it out there to to really just 

523
00:19:30,606 --> 00:19:32,772
de stigmatize it and and really mean , 

524
00:19:32,772 --> 00:19:34,828
what we say is like mental health is 

525
00:19:34,828 --> 00:19:36,994
health and that people should have the 

526
00:19:36,994 --> 00:19:39,161
support to come forward when they need 

527
00:19:39,161 --> 00:19:40,994
to discuss their mental health . 

528
00:19:43,140 --> 00:19:45,550
Thank you . Senator Gillibrand um Again , 

529
00:19:45,550 --> 00:19:49,040
thank you all for being here . Um MS 

530
00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,860
Foster and uh Secretary Cisneros 

531
00:19:51,870 --> 00:19:53,981
Cisneros and I spoke about this in my 

532
00:19:53,981 --> 00:19:56,710
office yesterday with the R . C uh 

533
00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:58,942
recommendation the implementation , you 

534
00:19:58,942 --> 00:20:00,887
know , originally it was a shorter 

535
00:20:00,887 --> 00:20:02,940
timeline . Senator Gillibrand was 

536
00:20:02,950 --> 00:20:05,480
gracious to have a two year 

537
00:20:05,490 --> 00:20:08,120
implementation timeline but in each of 

538
00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:10,287
the service lines , it's going to be a 

539
00:20:10,287 --> 00:20:13,520
complex process and um I know uh 

540
00:20:13,530 --> 00:20:15,752
Secretary Cisneros , I believe you said 

541
00:20:15,752 --> 00:20:17,697
that you would be having a program 

542
00:20:17,697 --> 00:20:19,808
office or a program plan more or less 

543
00:20:19,808 --> 00:20:22,086
put in place over the next month or so . 

544
00:20:22,086 --> 00:20:24,420
Um There's less of a question and and 

545
00:20:24,420 --> 00:20:26,476
more of an encouragement that as you 

546
00:20:26,476 --> 00:20:28,476
get that plan together , I think it 

547
00:20:28,476 --> 00:20:30,531
would be important to report back to 

548
00:20:30,531 --> 00:20:33,210
this committee , your progress and any 

549
00:20:33,210 --> 00:20:35,377
of the milestones that are slipping to 

550
00:20:35,377 --> 00:20:37,432
the right the reasons why so that we 

551
00:20:37,432 --> 00:20:39,654
don't have to be reactive when you come 

552
00:20:39,654 --> 00:20:41,710
before the committee and report that 

553
00:20:41,710 --> 00:20:43,877
maybe he ran into a few challenges for 

554
00:20:43,877 --> 00:20:46,043
making the timeline and then what more 

555
00:20:46,043 --> 00:20:48,590
we can do to potentially facilitate any 

556
00:20:48,590 --> 00:20:50,701
of the problems or challenges you may 

557
00:20:50,701 --> 00:20:53,980
be running into , Sen . absolutely . We 

558
00:20:53,980 --> 00:20:56,202
would be more than happy to engage with 

559
00:20:56,202 --> 00:20:58,313
you on this . As you said , it's it's 

560
00:20:58,313 --> 00:21:00,424
quite complex . We're implementing 82 

561
00:21:00,424 --> 00:21:02,591
recommendations that cover sort of the 

562
00:21:02,591 --> 00:21:05,150
full spectrum of the department , but I 

563
00:21:05,150 --> 00:21:07,206
think what we've done is we've built 

564
00:21:07,210 --> 00:21:09,570
accountability and evaluation into the 

565
00:21:09,570 --> 00:21:11,900
process to ensure precisely what you 

566
00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:13,844
described that . We don't fall off 

567
00:21:13,844 --> 00:21:16,011
track . One of the ways in which we've 

568
00:21:16,011 --> 00:21:18,178
done that is we're building an outcome 

569
00:21:18,178 --> 00:21:20,233
metrics evaluation report which will 

570
00:21:20,233 --> 00:21:22,400
allow the department to track progress 

571
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,344
on each of those recommendations , 

572
00:21:24,344 --> 00:21:26,289
recognizing that for some of those 

573
00:21:26,289 --> 00:21:28,456
recommendations , there's , you know , 

574
00:21:28,456 --> 00:21:30,678
it's not just done , not done , there's 

575
00:21:30,678 --> 00:21:32,844
many data points along the way and and 

576
00:21:32,844 --> 00:21:34,900
what we're doing with that report is 

577
00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:36,844
that will then come forward to the 

578
00:21:36,844 --> 00:21:38,844
deputies workforce council which is 

579
00:21:38,844 --> 00:21:40,789
chaired by the deputy Secretary of 

580
00:21:40,789 --> 00:21:42,844
Defense and the vice chairman of the 

581
00:21:42,844 --> 00:21:45,011
Joint Chiefs of Staff . That will come 

582
00:21:45,011 --> 00:21:47,067
forward to that group on a quarterly 

583
00:21:47,067 --> 00:21:49,178
basis . And anywhere that that we are 

584
00:21:49,178 --> 00:21:51,344
falling behind anywhere where it looks 

585
00:21:51,344 --> 00:21:53,456
like we're off track . That gives the 

586
00:21:53,456 --> 00:21:55,622
senior leadership of the department an 

587
00:21:55,622 --> 00:21:57,733
opportunity to engage with all of the 

588
00:21:57,733 --> 00:21:59,956
services and say , hey what's happening 

589
00:21:59,956 --> 00:21:59,860
here ? What why aren't we making 

590
00:21:59,860 --> 00:22:01,582
progress ? You need additional 

591
00:22:01,582 --> 00:22:03,527
resources . Do you need additional 

592
00:22:03,527 --> 00:22:05,638
authorities ? And I think we we would 

593
00:22:05,638 --> 00:22:07,749
welcome having that conversation with 

594
00:22:07,749 --> 00:22:09,971
Congress as well . You've been critical 

595
00:22:09,971 --> 00:22:12,082
partners for us on this . And so we'd 

596
00:22:12,082 --> 00:22:14,138
like to continue that conversation . 

597
00:22:14,138 --> 00:22:17,530
Thank you . Um Secretary Cisneros the D . 

598
00:22:17,530 --> 00:22:19,530
O . D . Equity action plan that was 

599
00:22:19,530 --> 00:22:22,610
issued a few weeks ago . Can you give 

600
00:22:22,610 --> 00:22:25,640
me an idea of what 

601
00:22:25,650 --> 00:22:28,990
specific programs or actions are going 

602
00:22:28,990 --> 00:22:31,250
to follow as a result of that action 

603
00:22:31,250 --> 00:22:35,040
plan ? Thank 

604
00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,790
you for that senator . Um Look , I 

605
00:22:37,790 --> 00:22:40,540
think that we want to ensure that 

606
00:22:40,550 --> 00:22:42,800
everybody has opportunity regardless of 

607
00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,860
their their sexual gender , the color 

608
00:22:45,860 --> 00:22:47,971
of their skin , that they are able to 

609
00:22:47,971 --> 00:22:49,860
give it an opportunity within the 

610
00:22:49,860 --> 00:22:52,082
department of offense to achieve and to 

611
00:22:52,082 --> 00:22:54,138
succeed . And also to do this within 

612
00:22:54,138 --> 00:22:56,060
our Dodea schools as well uh to 

613
00:22:56,060 --> 00:22:59,520
celebrate the diversity uh of of our 

614
00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,530
families of our service members and 

615
00:23:01,530 --> 00:23:03,363
their families that serve in the 

616
00:23:03,363 --> 00:23:05,586
Department of Defense to make sure that 

617
00:23:05,586 --> 00:23:07,586
we celebrate the many cultures that 

618
00:23:07,586 --> 00:23:09,860
make up the department . But our equity 

619
00:23:09,860 --> 00:23:13,060
plan is really about uh making sure 

620
00:23:13,060 --> 00:23:15,060
that there is opportunity for those 

621
00:23:15,060 --> 00:23:17,227
that want it and to go out there , I'm 

622
00:23:17,227 --> 00:23:19,393
going to work to achieve it and really 

623
00:23:19,393 --> 00:23:21,820
creating that environment um that where 

624
00:23:21,820 --> 00:23:24,910
we celebrate the diversity of our force 

625
00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:26,976
and that we are getting out there to 

626
00:23:26,976 --> 00:23:29,910
ensure that that we know uh diverse and 

627
00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,350
integrated forces , gonna stronger 

628
00:23:32,350 --> 00:23:34,970
warfighting , understand the objection 

629
00:23:34,980 --> 00:23:37,650
objective . I think it's laudable , but 

630
00:23:37,660 --> 00:23:39,240
I'm getting more into the 

631
00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:43,070
implementation . I mean , what could we 

632
00:23:43,070 --> 00:23:46,060
foresee quotas , or I mean , how 

633
00:23:46,060 --> 00:23:49,250
exactly would you implement this ? No , 

634
00:23:49,250 --> 00:23:51,840
sir , we have no quotas . There's no 

635
00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,220
idea or thought of quotas . Again , 

636
00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:56,220
when I say it , it's about creating 

637
00:23:56,220 --> 00:23:58,442
opportunity to make sure that everybody 

638
00:23:58,442 --> 00:24:00,609
has a fair shake uh and that everybody 

639
00:24:00,609 --> 00:24:02,620
is given the same opportunity to 

640
00:24:02,620 --> 00:24:04,787
succeed . Uh That is really what we're 

641
00:24:04,787 --> 00:24:06,731
going after , and that's what I've 

642
00:24:06,731 --> 00:24:09,064
always talked about . What diversity is , 

643
00:24:09,064 --> 00:24:11,287
diversity is about creating opportunity 

644
00:24:11,287 --> 00:24:13,342
and that's what I'm working forwards 

645
00:24:13,342 --> 00:24:15,342
within the Department defense as we 

646
00:24:15,342 --> 00:24:15,220
move forward with this . Okay , thank 

647
00:24:15,220 --> 00:24:17,470
you dr smith . I had this discussion 

648
00:24:17,470 --> 00:24:19,526
with Secretary Cisneros in my office 

649
00:24:19,526 --> 00:24:21,530
yesterday . I think we've got a an 

650
00:24:21,530 --> 00:24:24,660
inherent conflict when we talk about 

651
00:24:24,670 --> 00:24:28,190
removing the stigma . Um on the one 

652
00:24:28,190 --> 00:24:30,700
hand , we are rightfully asking men and 

653
00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:33,500
women to come forward , seek seek help 

654
00:24:33,510 --> 00:24:36,270
and and provision care to them . On the 

655
00:24:36,270 --> 00:24:38,430
other hand , uh and you've heard me 

656
00:24:38,430 --> 00:24:40,374
state my concerns with some of the 

657
00:24:40,374 --> 00:24:42,374
inflows of potential recruits , You 

658
00:24:42,374 --> 00:24:44,541
have a potential recruit come in , who 

659
00:24:44,541 --> 00:24:47,060
may have at some point in time prior to 

660
00:24:47,070 --> 00:24:49,980
uh seeking a career in the armed 

661
00:24:49,980 --> 00:24:51,758
services have behavioral health 

662
00:24:51,758 --> 00:24:53,702
challenges , maybe anxiety or been 

663
00:24:53,702 --> 00:24:55,313
administered drugs . It's my 

664
00:24:55,313 --> 00:24:57,258
understanding right now , that's a 

665
00:24:57,258 --> 00:24:59,313
disqualifying event , is that true ? 

666
00:25:05,340 --> 00:25:06,340
Mhm . 

667
00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,610
But I can certainly provide 

668
00:25:28,790 --> 00:25:31,420
for the record , more details . I would 

669
00:25:31,420 --> 00:25:34,190
appreciate that . I just , you know , 

670
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,311
I'm just wanting to make sure we have 

671
00:25:36,311 --> 00:25:38,533
consistency over the lifecycle from the 

672
00:25:38,533 --> 00:25:40,756
point in time , somebody is considering 

673
00:25:40,756 --> 00:25:42,978
entering service to the point in time , 

674
00:25:42,978 --> 00:25:44,867
somebody exits and transitions to 

675
00:25:44,867 --> 00:25:47,033
veteran status . And I think those are 

676
00:25:47,033 --> 00:25:49,144
just slight tuning of the dial . That 

677
00:25:49,144 --> 00:25:50,978
would be helpful for the overall 

678
00:25:50,978 --> 00:25:53,033
challenge that we have with removing 

679
00:25:53,033 --> 00:25:55,144
the stigma and making sure people get 

680
00:25:55,144 --> 00:25:57,256
the treatment that they need . And uh 

681
00:25:57,256 --> 00:25:59,700
mr our secretary cisneros , if I get a 

682
00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:01,890
chance , I wanted to to go back to a 

683
00:26:01,890 --> 00:26:03,834
discussion we had about child care 

684
00:26:03,834 --> 00:26:05,890
because we have two members here , I 

685
00:26:05,890 --> 00:26:08,001
may have an opportunity in in another 

686
00:26:08,001 --> 00:26:11,330
round . Senator Warren , thank you very 

687
00:26:11,330 --> 00:26:14,440
much . Um so we're here to discuss the 

688
00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,300
pentagon's budget requests for 

689
00:26:16,300 --> 00:26:18,467
personnel costs . In other words , the 

690
00:26:18,467 --> 00:26:20,522
part of the budget that pays for the 

691
00:26:20,522 --> 00:26:23,210
people who make our military run and 

692
00:26:23,210 --> 00:26:25,043
some of those people are federal 

693
00:26:25,043 --> 00:26:27,099
employees , but some of those people 

694
00:26:27,099 --> 00:26:29,154
are contractors . Now , studies have 

695
00:26:29,154 --> 00:26:31,230
shown that outsourcing can result in 

696
00:26:31,230 --> 00:26:34,010
the pentagon paying double or even 

697
00:26:34,010 --> 00:26:36,170
triple what we pay for federal 

698
00:26:36,170 --> 00:26:38,810
employees to do the same job . The 

699
00:26:38,810 --> 00:26:41,040
Defense Business board recommended 

700
00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,530
cutting those contracts To help the 

701
00:26:43,530 --> 00:26:47,180
department save $125 

702
00:26:47,180 --> 00:26:50,000
billion . Now , contractors are always 

703
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,840
going to be part of our defense 

704
00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,580
workforce , but making good decisions 

705
00:26:54,590 --> 00:26:58,150
about when to outsource requires good 

706
00:26:58,150 --> 00:27:00,730
data . Secretary Cisneros , your office 

707
00:27:00,730 --> 00:27:03,620
is required by federal law to help 

708
00:27:03,630 --> 00:27:06,380
track data on the cost of contractors 

709
00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:08,700
used by the pentagon . So let me just 

710
00:27:08,700 --> 00:27:10,422
start with the basics how many 

711
00:27:10,422 --> 00:27:12,589
contractors work for the Department of 

712
00:27:12,589 --> 00:27:16,190
Defense . Uh Senator . Um 

713
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,000
thank you for that . But regrettably , 

714
00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,770
I do not have that information with me , 

715
00:27:21,780 --> 00:27:23,891
but I can take that for the record on 

716
00:27:23,891 --> 00:27:25,947
the number of contractors or is it a 

717
00:27:25,947 --> 00:27:28,169
publicly available piece of information 

718
00:27:28,169 --> 00:27:31,990
um that I am not 

719
00:27:31,990 --> 00:27:34,101
sure ma'am , I would have to get back 

720
00:27:34,101 --> 00:27:36,268
to you and let me find it this way . I 

721
00:27:36,268 --> 00:27:38,490
can't find it . And I look hard on your 

722
00:27:38,490 --> 00:27:40,434
website . I call people , I try to 

723
00:27:40,434 --> 00:27:42,490
figure this out . And I think that's 

724
00:27:42,490 --> 00:27:44,490
the problem . The law explicitly 

725
00:27:44,490 --> 00:27:47,700
requires your office to develop 

726
00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:50,730
guidance to track this information and 

727
00:27:50,730 --> 00:27:52,730
I don't know how we can justify the 

728
00:27:52,730 --> 00:27:55,710
kind of spending the pentagon asks for 

729
00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,530
if we don't even know basic things like 

730
00:27:58,530 --> 00:28:02,060
how many people we have on contract and 

731
00:28:02,070 --> 00:28:04,500
make that number publicly available to 

732
00:28:04,510 --> 00:28:06,399
all of us , there's no doubt that 

733
00:28:06,399 --> 00:28:08,566
you're required to collect it . I just 

734
00:28:08,566 --> 00:28:10,621
like to see it and see it reported . 

735
00:28:10,621 --> 00:28:12,690
Now , we also know that it can be 

736
00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:14,367
incredibly expensive when the 

737
00:28:14,367 --> 00:28:17,020
department outsources its work for 

738
00:28:17,020 --> 00:28:19,280
services like administrative , support 

739
00:28:19,290 --> 00:28:22,200
for food , services , for deployed 

740
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,580
troops , for weapons maintenance or 

741
00:28:24,590 --> 00:28:26,757
even for management , consulting . And 

742
00:28:26,757 --> 00:28:29,120
the cost for these Have grown 

743
00:28:29,130 --> 00:28:32,710
enormously over the past 20 years . So 

744
00:28:32,710 --> 00:28:34,740
that last year the department spent 

745
00:28:34,750 --> 00:28:38,720
$214 billion dollars on 

746
00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,070
service contracting . one of the big 

747
00:28:42,070 --> 00:28:44,600
ways that the Department estimates 

748
00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,470
future costs is through five year 

749
00:28:47,470 --> 00:28:49,250
spending plans that lay out 

750
00:28:49,260 --> 00:28:52,020
expectations for how much different 

751
00:28:52,020 --> 00:28:54,242
parts of the pentagon are going to need 

752
00:28:54,242 --> 00:28:57,520
in various areas . So Secretary 

753
00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,170
Cisneros , how much does the department 

754
00:29:00,180 --> 00:29:02,700
expect to spend on service contracts 

755
00:29:02,710 --> 00:29:04,210
over the next five years , 

756
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,062
senator . It's my understanding that we 

757
00:29:10,062 --> 00:29:12,229
don't project contractor costs the way 

758
00:29:12,229 --> 00:29:14,062
that we do with our military and 

759
00:29:14,062 --> 00:29:16,360
civilian workforce requirements over . 

760
00:29:16,940 --> 00:29:19,260
We must take a I believe you're right 

761
00:29:19,270 --> 00:29:21,492
total force approach and kind of looked 

762
00:29:21,492 --> 00:29:24,480
at contracted services and I can commit 

763
00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,900
that . I'll take this concern back to 

764
00:29:26,900 --> 00:29:30,160
the controller and the cope to make 

765
00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:32,420
sure that it's addressed . Well , I 

766
00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:35,680
appreciate your doing that . You know , 

767
00:29:35,690 --> 00:29:37,857
it shouldn't take somebody asking this 

768
00:29:37,857 --> 00:29:40,023
question . This should just be part of 

769
00:29:40,023 --> 00:29:42,190
the planning that's already baked in . 

