Pure navy bill, it will devastate some part of the navy either our shipbuilding or readiness or something, because the high cost of these and because we dont recapitalize them very often. If you look back in history there is precedent for either making this a National Program because it is the most survivable leg of our deterrence or building another ship to accommodate it. The freedom in the early 60s to late 60s and the maritime maybe in 72 it was increased pretty dramatically to build these submarines. To show you in 76 to 80, the navy ship fund doubled. Our fleet still climbed by 40 because it simply wasnt enough to do both. Admiral green . Senator, first of all i think its a great start. I think we need to pursue clarity of the intent of the congress. What i mean by that is the legal ramifications for sources of the fundings we could put in there. Is it just other Navy Shipbuilding accounts . Is it just other navy appropriations, or do we mean the whole department of defense could
The transatlantic space to support ukraine. And i do think that our leadership in this is recognized. We are having as spirited a debate as is going on theres also a transatlantic debate so that question gets asked also in our diplomacy. But europeans come at it from both sides, depending upon where they sit. With regard to ukraine and the things that need to be done, and that has been appreciated, very much by my by most of us, i would have at this point significant difficulty coming to work each day with these decisions lingering and the way that they have and us, again, not taking the steps that that many people within the administration, as i understand it, feel needs to be taken. And yet we continue for some reason not to do those things that weve acted as if we might do. I have a number of other questions that ill send in writing. And i thank each of you for being here. I realize that in all cases, yall are messengers and not the ones that have these decision memos sitting on you
Those are not easy things. The last thing, theres four parts to the department of defense. There are the four services, the three departments. Army, navy, air force. But theres also the department of defense. Can i take a shot at that, sir . Whoever. Im going to defend my two Service Chiefs here. Their staffs have not grown. Were not growing. The staffs are staying steady. Were doing a 20 reduction in headquarters staff. But, again its what we call the fourth estate. The department of defense agencies. So thats where the growth is coming. Its not in the department. Thank you. Let me go back to my questions. Admiral, we sort of decided on this rebalance to asia before the latest provocations from russia. If sequestration returns in october, what sort of gaps will this create towards rebalance strategy. One of the Top Priorities we have is presence. You wont see a Budget Reduction in our forward presence. Japan, singapore and guam will continue to increase. We are increasing the forces i
One of the Top Priorities we have is presence. You wont see a Budget Reduction in our forward presence. Japan, singapore and guam will continue to increase. We are increasing the forces in the european command as we look at how were going to deploy in the future. Strictly for the reason you stated with the instability in the africom and the ucom region. Its not dramatic, but it is there. So the asia pacific wont take a hit from the sequestration and our european presence will not take a hit from sequestration. Those will take place elsewhere . Those forces forward wont be as dramatic. As you know ive been worrying about afghanistan. General dempsey told our committee theres a terrorist network that stretches from afghanistan to nigeria. He went onto say i think afghanistan is and will remain an anchor point for that pressure. Do you agree with that. I think a plat form for which the United States can protect its swres is absolutely correct. Am i right to worry ant those are based on mo
The forests. Over the last few years, we have prioritized the readiness of our forces. These are the forces you can count on for an immediate response. These are the forces that help the evacuations of americans and south sudan, yemen. These forces train the iraqi army and protect our embassy in baghdad. These are the marines in the pacific. I can assure you that your deployed marines are well trained, well bred, and wellequipped. We have had to make tough choices to face sequestration and reduce budgets. In order to maintain the readiness of our deployed forces, we have not sufficiently invested in our infrastructure is a statement, and quality of life programs. As a result, approximately half of our deployed units, those that you depend on for onset on for seen situations have resulted in shortfalls. This has resulted indianas is a loss of american allies. Over time, modernization will be needed at higher costs. In areas we are unable to innovate and a dock for tomorrows threats. It