[inaudible] i might just wait for good afternoon, welcome to the committee of the 118th congress. I am pleased to welcome all of you here for this testimony on the military and civilian personnel programs at the department of defense, and the military services and review of the Administration Defense authorization request for fiscal 2024. All of my brothers served in the military, supporting the military, a military families means a lot to me. I am particularly pleased to be chair in my first hearing as an Armed Services subcommittee chair. I am honored to chair at the subcommittee, and i look forward to continuing its long history of bipartisanship and working as a partner with Ranking Member scott, and with all of our members, on both sides of the aisle, to improve the lives of our Service Members, of retirees, military families, and the civilian workforce. Our annual posture here provides the department the opportunity to discuss their personal priorities for the coming year. This y