770
00:29:42,190 --> 00:29:44,246
We can't have good planning if we're 

771
00:29:44,246 --> 00:29:46,301
not looking at long term costs and I 

772
00:29:46,301 --> 00:29:48,523
gotta say five years , doesn't she seem 

773
00:29:48,523 --> 00:29:50,840
like hugely long term . Uh But at least 

774
00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,860
to start in the right direction . I 

775
00:29:52,860 --> 00:29:54,960
think that taxpayers and those of us 

776
00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,960
who do oversight should know how much 

777
00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,000
money the pentagon expects to spend on 

778
00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,410
costly areas of the budget . And I 

779
00:30:03,410 --> 00:30:05,720
think this committee should know that . 

780
00:30:05,730 --> 00:30:07,640
And I'm gonna be following up on 

781
00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,862
requests for information . I appreciate 

782
00:30:09,862 --> 00:30:11,862
your willingness to bring this this 

783
00:30:11,862 --> 00:30:13,807
forward . Look , we have a defense 

784
00:30:13,807 --> 00:30:16,580
industry where these contractors have a 

785
00:30:16,580 --> 00:30:19,930
long history of lining their pockets at 

786
00:30:19,940 --> 00:30:22,420
taxpayer expense . And if we're not 

787
00:30:22,420 --> 00:30:24,670
collecting the data and making smart 

788
00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:26,750
decisions then we're going to just 

789
00:30:26,750 --> 00:30:29,870
continue to see runaway spending 

790
00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,200
without more effectiveness in making 

791
00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,510
our military work . So thank you very 

792
00:30:35,510 --> 00:30:38,170
much . And um 

793
00:30:38,940 --> 00:30:40,996
Secretary Cisneros if you're able to 

794
00:30:40,996 --> 00:30:43,107
provide that information , I think it 

795
00:30:43,107 --> 00:30:45,107
would be interesting to stratify it 

796
00:30:45,107 --> 00:30:48,220
between sort of ongoing long term 

797
00:30:48,220 --> 00:30:51,220
positions project oriented special 

798
00:30:51,230 --> 00:30:53,630
services things that are unique to a 

799
00:30:53,630 --> 00:30:57,200
specific uh project or outcome that 

800
00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,422
roll over . I think that's a better way 

801
00:30:59,422 --> 00:31:01,311
to look at it because one you can 

802
00:31:01,311 --> 00:31:03,533
understand that would continue to be uh 

803
00:31:03,533 --> 00:31:05,756
contract and the other one you can look 

804
00:31:05,756 --> 00:31:07,922
at whether or not that's a valid basis 

805
00:31:07,922 --> 00:31:10,060
for bringing it inside senator highly 

806
00:31:10,740 --> 00:31:13,180
thank you . Mr Chairman Dr smith . Can 

807
00:31:13,180 --> 00:31:15,570
I start with you earlier this week the 

808
00:31:15,570 --> 00:31:17,570
via announced that it would presume 

809
00:31:17,570 --> 00:31:19,792
service connection for nine respiratory 

810
00:31:19,792 --> 00:31:21,903
cancers that were resulting from were 

811
00:31:21,903 --> 00:31:23,792
potentially connected to burn pit 

812
00:31:23,792 --> 00:31:25,959
exposure . This committee , as you may 

813
00:31:25,959 --> 00:31:27,959
know , held a hearing on this topic 

814
00:31:27,959 --> 00:31:30,181
back in March . Can you give me the D . 

815
00:31:30,181 --> 00:31:29,660
O . D . S . Estimate for the number of 

816
00:31:29,660 --> 00:31:31,771
individuals who would qualify for the 

817
00:31:31,771 --> 00:31:33,493
presumption of service related 

818
00:31:33,493 --> 00:31:35,604
connection ? Do you have any sense of 

819
00:31:35,604 --> 00:31:38,550
that ? Thank you . I do not . Oh thank 

820
00:31:38,550 --> 00:31:41,130
you . Sorry . Um I do not have an 

821
00:31:41,130 --> 00:31:43,240
actual number . I know that the 

822
00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:46,930
definition is um rare means 

823
00:31:46,940 --> 00:31:50,720
six per 100,000 I believe . Um But I 

824
00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,070
would have to come back and yes they 

825
00:31:54,070 --> 00:31:57,760
did . It's nine conditions related 

826
00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:01,460
to high particulate matter and 

827
00:32:02,340 --> 00:32:04,507
and that brings the total that the V . 

828
00:32:04,507 --> 00:32:07,110
A . Has now designated as presumed 

829
00:32:07,110 --> 00:32:10,330
service connection to what 12 I believe 

830
00:32:10,330 --> 00:32:13,860
relative to particulate matter because 

831
00:32:13,870 --> 00:32:17,600
sinusitis , rhinitis and asthma was 

832
00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,290
also made presumptive . I want to say 

833
00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:22,680
three months or so ago . Okay . Could 

834
00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,860
you come back to me on on the numbers 

835
00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,102
such as U . Under ? Could you look into 

836
00:32:27,102 --> 00:32:29,213
that and get back to the meat for the 

837
00:32:29,213 --> 00:32:31,324
record ? And the idea would be for us 

838
00:32:31,324 --> 00:32:31,320
to predict what we think the numbers 

839
00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,264
would be given the likely exposure 

840
00:32:33,264 --> 00:32:35,431
since 2001 . Give me some sense of the 

841
00:32:35,431 --> 00:32:37,264
scope of the universe that we're 

842
00:32:37,264 --> 00:32:39,376
looking at here . Great . Thank you . 

843
00:32:39,376 --> 00:32:41,376
Um MS . Penrod shifting to you that 

844
00:32:41,376 --> 00:32:44,750
this committee heard earlier this month 

845
00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:46,816
testimony relating to the tragedy of 

846
00:32:46,816 --> 00:32:49,070
service members suicide . I know the 

847
00:32:49,070 --> 00:32:51,237
department's been attended to this but 

848
00:32:51,237 --> 00:32:52,959
the G . A . O . Has reported a 

849
00:32:52,959 --> 00:32:55,181
statistically statistically significant 

850
00:32:55,181 --> 00:32:57,070
increase ? I'm sure you know , an 

851
00:32:57,070 --> 00:32:59,181
active component suicide from 2015 to 

852
00:32:59,181 --> 00:32:59,130
2020 . And that's true across all of 

853
00:32:59,130 --> 00:33:01,352
the services . Let me just ask for your 

854
00:33:01,352 --> 00:33:03,360
view about why this issue persists 

855
00:33:03,370 --> 00:33:05,470
despite D . O . D . S attempts to 

856
00:33:05,470 --> 00:33:09,460
address it . Uh Senator . Um 

857
00:33:09,470 --> 00:33:13,020
I am going to defer to her portfolio . 

858
00:33:13,030 --> 00:33:15,252
Sure , go ahead . MS . Foster Senator , 

859
00:33:15,252 --> 00:33:17,308
thank you so much for the question . 

860
00:33:17,308 --> 00:33:19,252
And let me just say first off that 

861
00:33:19,252 --> 00:33:19,230
these are tragedies that have 

862
00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:21,462
absolutely no place in our force in our 

863
00:33:21,462 --> 00:33:24,240
force and we need to uh continue our 

864
00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,940
concerted efforts to get after this . I 

865
00:33:26,940 --> 00:33:28,773
think the reason that this issue 

866
00:33:28,773 --> 00:33:31,060
continues to persist is suicide is the 

867
00:33:31,060 --> 00:33:33,282
result of a number of different complex 

868
00:33:33,282 --> 00:33:35,360
factors . So psychological 

869
00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:38,410
environmental , social behavioral , uh 

870
00:33:38,410 --> 00:33:41,880
and as a result of that there is no one 

871
00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:44,370
single fix that we can have two to 

872
00:33:44,370 --> 00:33:46,481
address this . And you know , this is 

873
00:33:46,481 --> 00:33:48,148
not just a problem within the 

874
00:33:48,148 --> 00:33:50,314
Department of Defense , it's a problem 

875
00:33:50,314 --> 00:33:52,537
within the civilian community as well . 

876
00:33:52,537 --> 00:33:54,592
Um But we are taking a public health 

877
00:33:54,592 --> 00:33:56,592
approach to urgently get after this 

878
00:33:56,592 --> 00:33:58,648
issue and we're doing that through a 

879
00:33:58,648 --> 00:34:00,870
few different ways . Um One of the ways 

880
00:34:00,870 --> 00:34:02,759
in which I'll highlight is we are 

881
00:34:02,759 --> 00:34:04,981
standing up a dedicated and specialized 

882
00:34:04,981 --> 00:34:07,092
violence prevention workforce that is 

883
00:34:07,092 --> 00:34:09,259
intended to address those risk factors 

884
00:34:09,259 --> 00:34:11,426
that we see that exacerbate this issue 

885
00:34:11,426 --> 00:34:13,370
and enhance some of the protective 

886
00:34:13,370 --> 00:34:15,426
factors that are critical to getting 

887
00:34:15,426 --> 00:34:17,360
after this . Got it . Thank you . 

888
00:34:17,370 --> 00:34:20,480
That's helpful . Um what do you think 

889
00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,730
in in your view the weak points are in 

890
00:34:22,730 --> 00:34:25,660
the department's current efforts to 

891
00:34:25,660 --> 00:34:29,370
address this issue ? Uh Senator , I 

892
00:34:29,380 --> 00:34:32,090
think that the that the science is 

893
00:34:32,100 --> 00:34:34,540
evolving rapidly on this issue and and 

894
00:34:34,540 --> 00:34:36,596
so we are are following the emerging 

895
00:34:36,596 --> 00:34:39,440
science and data on this to to address 

896
00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:41,850
this and taking that integrated primary 

897
00:34:41,850 --> 00:34:43,961
prevention and public health approach 

898
00:34:43,961 --> 00:34:46,510
this issue . We we absolutely have more 

899
00:34:46,510 --> 00:34:48,343
work to do but but we are moving 

900
00:34:48,343 --> 00:34:51,270
quickly to take these steps . Well , 

901
00:34:51,270 --> 00:34:53,326
I'm sure we'll be talking more about 

902
00:34:53,326 --> 00:34:55,159
this . I mean , it's it's a huge 

903
00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:54,390
problem , as you say , it's 

904
00:34:54,390 --> 00:34:56,446
unfortunately a growing problem . It 

905
00:34:56,446 --> 00:34:58,446
does span both the civilian and the 

906
00:34:58,446 --> 00:35:00,501
military worlds , the service worlds 

907
00:35:00,501 --> 00:35:02,723
and it's clearly something that we need 

908
00:35:02,723 --> 00:35:02,250
to address in both of those contacts . 

909
00:35:02,250 --> 00:35:04,417
We'll look forward to working with you 

910
00:35:04,417 --> 00:35:06,306
more on that . Mr . Cisneros Mr . 

911
00:35:06,306 --> 00:35:06,000
Secretary . If I could just shift to 

912
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,056
you , my remaining moments here , as 

913
00:35:08,056 --> 00:35:10,167
you might imagine . I have received a 

914
00:35:10,167 --> 00:35:12,333
lot of communication from constituents 

915
00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:14,273
Who are concerned about military 

916
00:35:14,273 --> 00:35:17,600
discharges as a result of the COVID-19 

917
00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:19,750
vaccine mandate . Can you tell me how 

918
00:35:19,750 --> 00:35:22,010
many service members within each 

919
00:35:22,020 --> 00:35:24,242
individual service and across them have 

920
00:35:24,242 --> 00:35:26,464
been discharged a result as a result of 

921
00:35:26,464 --> 00:35:28,750
the vaccine mandate . Um , thank you 

922
00:35:28,750 --> 00:35:30,806
for that question senator . Um , you 

923
00:35:30,806 --> 00:35:32,861
know , ensuring that all our service 

924
00:35:32,861 --> 00:35:35,740
members are ready and able to to deploy 

925
00:35:35,740 --> 00:35:38,140
and be part of the our fighting forces 

926
00:35:38,140 --> 00:35:39,973
an important thing and know it's 

927
00:35:39,973 --> 00:35:41,918
important to the secretary and the 

928
00:35:41,918 --> 00:35:43,862
requirement that he's made . Um in 

929
00:35:43,862 --> 00:35:45,918
regards to the number of people that 

930
00:35:45,918 --> 00:35:47,973
we've been discharged because of the 

931
00:35:47,973 --> 00:35:50,130
Covid vaccine . I do not have that 

932
00:35:50,130 --> 00:35:52,352
exact number with me today , but that's 

933
00:35:52,352 --> 00:35:54,241
something I can take back for the 

934
00:35:54,241 --> 00:35:56,408
record . Great , thank you very much . 

935
00:35:56,408 --> 00:35:58,519
Can you also find out what percentage 

936
00:35:58,519 --> 00:35:58,220
across and within each service were 

937
00:35:58,220 --> 00:36:00,920
issued as a general discharge under 

938
00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:02,920
honorable conditions rather than an 

939
00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,142
honorable discharge ? Can you find that 

940
00:36:05,142 --> 00:36:07,800
out for me ? I can look into that and 

941
00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:09,911
maybe you can tell me this . How does 

942
00:36:09,911 --> 00:36:12,022
the department evaluate the character 

943
00:36:12,022 --> 00:36:14,022
of the discharge resulting from the 

944
00:36:14,022 --> 00:36:16,078
vaccination requirement ? Well right 

945
00:36:16,078 --> 00:36:17,911
now Senator those that are being 

946
00:36:17,911 --> 00:36:19,578
discharged if anyone is being 

947
00:36:19,578 --> 00:36:21,689
discharged because of refusal to take 

948
00:36:21,689 --> 00:36:23,689
the vaccine , they are getting a if 

949
00:36:23,689 --> 00:36:25,856
it's an honorable R . A . M . The next 

950
00:36:25,856 --> 00:36:27,800
level below that that and that was 

951
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:29,856
dictated by the last India a that we 

952
00:36:29,856 --> 00:36:32,022
follow . And so that's what we've been 

953
00:36:32,022 --> 00:36:34,189
doing . And how do you do ? How do you 

954
00:36:34,189 --> 00:36:36,244
distinguish though between those two 

955
00:36:36,244 --> 00:36:38,356
categories ? Uh that sir is up to the 

956
00:36:38,356 --> 00:36:40,078
services . Um they process the 

957
00:36:40,078 --> 00:36:42,133
discharges . Um and they're the ones 

958
00:36:42,133 --> 00:36:44,356
who make the decision on the individual 

959
00:36:44,356 --> 00:36:46,356
basis as to what's going on and why 

960
00:36:46,356 --> 00:36:48,522
it's it's an honorable or why it's not 

961
00:36:48,522 --> 00:36:50,522
an honorable discharge . But surely 

962
00:36:50,522 --> 00:36:52,578
given that this is a very widespread 

963
00:36:52,578 --> 00:36:54,856
issue and the numbers are pretty large . 

964
00:36:54,856 --> 00:36:57,078
There's some uniform criteria . I would 

965
00:36:57,078 --> 00:36:59,600
think . So we have our we do . We have 

966
00:36:59,600 --> 00:37:02,510
our policy the same policy for for 

967
00:37:02,510 --> 00:37:04,710
waivers and for whether it be medical 

968
00:37:04,710 --> 00:37:07,660
or for religious waivers and um that is 

969
00:37:07,930 --> 00:37:10,041
has been in place for a while now and 

970
00:37:10,041 --> 00:37:12,263
that is the policy that we have gone to 

971
00:37:12,263 --> 00:37:14,486
the services and told them to make sure 

972
00:37:14,486 --> 00:37:14,420
that they are following these 

973
00:37:14,420 --> 00:37:17,630
procedures . Um but with that , I think 

974
00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:19,584
Mr Penrod could kind of give you a 

975
00:37:19,584 --> 00:37:21,680
little bit more detail on that . As 

976
00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:23,680
with any discharge , a service will 

977
00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:25,624
look at the conditions around that 

978
00:37:25,624 --> 00:37:27,347
discharge . So it's not always 

979
00:37:27,347 --> 00:37:29,347
straightforward . It could be other 

980
00:37:29,347 --> 00:37:31,513
circumstances with the individual case 

981
00:37:31,513 --> 00:37:33,736
and that's why we need to , it would be 

982
00:37:33,736 --> 00:37:35,847
the services who would have to answer 

983
00:37:35,847 --> 00:37:37,791
that why they would have a certain 

984
00:37:37,791 --> 00:37:39,736
number of honorable versus general 

985
00:37:39,736 --> 00:37:42,090
discharges . But am I right in thinking 

986
00:37:42,090 --> 00:37:44,270
that when it comes to this issue , I 

987
00:37:44,270 --> 00:37:46,103
mean this distinction between an 

988
00:37:46,103 --> 00:37:48,980
honorable discharge discharge or the 

989
00:37:48,980 --> 00:37:50,758
general general discharge under 

990
00:37:50,758 --> 00:37:53,830
honorable honorable conditions As it 

991
00:37:53,830 --> 00:37:55,997
relates to COVID-19 , there's some set 

992
00:37:55,997 --> 00:37:58,163
of uniform criteria that are governing 

993
00:37:58,163 --> 00:38:00,330
these decisions . Right ? I understand 

994
00:38:00,330 --> 00:38:02,386
that you have to make a case by case 

995
00:38:02,386 --> 00:38:04,608
evaluation but there are a lot of these 

996
00:38:04,608 --> 00:38:04,210
cases that are presenting the same 

997
00:38:04,210 --> 00:38:06,210
basic sets of facts . Yes . But the 

998
00:38:06,210 --> 00:38:08,500
services are looking at each case 

999
00:38:08,510 --> 00:38:11,070
individually . So they that's what they 

1000
00:38:11,070 --> 00:38:13,181
do . They review these cases and they 

1001
00:38:13,181 --> 00:38:15,237
look at all the circumstances of the 

1002
00:38:15,237 --> 00:38:17,403
case is that is not something we would 

1003
00:38:17,403 --> 00:38:19,737
would be able to do at our level . Well , 

1004
00:38:19,737 --> 00:38:21,903
I understand that . I'm just trying to 

1005
00:38:21,903 --> 00:38:24,126
get the information . So I understand . 

1006
00:38:24,126 --> 00:38:26,237
Listen , I'm a lawyer . I mean you we 

1007
00:38:26,237 --> 00:38:25,960
accept the court's assess cases on a 

1008
00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:27,793
case by case basis . That's what 

1009
00:38:27,793 --> 00:38:29,627
litigation means . But you do it 

1010
00:38:29,627 --> 00:38:31,571
according to a standard rule , you 

1011
00:38:31,571 --> 00:38:33,627
don't make it up as you go along . I 

1012
00:38:33,627 --> 00:38:35,682
want to know what the rule is , what 

1013
00:38:35,682 --> 00:38:37,849
the great does that make sense ? Yes , 

1014
00:38:37,849 --> 00:38:39,960
sir . And we do we do have procedures 

1015
00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,016
in place that have been there that , 

1016
00:38:42,016 --> 00:38:44,071
that govern the waivers . And then , 

1017
00:38:44,071 --> 00:38:45,960
you know , as far as to as far as 

1018
00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:48,182
discharges go , there are procedures in 

1019
00:38:48,182 --> 00:38:50,293
place and the instructions that guide 

1020
00:38:50,293 --> 00:38:52,127
that and that's kind of what the 

1021
00:38:52,127 --> 00:38:54,238
services are following . Can you give 

1022
00:38:54,238 --> 00:38:56,404
me that information , sir ? If I may , 

1023
00:38:56,404 --> 00:38:58,738
sir . So it's really a two step process . 

1024
00:38:58,738 --> 00:39:00,849
If it's a religious accommodation for 

1025
00:39:00,849 --> 00:39:02,627
example , um It's the up to the 

1026
00:39:02,627 --> 00:39:05,270
department to determine whether or not 

1027
00:39:05,270 --> 00:39:07,530
that's a sincerely held belief . Um in 

1028
00:39:07,530 --> 00:39:09,586
most cases that is being passed this 

1029
00:39:09,586 --> 00:39:11,641
the individuals , I have a religious 

1030
00:39:11,641 --> 00:39:13,530
reason for not having the vaccine 

1031
00:39:13,530 --> 00:39:15,740
that's clearly past the next step is 

1032
00:39:15,750 --> 00:39:17,806
what is the impact of the health and 

1033
00:39:17,806 --> 00:39:19,900
welfare of the service ? Is there a 

1034
00:39:19,900 --> 00:39:22,020
safety issue . So that's the next 

1035
00:39:22,020 --> 00:39:24,490
standard that they look at uh for the 

1036
00:39:24,490 --> 00:39:26,740
services . That's the standard that 

1037
00:39:26,740 --> 00:39:29,500
causes the concern for the safety and 

1038
00:39:29,500 --> 00:39:31,640
welfare of the service . And so those 

1039
00:39:31,640 --> 00:39:33,830
are the standards , those are clear in 

1040
00:39:33,830 --> 00:39:36,800
policy . Um , the procedures themselves 

1041
00:39:36,810 --> 00:39:38,810
are different by service and that's 

1042
00:39:38,810 --> 00:39:41,143
what we're reviewing currently . Got it . 

1043
00:39:41,143 --> 00:39:44,930
Thank you . Thank you . I 

1044
00:39:44,940 --> 00:39:46,940
don't have any other questions that 

1045
00:39:46,940 --> 00:39:49,162
spent , mine has already been asked and 

1046
00:39:49,162 --> 00:39:51,051
answered . But I will say this my 

1047
00:39:51,051 --> 00:39:53,162
office , I've got five military bases 

1048
00:39:53,162 --> 00:39:54,996
in my state . My office has been 

1049
00:39:54,996 --> 00:39:56,950
overwhelmed with phone calls and 

1050
00:39:56,950 --> 00:39:59,117
letters and some of these letters that 

1051
00:39:59,117 --> 00:40:02,600
I read or I mean , break your heart 

1052
00:40:02,610 --> 00:40:04,570
about religious and health related 

1053
00:40:04,580 --> 00:40:08,030
problems . Uh , we I would say is 

1054
00:40:09,010 --> 00:40:11,177
uh Senator Hawley said , you know , we 

1055
00:40:11,177 --> 00:40:14,520
need to get some kind of relief from 

1056
00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,520
this . We need to get somebody some 

1057
00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:18,409
answers so we can give our people 

1058
00:40:18,409 --> 00:40:20,631
answers because it's it's all up in the 

1059
00:40:20,631 --> 00:40:22,750
air and uh , you know , people don't 

1060
00:40:22,750 --> 00:40:24,639
like their questions not answer , 

1061
00:40:24,639 --> 00:40:26,583
especially when , when , when it's 

1062
00:40:26,583 --> 00:40:28,639
their livelihood . So , uh , I would 

1063
00:40:28,639 --> 00:40:30,806
appreciate the same information you're 

1064
00:40:30,806 --> 00:40:32,750
going to Secretary for uh , second 

1065
00:40:32,750 --> 00:40:34,750
Senator Hawley . And so we can pass 

1066
00:40:34,750 --> 00:40:36,972
that on to our constituents . Thank you 

1067
00:40:36,972 --> 00:40:38,972
very much . Thank you . We could we 

1068
00:40:38,972 --> 00:40:41,170
could provide that . Senator . Thank 

1069
00:40:41,170 --> 00:40:43,560
you . Um , both of you have an 

1070
00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:45,782
opportunity for a second round . If you 

1071
00:40:45,782 --> 00:40:47,838
have more questions , I'm gonna just 

1072
00:40:47,838 --> 00:40:49,838
ask one . Um , just last week , the 

1073
00:40:49,838 --> 00:40:51,949
army unveiled an expansive set of new 

1074
00:40:51,949 --> 00:40:53,949
policies aimed to create one of the 

1075
00:40:53,949 --> 00:40:56,060
most consequential sets of quality of 

1076
00:40:56,060 --> 00:40:58,060
life improvements ever for military 

1077
00:40:58,060 --> 00:41:00,227
parents , including expanded leave and 

1078
00:41:00,227 --> 00:41:02,393
making it easier for pregnant soldiers 

1079
00:41:02,393 --> 00:41:04,449
to continue their careers . This new 

1080
00:41:04,449 --> 00:41:06,504
policy includes a 12 month exemption 

1081
00:41:06,504 --> 00:41:08,727
from onerous military requirements such 

1082
00:41:08,727 --> 00:41:08,470
as postpartum body composition , 

1083
00:41:08,470 --> 00:41:10,581
physical fitness testing , postpartum 

1084
00:41:10,581 --> 00:41:12,359
dress uniforms , Deferment from 

1085
00:41:12,359 --> 00:41:14,526
training and deployments , among other 

1086
00:41:14,526 --> 00:41:16,192
things . This new policy also 

1087
00:41:16,192 --> 00:41:17,748
authorizes up to 42 days of 

1088
00:41:17,748 --> 00:41:19,748
convalescence leave after pregnancy 

1089
00:41:19,748 --> 00:41:21,914
loss and authorizes parental leave for 

1090
00:41:21,914 --> 00:41:24,026
birth parents in the Army Reserve and 

1091
00:41:24,026 --> 00:41:26,192
Army National Guard Secretary Cisneros 

1092
00:41:26,192 --> 00:41:28,303
and Miss Penrod . What's your view on 

1093
00:41:28,303 --> 00:41:30,470
this newly announced army policy ? And 

1094
00:41:30,470 --> 00:41:29,760
will you consider requiring the other 

1095
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:32,020
services to adopt a similar policy ? 

1096
00:41:32,610 --> 00:41:35,300
Senator ? I think when I saw the 

1097
00:41:35,310 --> 00:41:37,477
message that they were coming out with 

1098
00:41:37,477 --> 00:41:39,477
this , I thought it was great and I 

1099
00:41:39,477 --> 00:41:41,699
think it's something that we definitely 

1100
00:41:41,699 --> 00:41:43,532
encourage . Um , you know , each 

1101
00:41:43,532 --> 00:41:45,754
service is different . Each services is 

1102
00:41:45,754 --> 00:41:45,320
trying different things and know the 

1103
00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:48,350
navy uh for a while , his has granted 

1104
00:41:48,360 --> 00:41:50,582
leaves of absence where service members 

1105
00:41:50,582 --> 00:41:52,804
could take time off , I think up to two 

1106
00:41:52,804 --> 00:41:54,971
years , um you know , from active duty 

1107
00:41:54,971 --> 00:41:57,027
and then come back after that . Um , 

1108
00:41:57,027 --> 00:41:58,916
but but we are are for supporting 

1109
00:41:58,916 --> 00:42:01,150
anything that is going to allow uh , 

1110
00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:03,327
you know , improve our quality of life 

1111
00:42:03,327 --> 00:42:05,438
of our service members and to make it 

1112
00:42:05,438 --> 00:42:07,438
better for them and to make it more 

1113
00:42:07,438 --> 00:42:09,940
family oriented for them ? Yes , 

1114
00:42:09,940 --> 00:42:12,320
Senator , thank you . What we do is 

1115
00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:14,690
when a service announces a policy that 

1116
00:42:14,700 --> 00:42:18,100
is a very generous policy and um again 

1117
00:42:18,110 --> 00:42:20,277
we look at the support it provides the 

1118
00:42:20,277 --> 00:42:23,260
family . Um We will then we always work 

1119
00:42:23,260 --> 00:42:25,316
and meet with the other services and 

1120
00:42:25,316 --> 00:42:27,427
look well how would you do this ? You 

1121
00:42:27,427 --> 00:42:29,316
know what are the constraints for 

1122
00:42:29,316 --> 00:42:31,149
youtube implement the same as Mr 

1123
00:42:31,149 --> 00:42:33,482
Cisneros said each culture is different . 

1124
00:42:33,482 --> 00:42:35,538
Um And how would that impact writing 

1125
00:42:35,538 --> 00:42:37,760
the submission of the service ? So this 

1126
00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:39,750
is something I think um the speech 

1127
00:42:39,750 --> 00:42:42,320
individual service can speak to but yes 

1128
00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:44,690
when we see a great policy or something 

1129
00:42:44,690 --> 00:42:47,510
that helps our service members we 

1130
00:42:47,510 --> 00:42:49,566
absolutely look at how can we expand 

1131
00:42:49,566 --> 00:42:51,677
that to the other services . But once 

1132
00:42:51,677 --> 00:42:53,710
we have that information um and it 

1133
00:42:53,710 --> 00:42:56,010
looks like something that all services 

1134
00:42:56,010 --> 00:42:58,280
can support . We usually do put that in 

1135
00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:00,502
policy . You know we'll try to put that 

1136
00:43:00,502 --> 00:43:02,613
in policy . And just one question for 

1137
00:43:02,613 --> 00:43:04,502
dr smith , this is something that 

1138
00:43:04,502 --> 00:43:06,502
Senator Tillis and I have worked on 

1139
00:43:06,502 --> 00:43:08,613
last year's NBA contained a provision 

1140
00:43:08,613 --> 00:43:10,502
requiring independent analysis of 

1141
00:43:10,502 --> 00:43:12,391
recent changes to the autism care 

1142
00:43:12,391 --> 00:43:14,447
demonstration program After families 

1143
00:43:14,447 --> 00:43:16,391
and providers reported a myriad of 

1144
00:43:16,391 --> 00:43:18,502
concerns and disruption care . What's 

1145
00:43:18,502 --> 00:43:20,613
the status of the N . A . S . E . M . 

1146
00:43:20,613 --> 00:43:22,669
Analysis ? What will the analysis be 

1147
00:43:22,669 --> 00:43:24,836
complete before the end of the A . C . 

1148
00:43:24,836 --> 00:43:27,002
D . On january 1 2024 what will happen 

1149
00:43:27,002 --> 00:43:29,280
to the beneficiary services when the A . 

1150
00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:32,120
C . D . Ends on january 1 2024 . 

1151
00:43:33,500 --> 00:43:34,610
Mhm . Mhm 

1152
00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:50,030
highly support and think is very 

1153
00:43:50,030 --> 00:43:52,930
reasonable to do . It is supposed to be 

1154
00:43:53,300 --> 00:43:55,730
um We are um 

1155
00:43:57,100 --> 00:43:59,156
we want it to be done clearly before 

1156
00:43:59,156 --> 00:44:01,030
the end of the demonstration and 

1157
00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:03,262
relative to what will happen at the end 

1158
00:44:03,262 --> 00:44:05,429
of the demonstration . Um that's still 

1159
00:44:05,429 --> 00:44:07,651
internal discussions and a decision has 

1160
00:44:07,651 --> 00:44:09,818
not been made on that . So I hope that 

1161
00:44:09,818 --> 00:44:13,640
answers your question . Yes . Just 

1162
00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:16,410
one more back to the vaccination issue 

1163
00:44:16,410 --> 00:44:18,560
prior to last year's N . D . A . And 

1164
00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:20,910
you referenced that the change in uh in 

1165
00:44:20,910 --> 00:44:23,860
discharge status and decisions that we 

1166
00:44:23,860 --> 00:44:26,138
legislative it prior to that enactment . 

1167
00:44:26,138 --> 00:44:28,193
How many service members do you know 

1168
00:44:28,193 --> 00:44:30,249
were dishonorably discharged because 

1169
00:44:30,249 --> 00:44:32,471
they were unwilling to Get the COVID-19 

1170
00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:35,047
vaccination center . I don't have that 

1171
00:44:35,047 --> 00:44:37,213
number in front of me right now and we 

1172
00:44:37,213 --> 00:44:39,213
can get that for the record so that 

1173
00:44:39,213 --> 00:44:41,102
maybe a better question for their 

1174
00:44:41,102 --> 00:44:43,269
services when the next round as well . 

1175
00:44:43,269 --> 00:44:45,547
You will get it for me though . I will . 

1176
00:44:45,547 --> 00:44:47,713
Thank you . Thank you thank you to our 

1177
00:44:47,713 --> 00:44:49,713
panel . Your testimony is extremely 

1178
00:44:49,713 --> 00:44:51,824
helpful and if you want to supplement 

1179
00:44:51,824 --> 00:44:53,991
it in any way you have about a week to 

1180
00:44:53,991 --> 00:44:53,280
do so . Thank you so much and we'll 

1181
00:44:53,280 --> 00:44:54,891
invite the second panel up . 

1182
00:45:10,690 --> 00:45:11,410
Oh 

1183
00:45:22,090 --> 00:45:23,010
um 

1184
00:45:33,390 --> 00:45:35,279
for in depth for you I guess so . 

1185
00:45:40,690 --> 00:45:41,690
Okay 

1186
00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,360
welcome to our second panel . Um I'll 

1187
00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:10,193
just invite you in order of your 

1188
00:46:10,193 --> 00:46:12,527
seating . So Lieutenant General Burrito , 

1189
00:46:12,527 --> 00:46:14,749
your first uh if you'd like to start us 

1190
00:46:14,749 --> 00:46:18,410
off . Good afternoon cheers 

1191
00:46:19,740 --> 00:46:22,100
ranking member Attila's distinguished 

1192
00:46:24,180 --> 00:46:26,580
Thank you for the opportunity before 

1193
00:46:26,580 --> 00:46:28,691
you on behalf of the men and women of 

1194
00:46:28,691 --> 00:46:31,000
the United States , I submitted a 

1195
00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:33,056
statement for the record and I would 

1196
00:46:33,056 --> 00:46:35,333
like to highlight a few points from it . 

1197
00:46:35,333 --> 00:46:37,500
Now , The Army's # one priority is his 

1198
00:46:37,500 --> 00:46:39,222
people , our soldiers and army 

1199
00:46:39,222 --> 00:46:41,222
civilians , families and veterans . 

1200
00:46:41,222 --> 00:46:43,222
Soldiers for life . Nothing is more 

1201
00:46:43,222 --> 00:46:45,278
important for our combat readiness . 

1202
00:46:45,880 --> 00:46:48,047
Our personnel programs and initiatives 

1203
00:46:48,047 --> 00:46:50,158
are focused on promoting a culture of 

1204
00:46:50,158 --> 00:46:52,710
cohesiveness , dignity and respect and 

1205
00:46:52,710 --> 00:46:54,821
within a safe environment where every 

1206
00:46:54,821 --> 00:46:56,988
individual can advance as far as their 

1207
00:46:56,988 --> 00:46:58,988
talents and skills and desires will 

1208
00:46:58,988 --> 00:47:00,850
take them . Talent management 

1209
00:47:00,850 --> 00:47:03,290
initiatives , modernization programs 

1210
00:47:03,290 --> 00:47:05,840
and policy are transforming the army's 

1211
00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:09,370
personnel systems , ongoing 21st 

1212
00:47:09,370 --> 00:47:11,481
century talent management initiatives 

1213
00:47:11,481 --> 00:47:13,314
and in actions help us attract , 

1214
00:47:13,480 --> 00:47:16,200
acquire and retain a diverse and 

1215
00:47:16,200 --> 00:47:18,311
talented force from across the nation 

1216
00:47:19,180 --> 00:47:22,160
Are nearly 280,000 army civilians , an 

1217
00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:23,882
integral part of the army team 

1218
00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:26,647
providing unmatched talent in critical 

1219
00:47:26,647 --> 00:47:29,470
areas to further support them . We have 

1220
00:47:29,470 --> 00:47:31,581
expanded professional development and 

1221
00:47:31,581 --> 00:47:33,803
educational opportunities have extended 

1222
00:47:33,803 --> 00:47:35,526
our sharp services to all army 

1223
00:47:35,526 --> 00:47:38,290
civilians as well . Personal readiness , 

1224
00:47:38,290 --> 00:47:40,512
personnel readiness also means creating 

1225
00:47:40,512 --> 00:47:42,568
an installation and environment that 

1226
00:47:42,568 --> 00:47:44,734
allows our soldiers and their families 

1227
00:47:44,734 --> 00:47:47,940
to truck thrive . The army is committed 

1228
00:47:47,940 --> 00:47:49,884
to quality of life priorities that 

1229
00:47:49,884 --> 00:47:51,940
include quality housing , barracks , 

1230
00:47:52,080 --> 00:47:54,410
childcare use services and meaningful 

1231
00:47:54,410 --> 00:47:57,790
employment for our spouses , resiliency 

1232
00:47:57,790 --> 00:47:59,679
programs and initiatives aimed at 

1233
00:47:59,679 --> 00:48:01,623
harmful behaviors and supported by 

1234
00:48:01,623 --> 00:48:03,990
Congress are critical to help us combat 

1235
00:48:03,990 --> 00:48:06,970
sexual harassment , sexual assault and 

1236
00:48:06,970 --> 00:48:09,026
factors that contribute to suicide . 

1237
00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:11,787
The Army is sharp and suicide 

1238
00:48:11,787 --> 00:48:13,842
prevention training curriculums have 

1239
00:48:13,842 --> 00:48:15,953
both been updated . In addition , the 

1240
00:48:15,953 --> 00:48:18,176
behavioral health pulse tool was filled 

1241
00:48:18,176 --> 00:48:20,398
last year to provide leaders visibility 

1242
00:48:20,398 --> 00:48:22,620
over many facets of behavioral health . 

1243
00:48:23,270 --> 00:48:25,214
Other initiatives such as fatality 

1244
00:48:25,214 --> 00:48:27,360
review boards , support from our 

1245
00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:29,790
cohesive assessment team , improved 

1246
00:48:29,790 --> 00:48:31,957
leader training and more are hoping to 

1247
00:48:31,957 --> 00:48:34,179
address the issue of suicide across the 

1248
00:48:34,179 --> 00:48:37,040
total Army . The Army Soldier for Life 

1249
00:48:37,040 --> 00:48:39,400
program continues to support soldiers , 

1250
00:48:39,410 --> 00:48:42,440
veterans and their families . The 

1251
00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:44,551
retired soldiers are important to the 

1252
00:48:44,551 --> 00:48:46,560
army family . Soldier for Life is 

1253
00:48:46,560 --> 00:48:48,449
working to ensure that states and 

1254
00:48:48,449 --> 00:48:50,282
territories are aware of inbound 

1255
00:48:50,282 --> 00:48:52,116
transitioning soldiers and their 

1256
00:48:52,116 --> 00:48:54,540
families . The people of the United 

1257
00:48:54,540 --> 00:48:56,960
States Army , These men and women who 

1258
00:48:56,960 --> 00:48:59,016
serve our nation both and and out of 

1259
00:48:59,016 --> 00:49:01,480
uniform along with their families . Our 

1260
00:49:01,480 --> 00:49:04,080
strength . What makes our army great ? 

1261
00:49:04,970 --> 00:49:08,360
A diverse , talented , strong , healthy 

1262
00:49:08,360 --> 00:49:10,410
and resilient force is the most 

1263
00:49:10,410 --> 00:49:12,354
important indicator of our overall 

1264
00:49:12,354 --> 00:49:14,970
combat readiness , putting our people 

1265
00:49:14,970 --> 00:49:18,090
first as a priority and a philosophy . 

1266
00:49:18,770 --> 00:49:20,881
We'll continue to drive everything we 

1267
00:49:20,881 --> 00:49:22,940
do and continue to contribute to the 

1268
00:49:22,940 --> 00:49:25,107
quality of life and combat readiness . 

1269
00:49:26,070 --> 00:49:28,940
Chairwoman Gillibrand , Ranking ranking 

1270
00:49:28,940 --> 00:49:30,996
member , Tillis . And members of the 

1271
00:49:30,996 --> 00:49:32,829
committee . I thank you for your 

1272
00:49:32,829 --> 00:49:34,996
generous and unwavering support to our 

1273
00:49:34,996 --> 00:49:36,607
talented soldiers , civilian 

1274
00:49:36,607 --> 00:49:38,773
professionals and their families . And 

1275
00:49:38,773 --> 00:49:40,718
I look forward to your questions . 

1276
00:49:40,718 --> 00:49:43,160
Thank you ma'am . What chairwoman 

1277
00:49:43,160 --> 00:49:45,271
Gillibrand ranking member tell us and 

1278
00:49:45,271 --> 00:49:47,327
distinguished subcommittee Members . 

1279
00:49:47,327 --> 00:49:49,549
Thank you for the opportunity to appear 

1280
00:49:49,549 --> 00:49:51,716
before you today uh and talk to you as 

1281
00:49:51,716 --> 00:49:53,882
uh the Navy's Chief of Naval personnel 

1282
00:49:53,882 --> 00:49:55,993
and our personnel policy programs and 

1283
00:49:55,993 --> 00:49:58,216
initiatives . It's my distinct pleasure 

1284
00:49:58,270 --> 00:50:00,214
Uh and privileged to represent the 

1285
00:50:00,214 --> 00:50:02,500
sailors who were on watch 24/7 in every 

1286
00:50:02,500 --> 00:50:04,850
corner of the globe , above , on and 

1287
00:50:04,850 --> 00:50:07,090
below the surface of the seas . The 

1288
00:50:07,090 --> 00:50:09,300
demands of strategic competition now 

1289
00:50:09,300 --> 00:50:11,590
more than ever require that we remain 

1290
00:50:11,590 --> 00:50:14,050
well ahead of our adversaries who are 

1291
00:50:14,050 --> 00:50:15,661
persistently challenging our 

1292
00:50:15,661 --> 00:50:18,280
traditional warfighting dominance . To 

1293
00:50:18,280 --> 00:50:20,660
do this , we must continue to enhance 

1294
00:50:20,660 --> 00:50:23,200
our asymmetric advantage . Our people , 

1295
00:50:23,210 --> 00:50:25,750
we must consistently attract , develop 

1296
00:50:25,750 --> 00:50:27,960
and retain the world's most talented 

1297
00:50:27,960 --> 00:50:30,670
and skilled navy combat force . While 

1298
00:50:30,670 --> 00:50:32,781
we remain committed to attracting the 

1299
00:50:32,781 --> 00:50:34,892
best talent our nation has to offer , 

1300
00:50:34,892 --> 00:50:36,614
we are beginning to witness an 

1301
00:50:36,614 --> 00:50:38,730
increased competition for talent . As 

1302
00:50:38,730 --> 00:50:40,841
was mentioned in the first panel last 

1303
00:50:40,841 --> 00:50:42,952
month , the unemployment rate dropped 

1304
00:50:42,952 --> 00:50:45,880
to 3.6% while wages continue to grow , 

1305
00:50:46,090 --> 00:50:48,312
resulting in a very strong labor demand 

1306
00:50:48,312 --> 00:50:50,970
in all markets nationwide . While we 

1307
00:50:50,970 --> 00:50:53,140
are trending to meet our Fy 22 a 

1308
00:50:53,140 --> 00:50:55,418
session mission at the aggregate level , 

1309
00:50:55,418 --> 00:50:57,710
we will do so by reducing the delayed 

1310
00:50:57,710 --> 00:51:00,460
entry program from historic norms , 

1311
00:51:00,470 --> 00:51:03,870
which will be challenging to sustain to 

1312
00:51:03,870 --> 00:51:06,050
remain competitive . We will continue 

1313
00:51:06,050 --> 00:51:08,350
to leverage Ari talent teams are large 

1314
00:51:08,350 --> 00:51:11,110
scale digital recruiting presence with 

1315
00:51:11,110 --> 00:51:12,888
our forged by the sea marketing 

1316
00:51:12,888 --> 00:51:15,610
advertising strategy and we do reach 

1317
00:51:15,620 --> 00:51:18,350
all zip codes and will continue to not 

1318
00:51:18,350 --> 00:51:20,017
only leverage this , but also 

1319
00:51:20,017 --> 00:51:22,270
enlistment bonuses in our relentless 

1320
00:51:22,270 --> 00:51:24,159
effort to attract the diverse and 

1321
00:51:24,159 --> 00:51:26,070
skilled talent that we need . We 

1322
00:51:26,070 --> 00:51:28,380
continue to invest in trained resilient 

1323
00:51:28,380 --> 00:51:30,990
and educated sailors who can out think 

1324
00:51:31,360 --> 00:51:33,210
out , decide and out fight any 

1325
00:51:33,210 --> 00:51:35,760
potential adversary in particular , 

1326
00:51:35,890 --> 00:51:37,834
we're developing our sailor talent 

1327
00:51:37,834 --> 00:51:39,723
through initiatives such as ready 

1328
00:51:39,723 --> 00:51:41,890
relevant learning warrior toughness in 

1329
00:51:41,890 --> 00:51:44,057
our culture of excellence . Campaign . 

1330
00:51:44,057 --> 00:51:46,168
Ready relevant learning fundamentally 

1331
00:51:46,168 --> 00:51:48,279
changes the way our sailors trained , 

1332
00:51:48,279 --> 00:51:50,501
transforming an industrial era training 

1333
00:51:50,501 --> 00:51:52,612
model into a modern agile system with 

1334
00:51:52,612 --> 00:51:54,946
tailored career long learning continuum . 

1335
00:51:54,946 --> 00:51:57,112
For each sailor , warrior toughness is 

1336
00:51:57,112 --> 00:51:59,223
a holistic approach to developing the 

1337
00:51:59,223 --> 00:52:01,279
tools needed for sailors to optimize 

1338
00:52:01,279 --> 00:52:03,279
their performance and even the most 

1339
00:52:03,279 --> 00:52:05,501
stressful circumstances and our culture 

1340
00:52:05,501 --> 00:52:07,501
of excellence promotes a force wide 

1341
00:52:07,501 --> 00:52:09,612
environment of respect and resiliency 

1342
00:52:09,612 --> 00:52:11,723
for our sailors to thrive in the face 

1343
00:52:11,723 --> 00:52:13,890
of personal and professional adversity 

1344
00:52:14,350 --> 00:52:16,294
driven by the overarching goals of 

1345
00:52:16,294 --> 00:52:18,610
maximizing warfighting excellence and 

1346
00:52:18,610 --> 00:52:21,280
readiness . The Navy wide campaign is 

1347
00:52:21,280 --> 00:52:24,840
directly led by the Cno who leverages a 

1348
00:52:24,840 --> 00:52:26,970
Navy Leader development framework , 

1349
00:52:26,980 --> 00:52:29,830
which employs a data driven look across 

1350
00:52:29,840 --> 00:52:32,420
all of our 17 warfighting communities 

1351
00:52:32,530 --> 00:52:35,400
with a regular drumbeat building upon 

1352
00:52:35,400 --> 00:52:37,400
the retention gains of the last few 

1353
00:52:37,400 --> 00:52:39,567
years . We're committed to keeping the 

1354
00:52:39,567 --> 00:52:41,567
right talent and experience and the 

1355
00:52:41,567 --> 00:52:43,733
right pay grades and specialties while 

1356
00:52:43,733 --> 00:52:45,567
remaining mindful of the current 

1357
00:52:45,567 --> 00:52:47,733
economic trends and how they influence 

1358
00:52:47,733 --> 00:52:49,622
our sailors career decisions , to 

1359
00:52:49,622 --> 00:52:51,567
enhance retention . We continue to 

1360
00:52:51,567 --> 00:52:53,733
optimize our talent management systems 

1361
00:52:53,733 --> 00:52:55,622
to provide greater flexibility to 

1362
00:52:55,622 --> 00:52:57,733
sailors and career choice development 

1363
00:52:57,733 --> 00:52:59,456
training and assignments . Our 

1364
00:52:59,456 --> 00:53:01,789
detailing marketplace assignment policy , 

1365
00:53:01,789 --> 00:53:03,567
which will replace our existing 

1366
00:53:03,567 --> 00:53:06,020
seashore flow model offers a wide range 

1367
00:53:06,020 --> 00:53:08,570
of monetary and non monetary incentives 

1368
00:53:08,660 --> 00:53:10,771
to sailors , primarily in c intensive 

1369
00:53:10,771 --> 00:53:13,410
ratings right now to encourage them to 

1370
00:53:13,410 --> 00:53:15,900
serve longer where we need the most at 

1371
00:53:15,900 --> 00:53:18,170
sea . Commitment to continued 

1372
00:53:18,170 --> 00:53:20,337
investment in our sailors is necessary 

1373
00:53:20,337 --> 00:53:22,559
to sustain the flea . And we appreciate 

1374
00:53:22,559 --> 00:53:25,320
your strong support on our compensation 

1375
00:53:25,320 --> 00:53:27,650
to include vital special and incentive 

1376
00:53:27,650 --> 00:53:30,280
pays and bonuses which now more than 

1377
00:53:30,290 --> 00:53:32,810
ever are needed to target specific 

1378
00:53:32,810 --> 00:53:35,320
skills and finally transforming the 

1379
00:53:35,320 --> 00:53:37,264
Navy's internal personnel business 

1380
00:53:37,264 --> 00:53:40,050
processes remains a top priority to 

1381
00:53:40,050 --> 00:53:42,710
ensure we're delivering world class HR 

1382
00:53:42,710 --> 00:53:44,599
services to our sailors and their 

1383
00:53:44,599 --> 00:53:46,821
families . Again , I thank Congress for 

1384
00:53:46,821 --> 00:53:50,510
your support there . I remain inspired 

1385
00:53:50,520 --> 00:53:52,631
each and every day by our sailors . I 

1386
00:53:52,631 --> 00:53:54,631
know that you do too , and each and 

1387
00:53:54,631 --> 00:53:56,853
every american can be proud of them and 

1388
00:53:56,853 --> 00:53:59,076
their families . I look forward to your 

1389
00:53:59,076 --> 00:54:01,242
questions . Thank you very much . Vice 

1390
00:54:01,242 --> 00:54:03,353
Admiral Uh next is Lieutenant General 

1391
00:54:03,353 --> 00:54:05,464
David Armenian , deputy commandant of 

1392
00:54:05,464 --> 00:54:07,687
the Marine Corps for manpower , Reserve 

1393
00:54:07,687 --> 00:54:10,980
Affairs , Chairwoman Gillibrand , 

1394
00:54:10,990 --> 00:54:12,546
ranking member , Tillis and 

1395
00:54:12,546 --> 00:54:14,212
distinguished members of this 

1396
00:54:14,212 --> 00:54:16,046
subcommittee . Thank you for the 

1397
00:54:16,046 --> 00:54:18,212
opportunity to appear before you today 

1398
00:54:18,212 --> 00:54:20,379
to discuss your marines have submitted 

1399
00:54:20,379 --> 00:54:22,379
a written statement . So my opening 

1400
00:54:22,379 --> 00:54:24,900
comments will be brief . We have 

1401
00:54:24,900 --> 00:54:26,844
decisively stepped out on a talent 

1402
00:54:26,844 --> 00:54:28,844
management design and modernization 

1403
00:54:28,844 --> 00:54:30,900
effort to increase the lethality of 

1404
00:54:30,900 --> 00:54:33,320
your Marine corps to fight and win when 

1405
00:54:33,320 --> 00:54:35,880
called upon by the nation . Talent 

1406
00:54:35,880 --> 00:54:38,350
Management 2030 was released in support 

1407
00:54:38,350 --> 00:54:40,628
of the commandant's forced design plan , 

1408
00:54:41,340 --> 00:54:43,480
accomplishing the cores force design 

1409
00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:45,480
will not be possible without highly 

1410
00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:47,570
skilled , mature and mentally tough 

1411
00:54:47,570 --> 00:54:51,130
marines . These strategic plans are 

1412
00:54:51,130 --> 00:54:53,297
interdependent and foundational to the 

1413
00:54:53,297 --> 00:54:55,640
success of the Marine corps . The end 

1414
00:54:55,640 --> 00:54:57,807
product will be a force that is better 

1415
00:54:57,807 --> 00:54:59,584
equipped to fight and win in an 

1416
00:54:59,584 --> 00:55:01,500
increasingly high tech complex 

1417
00:55:01,510 --> 00:55:04,160
operating environment . The statutory 

1418
00:55:04,160 --> 00:55:06,300
authorities that congress has granted 

1419
00:55:06,300 --> 00:55:08,411
has streamlined some of these efforts 

1420
00:55:08,640 --> 00:55:10,640
and we thank you for your support . 

1421
00:55:10,740 --> 00:55:12,780
Other initiatives will require more 

1422
00:55:12,780 --> 00:55:15,280
study and take time to implement and we 

1423
00:55:15,280 --> 00:55:17,460
remain committed to getting this right 

1424
00:55:18,640 --> 00:55:21,380
the way we recruit And retain our focus 

1425
00:55:21,380 --> 00:55:24,040
areas in talent management 2030 . And 

1426
00:55:24,040 --> 00:55:25,873
while we're on track to make our 

1427
00:55:25,873 --> 00:55:27,929
session goals , this is arguably the 

1428
00:55:27,929 --> 00:55:29,873
most challenging recruiting year . 

1429
00:55:29,873 --> 00:55:31,596
Since the inception of the all 

1430
00:55:31,596 --> 00:55:33,651
volunteer force looking forward . We 

1431
00:55:33,651 --> 00:55:35,873
will need to be innovative and adapt to 

1432
00:55:35,873 --> 00:55:37,929
these challenges and be agile in our 

1433
00:55:37,929 --> 00:55:40,840
approach . I would like to highlight 

1434
00:55:40,840 --> 00:55:43,062
our commitment to the implementation of 

1435
00:55:43,062 --> 00:55:44,673
the recommendations from the 

1436
00:55:44,673 --> 00:55:46,840
Independent Review Commission approved 

1437
00:55:46,840 --> 00:55:48,951
by the Secretary of Defense , working 

1438
00:55:48,951 --> 00:55:51,173
closely with the Department of the Navy 

1439
00:55:51,173 --> 00:55:53,118
and the Office of the Secretary of 

1440
00:55:53,118 --> 00:55:55,229
Defense . We're moving out quickly to 

1441
00:55:55,229 --> 00:55:57,340
establish the Office of Special Trial 

1442
00:55:57,340 --> 00:55:59,507
Counsel as well as additive preventive 

1443
00:55:59,507 --> 00:56:01,673
workforce and enhanced victim care and 

1444
00:56:01,673 --> 00:56:04,290
support improvements . We will continue 

1445
00:56:04,340 --> 00:56:06,396
to keep Congress informed as we make 

1446
00:56:06,396 --> 00:56:10,050
progress . My final point today is that 

1447
00:56:10,060 --> 00:56:12,282
taking care of marines and their family 

1448
00:56:12,282 --> 00:56:14,520
remains paramount . We continue to 

1449
00:56:14,520 --> 00:56:16,631
invest both in prevention programs to 

1450
00:56:16,631 --> 00:56:18,930
reduce destructive behaviors across the 

1451
00:56:18,930 --> 00:56:21,830
force family readiness programs like 

1452
00:56:21,830 --> 00:56:23,890
parental leave , childcare , Spousal 

1453
00:56:23,890 --> 00:56:26,230
employment and our gold standard . 

1454
00:56:26,240 --> 00:56:28,390
Exceptional family member program are 

1455
00:56:28,390 --> 00:56:30,723
essential to the readiness of our force . 

1456
00:56:31,030 --> 00:56:33,197
We know that we recruit marines but we 

1457
00:56:33,197 --> 00:56:35,030
retain the family . I'm proud to 

1458
00:56:35,030 --> 00:56:37,790
represent your marines , their families 

1459
00:56:37,800 --> 00:56:40,022
and our civilian employees . And I look 

1460
00:56:40,022 --> 00:56:42,133
forward to answering your questions . 

1461
00:56:42,133 --> 00:56:44,300
Thank you very much . I'd like to hear 

1462
00:56:44,300 --> 00:56:46,467
from Miss Gwendolyn , R . D . Flippy , 

1463
00:56:46,467 --> 00:56:48,633
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of the 

1464
00:56:48,633 --> 00:56:50,689
Air Force for manpower Personnel and 

1465
00:56:50,689 --> 00:56:52,710
services . Chairman Gillibrand , 

1466
00:56:52,720 --> 00:56:54,942
ranking member , Tillis . Distinguished 

1467
00:56:54,942 --> 00:56:57,053
members of this committee . Thank you 

1468
00:56:57,053 --> 00:56:59,109
for the opportunity to appear before 

1469
00:56:59,109 --> 00:56:59,000
you to talk about our airmen and 

1470
00:56:59,000 --> 00:57:01,820
families . Winning a 21st century fight 

1471
00:57:01,830 --> 00:57:03,663
requires adaptable , resilient , 

1472
00:57:03,663 --> 00:57:05,886
innovative airmen , comfortable leading 

1473
00:57:05,886 --> 00:57:08,052
and flourishing as members of the of a 

1474
00:57:08,052 --> 00:57:09,941
diverse team . The Air Force will 

1475
00:57:09,941 --> 00:57:12,052
leverage a 21st century taylor rubble 

1476
00:57:12,052 --> 00:57:14,274
talent management force development and 

1477
00:57:14,274 --> 00:57:16,219
care solution ecosystem to develop 

1478
00:57:16,219 --> 00:57:18,441
airmen who can operate and succeed in a 

1479
00:57:18,441 --> 00:57:20,497
complex environment . Our airmen and 

1480
00:57:20,497 --> 00:57:22,386
families are greatest competitive 

1481
00:57:22,386 --> 00:57:24,552
advantage . We buy things we invest in 

1482
00:57:24,552 --> 00:57:26,330
people over the past year . The 

1483
00:57:26,330 --> 00:57:28,441
Department of the Air Force continued 

1484
00:57:28,441 --> 00:57:30,441
its focus on providing the absolute 

1485
00:57:30,441 --> 00:57:32,608
best care for our airmen guardians and 

1486
00:57:32,608 --> 00:57:34,719
their families while taking all steps 

1487
00:57:34,719 --> 00:57:34,580
necessary to create an inclusive 

1488
00:57:34,580 --> 00:57:36,640
environment where everyone has the 

1489
00:57:36,650 --> 00:57:38,706
opportunity to reach his or her full 

1490
00:57:38,706 --> 00:57:40,900
potential . The department recognizes 

1491
00:57:40,910 --> 00:57:43,021
that despite strong efforts over many 

1492
00:57:43,021 --> 00:57:45,077
years , we have not made significant 

1493
00:57:45,077 --> 00:57:47,132
measurable progress in preventing or 

1494
00:57:47,132 --> 00:57:49,243
reducing the number of sexual assault 

1495
00:57:49,243 --> 00:57:51,410
cases . We remain committed to efforts 

1496
00:57:51,410 --> 00:57:53,521
to combat sexual assault in the ranks 

1497
00:57:53,521 --> 00:57:55,577
and are open to piloting research or 

1498
00:57:55,577 --> 00:57:57,577
data informed prevention strategies 

1499
00:57:57,577 --> 00:57:59,299
that can reduce and eventually 

1500
00:57:59,299 --> 00:58:01,354
eliminate sexual assault from within 

1501
00:58:01,354 --> 00:58:03,521
our ranks . This year , the Department 

1502
00:58:03,521 --> 00:58:05,743
of the Air Force began implementing the 

1503
00:58:05,743 --> 00:58:05,230
Independent Review Commission's 

1504
00:58:05,230 --> 00:58:07,341
recommendations , increasing our full 

1505
00:58:07,341 --> 00:58:09,230
time response advocates adding 

1506
00:58:09,230 --> 00:58:11,452
additional oversight to support victims 

1507
00:58:11,720 --> 00:58:13,950
and increasing advocacy and support to 

1508
00:58:13,950 --> 00:58:17,430
sexual harassment victims . In response 

1509
00:58:17,430 --> 00:58:19,152
to the Department of Defense's 

1510
00:58:19,152 --> 00:58:21,263
concerning trend suicide trends , the 

1511
00:58:21,263 --> 00:58:23,486
Department of the Air Force established 

1512
00:58:23,486 --> 00:58:25,486
prevention priorities for 2022 that 

1513
00:58:25,486 --> 00:58:27,597
aligned with the White House strategy 

1514
00:58:27,597 --> 00:58:29,486
for reducing military and veteran 

1515
00:58:29,486 --> 00:58:31,708
suicides and nest within the prevention 

1516
00:58:31,708 --> 00:58:33,763
strategies strategies established by 

1517
00:58:33,763 --> 00:58:33,440
the Centers for Disease Control and 

1518
00:58:33,440 --> 00:58:35,850
Prevention . While we recognize risk 

1519
00:58:35,850 --> 00:58:38,072
factors for suicide are highly personal 

1520
00:58:38,072 --> 00:58:40,128
and often a result of interconnected 

1521
00:58:40,128 --> 00:58:42,183
issues . Our analysis supports those 

1522
00:58:42,183 --> 00:58:44,017
leading indicators identified by 

1523
00:58:44,017 --> 00:58:45,794
experts in the field to include 

1524
00:58:45,794 --> 00:58:47,739
relationship issues stigma towards 

1525
00:58:47,739 --> 00:58:49,850
seeking mental health care and access 

1526
00:58:49,850 --> 00:58:51,628
to lethal means . We have taken 

1527
00:58:51,628 --> 00:58:53,572
targeted measures to address these 

1528
00:58:53,572 --> 00:58:55,628
areas of concern in order to provide 

1529
00:58:55,628 --> 00:58:57,739
support to airmen who may be hesitant 

1530
00:58:57,739 --> 00:58:59,961
to come forward . The Department of the 

1531
00:58:59,961 --> 00:59:01,794
Air Force launched online family 

1532
00:59:01,794 --> 00:59:04,017
suicide prevention training and we have 

1533
00:59:04,017 --> 00:59:03,850
trained over 20,000 family members . 

1534
00:59:03,870 --> 00:59:05,814
Additionally , in order to address 

1535
00:59:05,814 --> 00:59:08,037
access to lethal means , we are working 

1536
00:59:08,037 --> 00:59:10,148
towards building a culture where safe 

1537
00:59:10,148 --> 00:59:12,259
storage is commonplace , putting time 

1538
00:59:12,259 --> 00:59:14,426
and distance between an individual and 

1539
00:59:14,426 --> 00:59:16,537
distress and access to lethal methods 

1540
00:59:16,537 --> 00:59:18,426
such as firearms or medications , 

1541
00:59:18,426 --> 00:59:20,648
recognizing a resilient environment for 

1542
00:59:20,648 --> 00:59:22,648
our families is also important . We 

1543
00:59:22,648 --> 00:59:24,481
strengthen efforts to manage our 

1544
00:59:24,481 --> 00:59:26,481
childcare programs more effectively 

1545
00:59:26,481 --> 00:59:28,537
while increasing capacity within the 

1546
00:59:28,537 --> 00:59:30,426
system . Further , the department 

1547
00:59:30,426 --> 00:59:32,592
continues to assist airmen , guardians 

1548
00:59:32,592 --> 00:59:34,814
and families with multiple solutions to 

1549
00:59:34,814 --> 00:59:34,800
support financial readiness and 

1550
00:59:34,800 --> 00:59:36,967
opportunities to promote food security 

1551
00:59:36,967 --> 00:59:39,022
across the force . Thank you for the 

1552
00:59:39,022 --> 00:59:40,633
recent basic needs allowance 

1553
00:59:40,633 --> 00:59:42,800
legislation to better support the well 

1554
00:59:42,800 --> 00:59:45,022
being of those for whom food insecurity 

1555
00:59:45,022 --> 00:59:46,911
may be an issue . The Air Force's 

1556
00:59:46,911 --> 00:59:49,078
balancing manpower readiness and force 

1557
00:59:49,078 --> 00:59:50,911
modernization of mid type fiscal 

1558
00:59:50,911 --> 00:59:52,856
demands . Our end strength demands 

1559
00:59:54,620 --> 00:59:56,980
um our military and strength reductions 

1560
00:59:56,980 --> 00:59:59,400
in fy 23 are commensurate with proposed 

1561
00:59:59,400 --> 01:00:01,400
force structure and divestitures in 

1562
01:00:01,400 --> 01:00:03,450
order to execute the plan . Fy 23 

1563
01:00:03,450 --> 01:00:05,283
manpower reductions and not face 

1564
01:00:05,283 --> 01:00:07,450
involuntary force management actions . 

1565
01:00:07,450 --> 01:00:09,510
The Air Force likely will end fy 22 

1566
01:00:09,510 --> 01:00:11,121
between one and 2% below the 

1567
01:00:11,121 --> 01:00:13,232
congressional mandated and strength . 

1568
01:00:13,232 --> 01:00:15,288
Although the department continues to 

1569
01:00:15,288 --> 01:00:17,454
experience high retention overall , we 

1570
01:00:17,454 --> 01:00:19,399
are seeing challenges and critical 

1571
01:00:19,399 --> 01:00:21,510
specialty capabilities we need future 

1572
01:00:21,510 --> 01:00:23,732
airman to have . There were therefore , 

1573
01:00:23,732 --> 01:00:23,700
we have focused on deliberate programs 

1574
01:00:23,700 --> 01:00:25,644
to attract and retain military and 

1575
01:00:25,644 --> 01:00:27,811
civilian cyber talent as well as other 

1576
01:00:27,811 --> 01:00:30,033
stem areas of expertise . We appreciate 

1577
01:00:30,033 --> 01:00:32,256
the talent management flexibilities you 

1578
01:00:32,256 --> 01:00:34,256
have provided to assist us in these 

1579
01:00:34,256 --> 01:00:36,311
efforts to enhance our talent pool . 

1580
01:00:36,311 --> 01:00:38,533
Our United States Air Force Academy has 

1581
01:00:38,533 --> 01:00:40,533
taken measures to ensure all cadets 

1582
01:00:40,533 --> 01:00:42,644
take courses with focus on cyber . In 

1583
01:00:42,644 --> 01:00:44,867
addition , through the civilian Premier 

1584
01:00:44,867 --> 01:00:44,860
College intern program , we recruit 

1585
01:00:44,860 --> 01:00:46,804
approximately 500 diverse students 

1586
01:00:46,804 --> 01:00:49,027
annually who have and have met our goal 

1587
01:00:49,027 --> 01:00:51,550
that 75% holds stem degrees . We 

1588
01:00:51,550 --> 01:00:53,661
understand it is equally important to 

1589
01:00:53,661 --> 01:00:55,717
execute retention programs for these 

1590
01:00:55,717 --> 01:00:57,717
critical skills . So we continue to 

1591
01:00:57,717 --> 01:00:59,328
utilize different career and 

1592
01:00:59,328 --> 01:01:01,494
developmental flexibilities as well as 

1593
01:01:01,494 --> 01:01:01,340
targeted monetary incentives and an 

1594
01:01:01,350 --> 01:01:03,628
effort to return to retain this talent . 

1595
01:01:03,910 --> 01:01:05,743
The Air Force achieved its fy 21 

1596
01:01:05,743 --> 01:01:07,854
recruiting goals and we hope to do so 

1597
01:01:07,854 --> 01:01:10,160
again in fy 22 . But we may miss goal 

1598
01:01:10,160 --> 01:01:12,160
based on increasing competition for 

1599
01:01:12,160 --> 01:01:14,382
talent as well as continued decline and 

1600
01:01:14,382 --> 01:01:16,382
propensity and eligibility of young 

1601
01:01:16,382 --> 01:01:18,630
americans . In conclusion , success 

1602
01:01:18,630 --> 01:01:20,574
against a pure threat demands . We 

1603
01:01:20,574 --> 01:01:22,630
maintain asymmetric advantage in the 

1604
01:01:22,630 --> 01:01:24,741
quality education and training of our 

1605
01:01:24,741 --> 01:01:27,074
airmen and we are investing accordingly . 

1606
01:01:27,074 --> 01:01:29,297
We have made progress but the Air Force 

1607
01:01:29,297 --> 01:01:31,463
still has work to do before we have an 

1608
01:01:31,463 --> 01:01:33,630
environment that allows all airmen and 

1609
01:01:33,630 --> 01:01:33,220
their families to reach their full 

1610
01:01:33,220 --> 01:01:35,670
potential . We continue to pursue every 

1611
01:01:35,670 --> 01:01:37,892
practical solution that moves us closer 

1612
01:01:37,892 --> 01:01:40,059
to making this environmental reality . 

1613
01:01:40,059 --> 01:01:42,114
And we look forward to continuing to 

1614
01:01:42,114 --> 01:01:44,337
partner with Congress and our endeavors 

1615
01:01:44,337 --> 01:01:44,130
to do so . I thank you for your 

1616
01:01:44,130 --> 01:01:46,352
continued support of your Department of 

1617
01:01:46,352 --> 01:01:48,408
the Air Force and your airmen , both 

1618
01:01:48,408 --> 01:01:50,574
military and civilian and the families 

1619
01:01:50,574 --> 01:01:52,797
who support them . Thank you and I look 

1620
01:01:52,797 --> 01:01:54,908
forward to your questions . Thank you 

1621
01:01:54,908 --> 01:01:56,908
Miss Patricia Mulcahy , Chief Human 

1622
01:01:56,908 --> 01:01:59,019
Capital Officer , United States Space 

1623
01:01:59,019 --> 01:02:01,130
Force Chairwoman Gillibrand . Ranking 

1624
01:02:01,130 --> 01:02:03,241
member , Tillis Distinguished members 

1625
01:02:03,241 --> 01:02:05,297
of the committee . Thank you for the 

1626
01:02:05,297 --> 01:02:04,860
leadership and support you have 

1627
01:02:04,860 --> 01:02:06,860
provided to the United States Space 

1628
01:02:06,860 --> 01:02:08,840
Force , our Guardians and their 

1629
01:02:08,840 --> 01:02:10,900
families . It is a privilege to come 

1630
01:02:10,900 --> 01:02:13,011
before you today alongside my service 

1631
01:02:13,011 --> 01:02:15,020
colleagues . The cornerstone of our 

1632
01:02:15,020 --> 01:02:17,930
spare space force is our people . We 

1633
01:02:17,930 --> 01:02:20,097
are purposefully building a service of 

1634
01:02:20,097 --> 01:02:22,319
Guardians capable of securing the space 

1635
01:02:22,319 --> 01:02:24,600
domain , integrating deterrence and 

1636
01:02:24,600 --> 01:02:27,120
enabling the Joint Warfighter today and 

1637
01:02:27,120 --> 01:02:29,970
into the future to attract recruit and 

1638
01:02:29,970 --> 01:02:32,430
develop this talent we need we crafted 

1639
01:02:32,430 --> 01:02:34,597
and published the Guardian ideal . Our 

1640
01:02:34,597 --> 01:02:36,970
human capital strategic plan . Our 

1641
01:02:36,970 --> 01:02:39,081
approach is grounded in our values of 

1642
01:02:39,081 --> 01:02:41,340
character , above all connections 

1643
01:02:41,340 --> 01:02:43,229
through unity , commitment to the 

1644
01:02:43,229 --> 01:02:45,820
profession and the courage to be bold . 

1645
01:02:46,600 --> 01:02:48,489
The Guardian ideal modernizes our 

1646
01:02:48,489 --> 01:02:50,600
approach to recruitment and retention 

1647
01:02:50,600 --> 01:02:52,656
fosters Connection among Guardians , 

1648
01:02:52,660 --> 01:02:54,640
puts a focus on enabling a digital 

1649
01:02:54,640 --> 01:02:57,410
force and integrates well wellness and 

1650
01:02:57,410 --> 01:03:00,190
resiliency with our small numbers . We 

1651
01:03:00,190 --> 01:03:02,134
believe it vital to strengthen the 

1652
01:03:02,134 --> 01:03:03,912
diverse teams comprised of both 

1653
01:03:03,912 --> 01:03:06,134
uniformed and civilian Guardians with a 

1654
01:03:06,134 --> 01:03:08,260
tailored talent management approach . 

1655
01:03:08,350 --> 01:03:10,406
We are competing for talent with the 

1656
01:03:10,406 --> 01:03:12,620
well paid and dynamic space industry . 

1657
01:03:13,000 --> 01:03:15,167
Part of our vision to grow and sustain 

1658
01:03:15,167 --> 01:03:17,170
our Active and Reserve force is by 

1659
01:03:17,170 --> 01:03:19,290
creating a new space component that 

1660
01:03:19,290 --> 01:03:21,346
provides greater flexibility for our 

1661
01:03:21,346 --> 01:03:23,568
guardians and commanders in the field . 

1662
01:03:23,800 --> 01:03:25,967
This approach could ensure our members 

1663
01:03:25,967 --> 01:03:27,967
do not have to choose between their 

1664
01:03:27,967 --> 01:03:29,967
military careers and their personal 

1665
01:03:29,967 --> 01:03:31,800
lives . By encouraging continued 

1666
01:03:31,800 --> 01:03:33,800
participation , the space component 

1667
01:03:33,800 --> 01:03:35,911
would extend the continuum of service 

1668
01:03:35,911 --> 01:03:37,911
enable us to recruit and retain the 

1669
01:03:37,911 --> 01:03:40,022
exquisite , highly technical force we 

1670
01:03:40,022 --> 01:03:42,350
need in an efficient and effective and 

1671
01:03:42,350 --> 01:03:45,120
fiscally sound manner . Implementation 

1672
01:03:45,120 --> 01:03:47,231
would be a groundbreaking approach to 

1673
01:03:47,231 --> 01:03:49,342
military human capital management and 

1674
01:03:49,342 --> 01:03:51,120
build a component that improves 

1675
01:03:51,120 --> 01:03:53,453
warfighting readiness with a consistent , 

1676
01:03:53,453 --> 01:03:55,509
coherent means to employ the force . 

1677
01:03:55,900 --> 01:03:58,067
Over the past two years , we secured a 

1678
01:03:58,067 --> 01:04:00,122
number of wins for our nation . I am 

1679
01:04:00,122 --> 01:04:03,060
proud of the more than 13,500 military 

1680
01:04:03,060 --> 01:04:05,171
and civilian guardians who joined our 

1681
01:04:05,171 --> 01:04:07,390
ranks from the Air Force , the army , 

1682
01:04:07,400 --> 01:04:09,860
the Navy and the Marine Corps as well 

1683
01:04:09,860 --> 01:04:12,510
as from across America , we launched 

1684
01:04:12,510 --> 01:04:14,732
recruiting initiatives to ensure we are 

1685
01:04:14,732 --> 01:04:17,066
competitive for the stem talent we need , 

1686
01:04:17,066 --> 01:04:18,899
we instituted improved inter few 

1687
01:04:18,899 --> 01:04:21,121
questions to help us determine the best 

1688
01:04:21,121 --> 01:04:23,121
fit for our future guardians and to 

1689
01:04:23,121 --> 01:04:25,121
reach into a more diverse applicant 

1690
01:04:25,121 --> 01:04:26,732
pool . We have finalized our 

1691
01:04:26,732 --> 01:04:28,843
foundational warfighting competencies 

1692
01:04:28,843 --> 01:04:30,899
that capture what all guardians will 

1693
01:04:30,899 --> 01:04:33,121
bring to the team and we have developed 

1694
01:04:33,121 --> 01:04:35,177
occupational competencies for all of 

1695
01:04:35,177 --> 01:04:36,788
our uniforms . Space powered 

1696
01:04:36,788 --> 01:04:38,899
disciplines . We're using a boot camp 

1697
01:04:38,899 --> 01:04:40,954
approach to training software coders 

1698
01:04:41,190 --> 01:04:43,480
resulting in increased digital fluency 

1699
01:04:43,560 --> 01:04:45,338
and positive impacts to mission 

1700
01:04:45,338 --> 01:04:47,580
accomplishment . And we are developing 

1701
01:04:47,580 --> 01:04:49,691
a performance appraisal system with a 

1702
01:04:49,691 --> 01:04:51,691
more continuous evaluation approach 

1703
01:04:51,691 --> 01:04:53,247
that captures the inputs of 

1704
01:04:53,247 --> 01:04:55,500
subordinates , peers and superiors to 

1705
01:04:55,500 --> 01:04:57,722
provide a more comprehensive and timely 

1706
01:04:57,722 --> 01:04:59,500
picture of guardian performance 

1707
01:04:59,500 --> 01:05:01,444
contributions and alignment to our 

1708
01:05:01,444 --> 01:05:03,710
values . We are appreciative of the 

1709
01:05:03,710 --> 01:05:06,040
existing military compensation package . 

1710
01:05:06,050 --> 01:05:07,772
But with such a small , highly 

1711
01:05:07,772 --> 01:05:09,939
specialized technical force , we often 

1712
01:05:09,939 --> 01:05:11,828
struggle to compete with the high 

1713
01:05:11,828 --> 01:05:13,717
salaries commanded in the private 

1714
01:05:13,717 --> 01:05:15,550
sector . The Space force needs a 

1715
01:05:15,550 --> 01:05:17,494
compensation package that not only 

1716
01:05:17,494 --> 01:05:19,717
recognizes the service of guardians and 

1717
01:05:19,717 --> 01:05:21,606
their families , but provides the 

1718
01:05:21,606 --> 01:05:23,606
incentives necessary to recruit and 

1719
01:05:23,606 --> 01:05:25,439
retain these highly sought after 

1720
01:05:25,439 --> 01:05:27,494
professionals . To that end , we are 

1721
01:05:27,494 --> 01:05:27,290
carefully reviewing all current 

1722
01:05:27,290 --> 01:05:29,290
incentive authorities and exploring 

1723
01:05:29,290 --> 01:05:31,234
innovative ways to retain talent , 

1724
01:05:31,234 --> 01:05:33,420
especially of our experienced non 

1725
01:05:33,420 --> 01:05:35,980
commissioned officers . We recognize 

1726
01:05:35,980 --> 01:05:38,202
that attracting and retaining talent is 

1727
01:05:38,202 --> 01:05:40,258
not about compensation alone . It is 

1728
01:05:40,258 --> 01:05:42,480
also about providing a sense of purpose 

1729
01:05:42,480 --> 01:05:44,313
and an inclusive culture . We're 

1730
01:05:44,313 --> 01:05:46,424
actively engaging involving guardians 

1731
01:05:46,424 --> 01:05:48,591
at every step in creating and building 

1732
01:05:48,591 --> 01:05:50,702
our culture that recognizes the value 

1733
01:05:50,702 --> 01:05:52,758
and contributions of all guardians , 

1734
01:05:52,758 --> 01:05:55,240
military and civilian . We believe that 

1735
01:05:55,240 --> 01:05:57,462
our unique culture and mission , with a 

1736
01:05:57,462 --> 01:05:59,240
new space component construct , 

1737
01:05:59,240 --> 01:06:01,407
combined with quality of life programs 

1738
01:06:01,407 --> 01:06:03,351
and a well structured compensation 

1739
01:06:03,351 --> 01:06:05,407
package will allow us to attract and 

1740
01:06:05,407 --> 01:06:07,462
retain the guardian talent we need , 

1741
01:06:08,080 --> 01:06:10,247
although I'm pleased with the progress 

1742
01:06:10,247 --> 01:06:12,413
we have made . We have much work to do 

1743
01:06:12,413 --> 01:06:12,390
In this third year of building our 

1744
01:06:12,390 --> 01:06:14,950
space force . We will continue to focus 

1745
01:06:14,950 --> 01:06:17,172
on our innovative innovative approaches 

1746
01:06:17,172 --> 01:06:19,061
to talent management , developing 

1747
01:06:19,061 --> 01:06:21,172
leaders and war fighters and we count 

1748
01:06:21,172 --> 01:06:23,283
on the support of Congress to develop 

1749
01:06:23,283 --> 01:06:25,450
and field this new component that will 

1750
01:06:25,450 --> 01:06:27,672
capitalize on the diverse talent of our 

1751
01:06:27,672 --> 01:06:29,839
nation's guardians to secure America's 

1752
01:06:29,839 --> 01:06:31,783
interest in space and enable joint 

1753
01:06:31,783 --> 01:06:33,783
operations . Thank you . And I look 

1754
01:06:33,783 --> 01:06:35,894
forward to your questions . Thank you 

1755
01:06:35,894 --> 01:06:38,440
all for your testimony . Um I'd like to 

1756
01:06:38,440 --> 01:06:39,800
start with um 

1757
01:06:43,480 --> 01:06:47,450
Mhm MS Mulcahy um about the Space 

1758
01:06:47,450 --> 01:06:49,339
force . Can you tell me what your 

1759
01:06:49,339 --> 01:06:51,790
compliment is currently ? How many uh 

1760
01:06:51,800 --> 01:06:53,580
civilian personnel and how many 

1761
01:06:53,580 --> 01:06:55,747
military personnel you have and what's 

1762
01:06:55,747 --> 01:06:57,858
your goal ? Yes , Absolutely . Thanks 

1763
01:06:57,858 --> 01:07:00,191
for that question . Um Madam Chairwoman , 

1764
01:07:00,191 --> 01:07:03,530
uh today we have 7000 and 51 military 

1765
01:07:03,530 --> 01:07:05,290
guardians and we have 

1766
01:07:05,300 --> 01:07:09,120
7875 civilians . Um 

1767
01:07:09,130 --> 01:07:10,963
Well plus up a little bit on the 

1768
01:07:10,963 --> 01:07:14,410
civilians to next year . And um By the 

1769
01:07:14,410 --> 01:07:17,800
end of September we should be at 8400 . 

1770
01:07:18,280 --> 01:07:21,770
Um we are still gaining some units from 

1771
01:07:21,770 --> 01:07:24,103
within the department . So for instance , 

1772
01:07:24,103 --> 01:07:26,860
in fy 23 the Space Development Agency 

1773
01:07:26,870 --> 01:07:30,570
will come from osd into the Space Force 

1774
01:07:30,580 --> 01:07:33,710
and we anticipate being as high as 8600 

1775
01:07:33,710 --> 01:07:37,530
military um in 23 fy 20 . And um 

1776
01:07:37,540 --> 01:07:39,651
is it difficult for you to retain the 

1777
01:07:39,651 --> 01:07:41,873
best talent because of things like lack 

1778
01:07:41,873 --> 01:07:44,700
of salary competition to be the 

1779
01:07:44,700 --> 01:07:46,978
Facebooks and the googles of the world . 

1780
01:07:46,978 --> 01:07:49,033
Yeah , thanks for that question to a 

1781
01:07:49,033 --> 01:07:52,870
woman . Um our our concern right now 

1782
01:07:52,880 --> 01:07:55,370
is that all of our military guardians 

1783
01:07:55,370 --> 01:07:57,560
when they came over , um took a two 

1784
01:07:57,560 --> 01:08:01,330
year um uh service commitment and 

1785
01:08:01,330 --> 01:08:03,552
those start to come up in the september 

1786
01:08:03,552 --> 01:08:06,230
october time frame of this year . So um 

1787
01:08:06,230 --> 01:08:08,119
so we're staying connected to our 

1788
01:08:08,119 --> 01:08:11,900
guardians . Um and uh and we so 

1789
01:08:11,900 --> 01:08:14,300
far don't hear or see the numbers 

1790
01:08:14,300 --> 01:08:16,522
different than when we were part of the 

1791
01:08:16,522 --> 01:08:18,356
Air force and managing our space 

1792
01:08:18,356 --> 01:08:20,189
operators . But we are concerned 

1793
01:08:20,189 --> 01:08:22,760
because we know that um the uh space 

1794
01:08:22,760 --> 01:08:25,810
industry is very lucrative and that's 

1795
01:08:25,810 --> 01:08:27,977
where a lot of R . N . C . O . S . And 

1796
01:08:27,977 --> 01:08:29,977
you don't have a designated service 

1797
01:08:29,977 --> 01:08:32,143
academy . So do you receive cadets and 

1798
01:08:32,143 --> 01:08:34,090
um graduates from all the service 

1799
01:08:34,090 --> 01:08:36,034
academies ? And what's the general 

1800
01:08:36,034 --> 01:08:38,300
break out of that ? Um thanks for that 

1801
01:08:38,300 --> 01:08:41,270
question to um the last this will be 

1802
01:08:41,270 --> 01:08:44,240
year three that we will have um cadets 

1803
01:08:44,240 --> 01:08:46,390
come from the United States Air Force 

1804
01:08:46,390 --> 01:08:48,730
Academy . Uh the numbers have been this 

1805
01:08:48,730 --> 01:08:50,730
year we're planning 102 . Last year 

1806
01:08:50,730 --> 01:08:53,800
there were 106 . So just about that 

1807
01:08:53,800 --> 01:08:56,022
number . The first year there were 96 . 

1808
01:08:56,070 --> 01:08:58,070
Um This year will be the first year 

1809
01:08:58,070 --> 01:09:00,292
that we'll have to midshipman come from 

1810
01:09:00,292 --> 01:09:02,292
the Naval Academy . And and working 

1811
01:09:02,292 --> 01:09:04,459
with the army . Um It will probably be 

1812
01:09:04,459 --> 01:09:06,403
next year , we will have our first 

1813
01:09:06,403 --> 01:09:08,626
cadets come from the army from the west 

1814
01:09:08,626 --> 01:09:10,570
from West Point and West Point . I 

1815
01:09:10,570 --> 01:09:12,681
asked this because our first panel we 

1816
01:09:12,681 --> 01:09:14,848
asked about the cyber Academy , one of 

1817
01:09:14,848 --> 01:09:14,660
the things that Senator Tillis and I 

1818
01:09:14,660 --> 01:09:16,882
and members of the intel committee have 

1819
01:09:16,882 --> 01:09:18,960
worked on is a cyber academy for the 

1820
01:09:18,960 --> 01:09:21,990
civilian workforce . Um Since obviously 

1821
01:09:22,270 --> 01:09:26,020
um recruiting the top cyber digital 

1822
01:09:26,030 --> 01:09:28,800
um talent , the best mathematicians in 

1823
01:09:28,800 --> 01:09:31,390
the world is a tough order . But we 

1824
01:09:31,390 --> 01:09:34,620
have something like 40 to $60,000.40 to 

1825
01:09:34,620 --> 01:09:38,080
60,000 open cyber and digital positions 

1826
01:09:38,090 --> 01:09:40,312
in the federal government today that we 

1827
01:09:40,312 --> 01:09:42,590
cannot fill . And so looking at our 

1828
01:09:42,590 --> 01:09:45,120
long term goals um we believe that 

1829
01:09:45,120 --> 01:09:47,120
creating a national cyber academy a 

1830
01:09:47,120 --> 01:09:49,860
four year degree uh for civilian 

1831
01:09:49,860 --> 01:09:51,916
workforce for the federal government 

1832
01:09:51,916 --> 01:09:54,027
would be the appropriate next step to 

1833
01:09:54,027 --> 01:09:57,010
fill spaces within C . A . N . S . A . 

1834
01:09:57,010 --> 01:10:00,210
N . G . E . A . Um Treasury Commerce 

1835
01:10:00,220 --> 01:10:02,610
but also Space Force . And so I'd like 

1836
01:10:02,610 --> 01:10:04,554
to know your thoughts on whether a 

1837
01:10:04,554 --> 01:10:06,721
national cyber academy would be useful 

1838
01:10:06,721 --> 01:10:08,499
to you to recruit at least your 

1839
01:10:08,499 --> 01:10:10,590
civilian personnel . But I could see 

1840
01:10:10,590 --> 01:10:12,580
creating coursework specifically 

1841
01:10:12,580 --> 01:10:14,800
designed for space Space Force 

1842
01:10:14,800 --> 01:10:17,078
personnel , both military and civilian . 

1843
01:10:17,078 --> 01:10:19,189
And I'd like your thoughts on whether 

1844
01:10:19,189 --> 01:10:21,244
we should try to create that in this 

1845
01:10:21,244 --> 01:10:23,467
year's N . D . A . Thank you for asking 

1846
01:10:23,467 --> 01:10:25,689
that chairwoman . I um absolutely we're 

1847
01:10:25,689 --> 01:10:27,860
all on the hunt for cyber talent . I 

1848
01:10:27,860 --> 01:10:29,980
know in particular are Air Force 

1849
01:10:29,980 --> 01:10:33,870
Academy has really increased in their 

1850
01:10:33,870 --> 01:10:36,092
curriculum . What we are doing in cyber 

1851
01:10:36,092 --> 01:10:39,410
and cyber security . Um And uh in our 

1852
01:10:39,420 --> 01:10:41,420
university partnership program , we 

1853
01:10:41,420 --> 01:10:42,976
specifically have looked at 

1854
01:10:42,976 --> 01:10:45,420
universities that not only meet what 

1855
01:10:45,420 --> 01:10:47,600
we're looking for in in space research 

1856
01:10:47,600 --> 01:10:50,230
and space talent . Um but also digital 

1857
01:10:50,230 --> 01:10:53,610
and cyber security . Um The idea of an 

1858
01:10:53,610 --> 01:10:56,500
academy that would um specifically be 

1859
01:10:56,500 --> 01:10:58,500
targeted for civilians I think is a 

1860
01:10:58,500 --> 01:11:00,500
really interesting one . Um and and 

1861
01:11:00,500 --> 01:11:02,556
certainly would help us in the Space 

1862
01:11:02,556 --> 01:11:04,778
Force as it gave you . The numbers were 

1863
01:11:04,778 --> 01:11:07,310
about a 50% military 50% civilian that 

1864
01:11:07,310 --> 01:11:09,421
I think that could be . Yes ma'am . I 

1865
01:11:09,421 --> 01:11:11,310
think that the the other reason I 

1866
01:11:11,310 --> 01:11:13,532
suggest this is because we are going to 

1867
01:11:13,532 --> 01:11:15,870
use the current partners we have in the 

1868
01:11:15,880 --> 01:11:18,360
uh in academia that we already partner 

1869
01:11:18,360 --> 01:11:20,193
with with one of the N . S . A . 

1870
01:11:20,193 --> 01:11:22,310
Programs as well as um to other 

1871
01:11:22,310 --> 01:11:24,366
programs ones at D . O . D . Program 

1872
01:11:24,366 --> 01:11:26,199
and the other one's the National 

1873
01:11:26,199 --> 01:11:28,366
Science Foundation program . These are 

1874
01:11:28,366 --> 01:11:30,588
very small programs where they will use 

1875
01:11:30,588 --> 01:11:32,588
existing relationships with schools 

1876
01:11:32,588 --> 01:11:34,532
like M . I . T . Or stanford um to 

1877
01:11:34,532 --> 01:11:37,430
basically have an ROTC ROTC style 

1878
01:11:37,440 --> 01:11:39,607
educational relationship so you can be 

1879
01:11:39,607 --> 01:11:41,718
trained at these private institutions 

1880
01:11:41,718 --> 01:11:43,890
but in exchange for your tuition you 

1881
01:11:43,890 --> 01:11:46,120
will serve five years . Um Is that 

1882
01:11:46,120 --> 01:11:48,231
something that would be useful to the 

1883
01:11:48,231 --> 01:11:50,453
Space Force ? I think . Absolutely . Um 

1884
01:11:50,453 --> 01:11:52,640
Chairwoman we um uh with the help of 

1885
01:11:52,640 --> 01:11:55,140
the Air Force have established um for 

1886
01:11:55,140 --> 01:11:57,290
your scholarships at some 11 

1887
01:11:57,290 --> 01:11:59,401
institutions to that you mentioned in 

1888
01:11:59,401 --> 01:12:01,512
particular , M . I . T . And Stanford 

1889
01:12:01,512 --> 01:12:03,679
and others that again will produce the 

1890
01:12:03,679 --> 01:12:05,790
kind of talent that we're looking for 

1891
01:12:05,790 --> 01:12:08,012
in the Space Force . I think that could 

1892
01:12:08,012 --> 01:12:07,780
be very helpful for the civilian side 

1893
01:12:07,780 --> 01:12:10,530
as well , grateful . Um I'd like you to 

1894
01:12:10,540 --> 01:12:12,596
um perhaps collaborate with the work 

1895
01:12:12,596 --> 01:12:14,818
that Secretary Cisneros has been tasked 

1896
01:12:14,818 --> 01:12:16,651
to do with the Chief information 

1897
01:12:16,651 --> 01:12:19,160
Officer um in section 15 06 of the 2022 

1898
01:12:19,160 --> 01:12:22,400
defense bill to opine on the benefits 

1899
01:12:22,410 --> 01:12:24,960
of the National cyber Academy to train 

1900
01:12:24,960 --> 01:12:27,238
future civilian and military personnel . 

1901
01:12:27,238 --> 01:12:29,182
I would like you to submit to that 

1902
01:12:29,182 --> 01:12:31,440
review your views in writing . Um so 

1903
01:12:31,440 --> 01:12:33,384
that they have the benefit of your 

1904
01:12:33,384 --> 01:12:35,700
thinking on how this could be of use to 

1905
01:12:35,700 --> 01:12:38,170
space force needs in the future . Um 

1906
01:12:38,180 --> 01:12:40,770
And I have questions for each of the um 

1907
01:12:41,250 --> 01:12:43,361
each of the witnesses today that I'll 

1908
01:12:43,361 --> 01:12:45,306
submit for the record that you can 

1909
01:12:45,306 --> 01:12:47,417
answer by letter because I have to go 

1910
01:12:47,417 --> 01:12:49,639
vote now . And so I will let uh Senator 

1911
01:12:49,639 --> 01:12:51,861
Tillis ask his questions and close this 

1912
01:12:51,861 --> 01:12:53,972
hearing . So I just want to thank you 

1913
01:12:53,972 --> 01:12:56,139
for your extraordinary service and for 

1914
01:12:56,139 --> 01:12:58,306
all you're doing for our men and women 

1915
01:12:58,306 --> 01:13:00,472
who are serving so bravely and without 

1916
01:13:00,472 --> 01:13:02,361
your leadership and your absolute 

1917
01:13:02,361 --> 01:13:04,306
attention to their needs and their 

1918
01:13:04,306 --> 01:13:06,306
education and their well being . We 

1919
01:13:06,306 --> 01:13:08,417
would not have the amazing force that 

1920
01:13:08,417 --> 01:13:10,583
we have today . So thank you very much 

1921
01:13:10,583 --> 01:13:13,650
Senator Tillis , thank you madam Chair 

1922
01:13:13,660 --> 01:13:17,270
thank you all for being here . Um I am 

1923
01:13:19,050 --> 01:13:21,300
have a general question for all the 

1924
01:13:21,300 --> 01:13:23,189
witnesses and then I've got a few 

1925
01:13:23,189 --> 01:13:25,600
service lines specific questions . I'm 

1926
01:13:25,600 --> 01:13:28,200
curious , Senator holly asked this of 

1927
01:13:28,210 --> 01:13:31,770
Secretary Cisneros and and a general 

1928
01:13:32,870 --> 01:13:34,703
Dignan you and I talked about it 

1929
01:13:34,703 --> 01:13:36,759
yesterday . Can can you just go down 

1930
01:13:36,759 --> 01:13:38,703
the line and tell me the number of 

1931
01:13:38,703 --> 01:13:41,310
people who have been separated as a 

1932
01:13:41,310 --> 01:13:43,380
result of their refusal to get the 

1933
01:13:43,380 --> 01:13:45,440
vaccine . And if you have the 

1934
01:13:45,440 --> 01:13:47,650
information or even just can speculate 

1935
01:13:47,660 --> 01:13:49,827
occupational codes or series that have 

1936
01:13:49,827 --> 01:13:53,480
been most affected . Thank 

1937
01:13:53,480 --> 01:13:56,910
you . Ranking member tell us so I have 

1938
01:13:56,910 --> 01:13:59,077
those numbers if you want I can submit 

1939
01:13:59,077 --> 01:14:01,243
them for the record or I can give them 

1940
01:14:01,243 --> 01:14:03,188
to you very quickly just just real 

1941
01:14:03,188 --> 01:14:05,670
quick . Um We have separated 

1942
01:14:06,740 --> 01:14:09,170
1968 Marines , 

1943
01:14:10,940 --> 01:14:12,890
71% of those were given a general 

1944
01:14:12,890 --> 01:14:16,270
discharge , 28% were given an honorable 

1945
01:14:16,270 --> 01:14:18,760
discharge . That's total force between 

1946
01:14:18,760 --> 01:14:22,520
active and reserve . Um I 

1947
01:14:22,520 --> 01:14:26,090
don't have the exact number of by mOS 

1948
01:14:26,090 --> 01:14:28,257
specialty . I can provide that for the 

1949
01:14:28,257 --> 01:14:30,610
record . What I can tell you is I watch 

1950
01:14:30,610 --> 01:14:32,940
that very closely . Um I can tell you 

1951
01:14:32,940 --> 01:14:35,850
there are no operational impacts across 

1952
01:14:35,860 --> 01:14:38,190
a force for readiness . There's no one 

1953
01:14:38,190 --> 01:14:40,630
community that has signaled and in 

1954
01:14:40,630 --> 01:14:43,170
infants where a leadership an N . C . O . 

1955
01:14:43,170 --> 01:14:45,290
Or a young enlisted marine is not 

1956
01:14:45,290 --> 01:14:47,930
present because of that . Um I think 

1957
01:14:47,930 --> 01:14:50,097
it's important to note that 97% of the 

1958
01:14:50,097 --> 01:14:52,900
force is vaccinated . The other part of 

1959
01:14:52,900 --> 01:14:54,844
the force . It's not vaccinating a 

1960
01:14:54,844 --> 01:14:56,622
large portion of that is in our 

1961
01:14:56,622 --> 01:14:58,511
enlisted training pipeline that's 

1962
01:14:58,511 --> 01:15:00,289
moving through the system , the 

1963
01:15:00,289 --> 01:15:02,400
administration catches up behind it . 

1964
01:15:02,400 --> 01:15:04,567
So I think it's it's it's important to 

1965
01:15:04,567 --> 01:15:06,900
note that as we go through this process . 

1966
01:15:06,940 --> 01:15:09,670
Um we would want every marine to get a 

1967
01:15:09,670 --> 01:15:11,670
vaccination . We think readiness is 

1968
01:15:11,670 --> 01:15:14,590
paramount . The Marine Corps is a 911 

1969
01:15:14,590 --> 01:15:18,460
force as as as you charge us in law . 

1970
01:15:19,040 --> 01:15:20,930
And so it's important for us to 

1971
01:15:20,930 --> 01:15:23,097
recognize that the health and safety , 

1972
01:15:23,097 --> 01:15:25,319
the government compelling interest here 

1973
01:15:25,319 --> 01:15:28,310
is so very high for readiness and for 

1974
01:15:28,310 --> 01:15:30,690
health and safety of the force . And 

1975
01:15:30,690 --> 01:15:32,690
these numbers , I wish every one of 

1976
01:15:32,690 --> 01:15:34,523
these young marines would have a 

1977
01:15:34,523 --> 01:15:36,820
vaccination and as I mentioned to you 

1978
01:15:36,820 --> 01:15:39,810
before um the commandant has offered an 

1979
01:15:39,810 --> 01:15:41,754
enlistment code for anyone that is 

1980
01:15:41,754 --> 01:15:43,754
discharged the ability to return to 

1981
01:15:43,754 --> 01:15:45,810
service and for some reason down the 

1982
01:15:45,810 --> 01:15:47,920
road here they recognized that they 

1983
01:15:47,920 --> 01:15:50,142
would want to come back in . There's an 

1984
01:15:50,142 --> 01:15:52,420
opportunity for that marine to do that . 

1985
01:15:52,420 --> 01:15:55,330
Thank you . General Brito Thank you . 

1986
01:15:55,340 --> 01:15:57,507
Thank you . Thank you . Member tell us 

1987
01:15:57,507 --> 01:16:00,280
we have 345 soldiers that have been 

1988
01:16:00,290 --> 01:16:02,346
discharged today for refusals to get 

1989
01:16:02,346 --> 01:16:05,610
the mandatory vaccine . of those 345 

1990
01:16:05,620 --> 01:16:07,950
soldiers , A nine have received 

1991
01:16:07,950 --> 01:16:10,580
honorable discharges . The remaining 36 

1992
01:16:10,580 --> 01:16:12,920
have received general under other under 

1993
01:16:12,920 --> 01:16:15,087
honorable conditions . I would like to 

1994
01:16:15,087 --> 01:16:17,420
know . Similar to my marine counterpart , 

1995
01:16:17,420 --> 01:16:19,587
98% of our force has been vaccinated . 

1996
01:16:19,587 --> 01:16:21,531
We do continue to look strongly in 

1997
01:16:21,531 --> 01:16:23,698
conjunction with the Religious Freedom 

1998
01:16:23,698 --> 01:16:25,809
Act to ensure that no soldiers rights 

1999
01:16:25,809 --> 01:16:27,642
are being violated . And also as 

2000
01:16:27,642 --> 01:16:29,753
mentioned in the in the panel earlier 

2001
01:16:29,753 --> 01:16:29,570
today . Look at the safety , health and 

2002
01:16:29,570 --> 01:16:31,737
welfare of the unit individual and the 

2003
01:16:31,737 --> 01:16:33,570
operations that he or she may be 

2004
01:16:33,570 --> 01:16:35,403
supporting as well . Thank you . 

2005
01:16:35,403 --> 01:16:37,626
General has the the army also taken the 

2006
01:16:37,626 --> 01:16:40,460
position that the marines have that if 

2007
01:16:40,470 --> 01:16:42,730
separated service member has buyer's 

2008
01:16:42,730 --> 01:16:44,619
remorse , wants to come back that 

2009
01:16:44,619 --> 01:16:46,341
they're welcome back . We will 

2010
01:16:46,341 --> 01:16:48,452
certainly look at them sir within the 

2011
01:16:48,452 --> 01:16:50,452
context of the law to allow them to 

2012
01:16:50,452 --> 01:16:52,674
through the legal process . Look at the 

2013
01:16:52,674 --> 01:16:55,008
content , the contents of the discharge . 

2014
01:16:55,008 --> 01:16:57,063
But yes and I would not like to note 

2015
01:16:57,063 --> 01:16:59,174
that a thorough deliberate process is 

2016
01:16:59,174 --> 01:17:01,341
conducted with that soldier within the 

2017
01:17:01,341 --> 01:17:03,452
staff and counseling before he or she 

2018
01:17:03,452 --> 01:17:05,690
does make that decision . Um sir , 

2019
01:17:05,690 --> 01:17:09,550
thank you . Um as of 21 April the 

2020
01:17:09,550 --> 01:17:12,140
Navy has approved 798 

2021
01:17:12,530 --> 01:17:15,460
separations based on covid vaccine 

2022
01:17:15,830 --> 01:17:18,650
refusal . Um All of those , the 

2023
01:17:18,650 --> 01:17:20,830
characterization has been honorable . 

2024
01:17:20,840 --> 01:17:23,660
Um The way that we designed the process 

2025
01:17:23,660 --> 01:17:26,340
to get to a fully immunized force as 

2026
01:17:26,340 --> 01:17:30,130
quickly and as equitably uh as possible 

2027
01:17:30,140 --> 01:17:34,090
um really provided that path . But we 

2028
01:17:34,090 --> 01:17:36,146
like the other services believe that 

2029
01:17:36,146 --> 01:17:38,312
vaccination remains the most effective 

2030
01:17:38,312 --> 01:17:41,320
way uh to protect the force . Um There 

2031
01:17:41,320 --> 01:17:43,260
have been no impacts to talent 

2032
01:17:43,260 --> 01:17:45,470
management . But I will tell you as 

2033
01:17:45,470 --> 01:17:47,760
General Avignon and General Brito 

2034
01:17:47,770 --> 01:17:49,770
mentioned , we don't want to lose a 

2035
01:17:49,770 --> 01:17:53,150
single sailor uh to um you know to this 

2036
01:17:53,160 --> 01:17:56,390
so we continue to beat the drum On 

2037
01:17:56,390 --> 01:17:58,390
vaccinations and we're pretty proud 

2038
01:17:58,390 --> 01:18:01,680
that about 99 of the active component 

2039
01:18:01,820 --> 01:18:04,950
is vaccinated sir . Thank you . Mr 

2040
01:18:04,950 --> 01:18:08,070
phillipe . Um thank you . Uh 

2041
01:18:08,080 --> 01:18:11,190
today 287 airmen have separated from 

2042
01:18:11,190 --> 01:18:14,450
the air force . Of those 281 have 

2043
01:18:14,450 --> 01:18:16,506
separated agenda general under other 

2044
01:18:16,506 --> 01:18:18,672
under honorable conditions , one entry 

2045
01:18:18,672 --> 01:18:20,870
level and five honorable . Um like the 

2046
01:18:20,870 --> 01:18:23,092
other services , we're sitting at about 

2047
01:18:23,092 --> 01:18:25,480
98% vaccination rate . The remaining 

2048
01:18:25,490 --> 01:18:27,601
service members are going through the 

2049
01:18:27,601 --> 01:18:29,601
process of having their request for 

2050
01:18:29,601 --> 01:18:32,340
accommodation adjudicated . Um The Air 

2051
01:18:32,340 --> 01:18:35,200
Force remains focused on ensuring that 

2052
01:18:35,200 --> 01:18:37,422
we're deployable at any point in time . 

2053
01:18:37,422 --> 01:18:39,589
And so we too are interested in making 

2054
01:18:39,589 --> 01:18:41,700
sure that those that separates solely 

2055
01:18:41,700 --> 01:18:43,756
for the reason of a of a vaccine are 

2056
01:18:43,756 --> 01:18:45,867
able to re enlist If they are able to 

2057
01:18:45,867 --> 01:18:47,422
comply with our vaccination 

2058
01:18:47,422 --> 01:18:49,589
requirements . Thank you . Yes , thank 

2059
01:18:49,589 --> 01:18:51,756
you for that question . Ranking member 

2060
01:18:51,756 --> 01:18:53,756
tell us . We have not separated any 

2061
01:18:53,756 --> 01:18:55,922
guardians from the space force at this 

2062
01:18:55,922 --> 01:18:59,320
time . We to also enjoy a high 98.2% 

2063
01:18:59,320 --> 01:19:02,040
vaccination rate . And we too , if we 

2064
01:19:02,040 --> 01:19:04,740
were to separate someone solely for the 

2065
01:19:04,740 --> 01:19:07,170
reasons of refusing the vaccine would 

2066
01:19:07,170 --> 01:19:09,390
consider them if they would take it to 

2067
01:19:09,390 --> 01:19:12,010
come back into our into our ranks . And 

2068
01:19:12,010 --> 01:19:13,820
I must also echo that this is 

2069
01:19:13,830 --> 01:19:16,830
absolutely a readiness issue as well as 

2070
01:19:16,830 --> 01:19:19,052
it is just a health and safety issue as 

2071
01:19:19,052 --> 01:19:22,650
well . Thank you . Um john Britto 

2072
01:19:23,720 --> 01:19:26,810
the same reasonable . Um It doesn't 

2073
01:19:26,810 --> 01:19:28,866
seem reasonable to me . I don't know 

2074
01:19:28,866 --> 01:19:30,550
maybe for for various reasons 

2075
01:19:30,560 --> 01:19:32,393
reasonable for you that only two 

2076
01:19:32,393 --> 01:19:34,449
soldiers could meet the criteria for 

2077
01:19:34,449 --> 01:19:36,171
religious accommodation out of 

2078
01:19:36,171 --> 01:19:37,504
thousands of requests . 

2079
01:19:46,120 --> 01:19:48,287
Senator Tillis I would like to mention 

2080
01:19:48,287 --> 01:19:50,509
that we do have an extremely deliberate 

2081
01:19:50,509 --> 01:19:52,676
process to review both the medical and 

2082
01:19:52,676 --> 01:19:54,870
religious to common exceptions for for 

2083
01:19:54,880 --> 01:19:57,930
covid exemptions for medical again , 

2084
01:19:57,930 --> 01:20:00,100
starts at the usual level or the field 

2085
01:20:00,100 --> 01:20:02,156
level and all the way up through the 

2086
01:20:02,156 --> 01:20:04,044
regard to chain of command in any 

2087
01:20:04,044 --> 01:20:06,480
exceptions or are monitored through our 

2088
01:20:06,480 --> 01:20:08,870
surgeon general for for our religious 

2089
01:20:08,870 --> 01:20:11,203
exemptions . The same again , a trained , 

2090
01:20:11,203 --> 01:20:13,426
very deliberate process . Starting with 

2091
01:20:13,426 --> 01:20:15,592
the unit level leadership all with the 

2092
01:20:15,592 --> 01:20:17,370
highest levels if necessary for 

2093
01:20:17,370 --> 01:20:19,537
exemptions . And it definitely in here 

2094
01:20:19,537 --> 01:20:19,110
in adherence with the law , the 

2095
01:20:19,110 --> 01:20:21,221
religious freedoms and freedom factor 

2096
01:20:21,221 --> 01:20:24,010
as well . Ah reasonable or not . I 

2097
01:20:24,010 --> 01:20:25,954
can't say that . We do have a very 

2098
01:20:25,954 --> 01:20:28,177
deliberate process to want to make sure 

2099
01:20:28,177 --> 01:20:30,010
the decision is equitable to the 

2100
01:20:30,010 --> 01:20:32,010
soldier and according to his or her 

2101
01:20:32,010 --> 01:20:34,121
rights and law and in accordance with 

2102
01:20:34,121 --> 01:20:33,960
the health and safety of the unit and 

2103
01:20:33,960 --> 01:20:35,960
the unit that they support . Well , 

2104
01:20:35,960 --> 01:20:38,500
it's similar to a question from Senator 

2105
01:20:38,500 --> 01:20:40,690
highly . It would be helpful if we can 

2106
01:20:40,690 --> 01:20:43,060
get just the guidelines or the rules 

2107
01:20:43,060 --> 01:20:45,227
that you go through that document that 

2108
01:20:45,227 --> 01:20:47,560
process . I think that would be helpful . 

2109
01:20:47,560 --> 01:20:50,140
I certainly will . Senator uh Mr Philip 

2110
01:20:51,150 --> 01:20:53,450
of the airmen and our airmen and 

2111
01:20:53,460 --> 01:20:56,540
guardians who were um 

2112
01:20:57,410 --> 01:20:59,660
separated . How many were already in 

2113
01:20:59,660 --> 01:21:01,827
the process of separation are planning 

2114
01:21:01,827 --> 01:21:02,827
to retire . 

2115
01:21:07,110 --> 01:21:09,480
Um I will need to take that for the 

2116
01:21:09,480 --> 01:21:11,480
record and come back to you . I was 

2117
01:21:11,480 --> 01:21:13,536
curious just to see how much that is 

2118
01:21:13,536 --> 01:21:15,540
adjusted for that being a likely 

2119
01:21:15,540 --> 01:21:17,762
outcome for some number I mean , but to 

2120
01:21:17,762 --> 01:21:20,440
a person you're saying that the numbers 

2121
01:21:20,450 --> 01:21:23,690
are not one uh that that the the 

2122
01:21:23,690 --> 01:21:25,634
reduction in numbers do not affect 

2123
01:21:25,634 --> 01:21:27,690
readiness . That the lack of vaccine 

2124
01:21:27,690 --> 01:21:29,857
could have an impact on readiness . Am 

2125
01:21:29,857 --> 01:21:32,023
I hearing that right from all of you ? 

2126
01:21:32,023 --> 01:21:34,023
Just head shake . Yes , thank you . 

2127
01:21:35,610 --> 01:21:38,960
I uh uh general octagon 

2128
01:21:40,210 --> 01:21:43,850
or a Dignan . I'm sorry . I always flip 

2129
01:21:43,850 --> 01:21:46,450
the consonants . Can you talk a little 

2130
01:21:46,450 --> 01:21:48,730
bit about the talent management 2030 . 

2131
01:21:48,730 --> 01:21:51,000
I know that the forest design 2030 plan 

2132
01:21:51,000 --> 01:21:53,222
has gotten a lot of attention . You and 

2133
01:21:53,222 --> 01:21:55,389
I talked about a bit about this on our 

2134
01:21:55,389 --> 01:21:57,389
call yesterday but could you talk a 

2135
01:21:57,389 --> 01:21:59,611
little bit about it ? And uh , and then 

2136
01:21:59,611 --> 01:22:01,611
I'm also curious whether or not you 

2137
01:22:01,611 --> 01:22:03,778
have the programs and authorities were 

2138
01:22:03,778 --> 01:22:06,500
required to execute . Thank you for 

2139
01:22:06,500 --> 01:22:09,050
that question . Um , and as I mentioned 

2140
01:22:09,050 --> 01:22:11,430
in my opening remarks , Deep Talent 

2141
01:22:11,430 --> 01:22:14,850
Management 2030 was in concert with the 

2142
01:22:14,860 --> 01:22:17,770
overall force design of 2030 . That 

2143
01:22:17,780 --> 01:22:19,836
general berger issued to the force . 

2144
01:22:20,800 --> 01:22:22,780
It's unique in the sense that we 

2145
01:22:22,780 --> 01:22:26,130
recognize that an all domain an ability 

2146
01:22:26,130 --> 01:22:28,490
to sense and makes sense and ability to 

2147
01:22:28,490 --> 01:22:30,860
operate forward inside a weapon 

2148
01:22:30,860 --> 01:22:33,410
exclusion zone have the ability to be a 

2149
01:22:33,410 --> 01:22:36,390
standing force provide capabilities 

2150
01:22:36,410 --> 01:22:38,466
that the marine corps would need for 

2151
01:22:38,466 --> 01:22:40,688
the future fight . I would have to look 

2152
01:22:40,688 --> 01:22:42,910
a little differently in the way we look 

2153
01:22:42,910 --> 01:22:45,021
and recruit and retain our talent and 

2154
01:22:45,021 --> 01:22:47,132
that's really where the commandant um 

2155
01:22:47,132 --> 01:22:49,354
kind of moved out . It recognized three 

2156
01:22:49,354 --> 01:22:51,660
big pieces to this that we knew we were 

2157
01:22:51,660 --> 01:22:53,604
gonna have to build and retain the 

2158
01:22:53,604 --> 01:22:55,604
right force . We knew we were gonna 

2159
01:22:55,604 --> 01:22:58,090
have to manage it differently . We know 

2160
01:22:58,090 --> 01:23:01,110
that today's talent , today's marines 

2161
01:23:01,600 --> 01:23:03,767
we were trying to find , we are trying 

2162
01:23:03,767 --> 01:23:07,260
to find ways to create that uh ability 

2163
01:23:07,260 --> 01:23:09,570
to have the transparency and options 

2164
01:23:09,580 --> 01:23:11,640
available to marines to manage their 

2165
01:23:11,640 --> 01:23:13,807
career so that their opportunities are 

2166
01:23:13,807 --> 01:23:16,029
present when they need them in order to 

2167
01:23:16,029 --> 01:23:18,410
return on the investment to us later in 

2168
01:23:18,410 --> 01:23:20,700
the enlistment and then finally it 

2169
01:23:20,700 --> 01:23:22,589
really was a call to arms that we 

2170
01:23:22,589 --> 01:23:26,000
needed to uh inform and interface with 

2171
01:23:26,000 --> 01:23:27,920
our marines and it would require 

2172
01:23:27,920 --> 01:23:30,510
modernization of our I . T . Systems . 

2173
01:23:30,900 --> 01:23:32,511
So it was pretty it's a very 

2174
01:23:32,511 --> 01:23:35,340
comprehensive outlay of things that the 

2175
01:23:35,340 --> 01:23:37,700
commandant has directed . There are two 

2176
01:23:37,700 --> 01:23:40,080
or 3 things in there I think that our 

2177
01:23:40,090 --> 01:23:42,146
evolutionary or revolutionary in the 

2178
01:23:42,146 --> 01:23:44,201
sense that um are a different way to 

2179
01:23:44,201 --> 01:23:46,312
approach , get a lot of attention . I 

2180
01:23:46,312 --> 01:23:48,760
think in the media . Um the commandant 

2181
01:23:48,770 --> 01:23:51,310
has opined that we're going to have to 

2182
01:23:51,310 --> 01:23:53,920
look at how we mature the force . Where 

2183
01:23:53,920 --> 01:23:55,864
does that return on the investment 

2184
01:23:55,864 --> 01:23:58,180
occur ? Either is it upfront and 

2185
01:23:58,180 --> 01:24:00,291
enlistment or can I get more out of a 

2186
01:24:00,291 --> 01:24:02,458
young man and woman because the amount 

2187
01:24:02,458 --> 01:24:04,513
of money and time that goes into the 

2188
01:24:04,513 --> 01:24:06,736
education and exquisite talents that we 

2189
01:24:06,736 --> 01:24:08,791
think we need ? The other one was an 

2190
01:24:08,791 --> 01:24:10,902
opportunity to look at ? How do we go 

2191
01:24:10,902 --> 01:24:13,100
after ? Is the chairwoman remarked 

2192
01:24:13,120 --> 01:24:15,790
about some of the old domain type of 

2193
01:24:15,790 --> 01:24:18,020
skill sets that we wanted could lateral 

2194
01:24:18,020 --> 01:24:21,100
entry , for example , where a marine 

2195
01:24:21,110 --> 01:24:23,550
has the ability to move within the 

2196
01:24:23,550 --> 01:24:26,280
Marine Corps or an ability to come in 

2197
01:24:26,280 --> 01:24:28,410
and and an opportunity to the service 

2198
01:24:28,790 --> 01:24:31,480
um where we recognize the authorities 

2199
01:24:31,480 --> 01:24:33,860
already given to us by Congress that 

2200
01:24:33,860 --> 01:24:36,220
allows us to assign that individual 

2201
01:24:36,230 --> 01:24:38,174
after they've gone through recruit 

2202
01:24:38,174 --> 01:24:40,063
training , our officers candidate 

2203
01:24:40,063 --> 01:24:42,810
school , the opportunity to level into 

2204
01:24:42,810 --> 01:24:44,810
a job , let's say into cyber , what 

2205
01:24:44,810 --> 01:24:47,070
have you ? This , this seems to have 

2206
01:24:47,070 --> 01:24:50,890
some momentum . We have internships 

2207
01:24:50,890 --> 01:24:53,120
with local universities , we have 18 

2208
01:24:53,130 --> 01:24:55,920
students that will participate in cyber 

2209
01:24:56,490 --> 01:24:58,930
Uh units within the Marine Corps and we 

2210
01:24:58,930 --> 01:25:00,819
have 20 midshipmen from the Naval 

2211
01:25:00,819 --> 01:25:02,874
Academy that will spend their summer 

2212
01:25:02,874 --> 01:25:04,874
with us . So there's some , there's 

2213
01:25:04,874 --> 01:25:06,874
some growth in there . All of these 

2214
01:25:06,874 --> 01:25:09,240
things to say senators that this , this 

2215
01:25:09,240 --> 01:25:13,180
program recognizes the need uh 

2216
01:25:13,190 --> 01:25:15,420
to raise our bar in order to meet the 

2217
01:25:15,420 --> 01:25:17,642
challenges of what we think is going to 

2218
01:25:17,642 --> 01:25:19,698
be a highly complex environment that 

2219
01:25:19,698 --> 01:25:22,150
we're going to have to fight in . Thank 

2220
01:25:22,150 --> 01:25:24,840
you Mr develope the Air Force 

2221
01:25:24,840 --> 01:25:26,729
undertaken several initiatives to 

2222
01:25:26,729 --> 01:25:29,090
improve the quality of your exceptional 

2223
01:25:29,090 --> 01:25:31,380
family members program . That's 

2224
01:25:31,380 --> 01:25:34,630
something that I've worked with on 

2225
01:25:34,630 --> 01:25:38,140
Senator Gillibrand for several years 

2226
01:25:38,140 --> 01:25:41,880
now in the subcommittee . Um Can you 

2227
01:25:41,890 --> 01:25:44,112
describe the central assignments of the 

2228
01:25:44,112 --> 01:25:46,168
airport what they're utilizing now ? 

2229
01:25:47,590 --> 01:25:49,840
Thank you very much . We're very proud 

2230
01:25:49,840 --> 01:25:51,951
of the work that we've done to take , 

2231
01:25:51,951 --> 01:25:53,951
what was a very very much a failing 

2232
01:25:53,951 --> 01:25:56,062
program uh and move it to one that is 

2233
01:25:56,062 --> 01:25:58,062
on the path to being successful and 

2234
01:25:58,062 --> 01:26:00,062
helpful to individuals . What we've 

2235
01:26:00,062 --> 01:26:02,230
done over the past 18 months or so is 

2236
01:26:02,230 --> 01:26:04,452
to take the burden off the members . So 

2237
01:26:04,452 --> 01:26:06,619
whereas they had to do 90% of the work 

2238
01:26:06,619 --> 01:26:08,841
to ensure that their exceptional family 

2239
01:26:08,841 --> 01:26:10,786
members could be cared for the air 

2240
01:26:10,786 --> 01:26:12,841
force through our central cell . Now 

2241
01:26:12,841 --> 01:26:14,674
does most of the work related to 

2242
01:26:14,674 --> 01:26:16,730
ensuring that families are placed in 

2243
01:26:16,730 --> 01:26:18,563
position in assignments that can 

2244
01:26:18,563 --> 01:26:20,674
support their needs . We've done that 

2245
01:26:20,674 --> 01:26:23,160
by using automation to ensure that 

2246
01:26:23,160 --> 01:26:25,216
family members can enter information 

2247
01:26:25,216 --> 01:26:27,327
one time and build on that instead of 

2248
01:26:27,327 --> 01:26:29,660
recreating the file each and every time , 

2249
01:26:29,660 --> 01:26:31,882
and also by co locating the specialties 

2250
01:26:31,882 --> 01:26:33,882
that are required to make decisions 

2251
01:26:33,882 --> 01:26:35,993
about how appropriate assignments are 

2252
01:26:35,993 --> 01:26:38,049
for families in the same in the same 

2253
01:26:38,049 --> 01:26:40,216
workspace so that they can collaborate 

2254
01:26:40,216 --> 01:26:42,216
with each other to get to the right 

2255
01:26:42,216 --> 01:26:42,140
outcome . And we'd be happy to provide 

2256
01:26:42,140 --> 01:26:44,140
additional details if you if you so 

2257
01:26:44,140 --> 01:26:46,330
desire . Thank you . Thank you . I 

2258
01:26:46,340 --> 01:26:49,520
think that that's an area that's a good 

2259
01:26:49,520 --> 01:26:51,631
practice and it's something that will 

2260
01:26:51,631 --> 01:26:53,742
continue to look at the other service 

2261
01:26:53,742 --> 01:26:55,798
lines to continue to build on that . 

2262
01:26:55,798 --> 01:26:57,909
But I do think it's the best practice 

2263
01:26:57,909 --> 01:26:59,798
that has a lot of potential to be 

2264
01:26:59,798 --> 01:27:02,110
replicated . Mr McKay . He um you know 

2265
01:27:02,110 --> 01:27:04,332
you recruit the service member and then 

2266
01:27:04,332 --> 01:27:06,499
you retain the family . Can you talk a 

2267
01:27:06,499 --> 01:27:08,666
little bit about what the sport of the 

2268
01:27:09,080 --> 01:27:11,640
space force is doing particularly for 

2269
01:27:11,640 --> 01:27:14,600
military spouse employment and family 

2270
01:27:14,600 --> 01:27:17,050
support ? Yes . Thank you so much 

2271
01:27:17,050 --> 01:27:19,510
senator . Uh tell us for that question 

2272
01:27:19,520 --> 01:27:22,400
um uh to things that we're doing is uh 

2273
01:27:22,410 --> 01:27:25,600
when it comes to um are are 

2274
01:27:26,180 --> 01:27:28,590
all of these stem positions that we 

2275
01:27:28,590 --> 01:27:31,670
have in the space force in our civilian 

2276
01:27:31,670 --> 01:27:34,430
complement . We have quite a bit of 

2277
01:27:34,430 --> 01:27:37,110
direct hiring authority . Um And so 

2278
01:27:37,110 --> 01:27:40,790
what we do is uh communicate to our 

2279
01:27:40,790 --> 01:27:43,100
spouses that if they have their resumes 

2280
01:27:43,100 --> 01:27:45,910
in us a job when these positions come 

2281
01:27:45,910 --> 01:27:47,910
open because they are direct higher 

2282
01:27:47,910 --> 01:27:49,966
authority and we are in contact with 

2283
01:27:49,966 --> 01:27:52,077
our guardians , we will just push The 

2284
01:27:52,077 --> 01:27:54,243
opportunity to them . Um this is a new 

2285
01:27:54,243 --> 01:27:56,243
program for us . It's probably just 

2286
01:27:56,243 --> 01:27:58,354
under 60 days now . And we've already 

2287
01:27:58,354 --> 01:28:00,830
had to use successful use cases . Um 

2288
01:28:00,830 --> 01:28:02,719
with our small force , we're very 

2289
01:28:02,719 --> 01:28:04,830
excited about this and and moving out 

2290
01:28:04,830 --> 01:28:06,997
further on it on the other end on more 

2291
01:28:06,997 --> 01:28:09,290
of the career end . Um with what we 

2292
01:28:09,290 --> 01:28:11,457
have learned over these last two years 

2293
01:28:11,457 --> 01:28:13,401
of being in COVID um We think that 

2294
01:28:13,401 --> 01:28:15,512
there is more opportunity to maximize 

2295
01:28:15,512 --> 01:28:17,860
certainly tele work but also remote um 

2296
01:28:17,870 --> 01:28:20,520
assignments for folks . And and use of 

2297
01:28:20,530 --> 01:28:24,050
remote work . And so um we are very 

2298
01:28:24,050 --> 01:28:26,270
deliberately looking at what positions 

2299
01:28:26,280 --> 01:28:29,610
um for a guard , the military member To 

2300
01:28:29,610 --> 01:28:32,050
be going between about seven different 

2301
01:28:32,050 --> 01:28:34,650
installations . Um and where perhaps 

2302
01:28:34,650 --> 01:28:36,910
there are opportunities that the family 

2303
01:28:36,910 --> 01:28:39,021
member could stay in the position and 

2304
01:28:39,021 --> 01:28:41,920
work towards a career um by working 

2305
01:28:41,920 --> 01:28:44,040
remotely . So those are two parts of 

2306
01:28:44,040 --> 01:28:46,800
where we are very focused and we know 

2307
01:28:46,800 --> 01:28:49,022
that again we recruit a guardian but we 

2308
01:28:49,022 --> 01:28:51,960
definitely retain the family and so we 

2309
01:28:51,960 --> 01:28:54,127
are focused on anything and everything 

2310
01:28:54,127 --> 01:28:56,182
that we can do to help are are great 

2311
01:28:56,182 --> 01:28:59,240
family members . I think not only um in 

2312
01:28:59,240 --> 01:29:01,630
terms of doing right by those who are 

2313
01:29:01,630 --> 01:29:03,850
serving and their family members , but 

2314
01:29:03,860 --> 01:29:06,230
we get this right whether it's 

2315
01:29:06,240 --> 01:29:09,190
exceptional family members , uh making 

2316
01:29:09,190 --> 01:29:10,801
sure that we have employment 

2317
01:29:10,801 --> 01:29:12,912
opportunities for spouses . This this 

2318
01:29:12,912 --> 01:29:16,720
develops a and uh general election in 

2319
01:29:16,730 --> 01:29:18,563
one loss , told me what you were 

2320
01:29:18,563 --> 01:29:20,674
talking about with what you are doing 

2321
01:29:20,674 --> 01:29:22,397
with maybe extending and uh uh 

2322
01:29:22,397 --> 01:29:24,730
extending assignments at and reducing 

2323
01:29:24,730 --> 01:29:27,750
pcs . S I mean these are all things 

2324
01:29:27,760 --> 01:29:30,480
that can change what some people would 

2325
01:29:30,480 --> 01:29:33,090
conceive of when they enter um enter 

2326
01:29:33,090 --> 01:29:35,040
the armed services , more friends 

2327
01:29:35,050 --> 01:29:37,850
friendly , family friendly , more 

2328
01:29:37,850 --> 01:29:39,780
opportunities for occupations and 

2329
01:29:39,780 --> 01:29:42,350
careers for work members were working 

2330
01:29:42,350 --> 01:29:45,520
on some of the are following closely 

2331
01:29:45,520 --> 01:29:47,520
some of the work we're trying to do 

2332
01:29:47,520 --> 01:29:49,742
with state packs to allow licensure and 

2333
01:29:49,742 --> 01:29:51,687
certifications moving across state 

2334
01:29:51,687 --> 01:29:54,780
lines more efficiently and all of those 

2335
01:29:54,780 --> 01:29:58,130
things I think are useful tools for the 

2336
01:29:58,130 --> 01:30:00,241
issue that I brought up in my opening 

2337
01:30:00,241 --> 01:30:02,241
comments and we've got headwinds in 

2338
01:30:02,241 --> 01:30:04,352
terms of recruiting and these are the 

2339
01:30:04,352 --> 01:30:06,574
sorts of things that can help make your 

2340
01:30:06,574 --> 01:30:08,741
jobs a lot easier . Um when you're the 

2341
01:30:08,741 --> 01:30:10,908
last person in committee and the chair 

2342
01:30:10,908 --> 01:30:12,908
gives you the authority to call the 

2343
01:30:12,908 --> 01:30:15,241
committee it means you can talk forever . 

2344
01:30:15,241 --> 01:30:17,352
I'm sure the staff are hoping I don't 

2345
01:30:17,352 --> 01:30:19,574
talk anymore but I really do appreciate 

2346
01:30:19,574 --> 01:30:22,040
you all being here . But this process 

2347
01:30:22,040 --> 01:30:25,680
committees are good . Um But I hope and 

2348
01:30:25,680 --> 01:30:28,020
I think I speak for Senator Gillibrand 

2349
01:30:28,020 --> 01:30:30,242
as we're moving through the N . D . A . 

2350
01:30:30,242 --> 01:30:32,390
Process as we're looking at more work 

2351
01:30:32,390 --> 01:30:34,557
that we can do . Please be sure you're 

2352
01:30:34,557 --> 01:30:36,668
in touch with the committee staff and 

2353
01:30:36,668 --> 01:30:38,334
our offices so that we can do 

2354
01:30:38,334 --> 01:30:40,279
everything we can to make your job 

2355
01:30:40,279 --> 01:30:40,250
easier . Thank you all for being here 

2356
01:30:40,250 --> 01:30:43,010
at the committee is adjourned okay .