WEBVTT

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Are you talking between uh SMRs

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or or is it better just to adopt the

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local local power I think it depends

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again and you know the army has been

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designated the executive agent for

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these and um one thing that I think

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everybody realizes um secretary

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mentioned this earlier , um , power

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requirements are gonna go up um what

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we're also very focused on is

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resiliency of our installations and ,

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you know , as we refer to them as power

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projection platforms . Making sure that

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we have uh resilient energy um and so

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that's what we're focused on so I mean

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we're looking forward to this

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initiative . I think we that's one of

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the things that uh we have talked about

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that we need to continually improve

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with and Congresswoman , I would say uh

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the way we're thinking about these is

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we , we would prefer in no instance to

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have an either or , um , to create this

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resiliency against threats we don't

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know . um , we , we think that the

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right solution is a lot of solutions

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and that as we learn and as we go about

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this and as . We go into a conflict

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someday we may want to scale up one or

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another solution , um , and so , uh ,

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specifically that I think it's both . I

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agree we have all the above energy

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approach in Virginia , which I think is ,

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is worth , uh , utilizing everywhere .

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I want to talk a little bit about

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recruitment retention . Congratulations

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on , on meeting your recruitment goals .

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This is great . Uh , we're , we're

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still working on the Navy side . I

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wanted , I heard you talk about Genesis

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and the waiver program , and I think

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Secretary Driscoll , you called it

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inadequate and , uh , and We have

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challenges in our own district . It

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frustrates the the heck out of me when

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I hear from young people who want to

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serve , especially in , in the DOD

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medical board process , uh , as a lot

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of room for improvement . I was just at

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Virginia Military Institute a couple

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weeks ago . My son graduated , but

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looking at these young people that want

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to serve , especially in the army ,

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that that school produces a lot of army

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officers . I want these kids to be able

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to serve , so I get . Really frustrated

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with some of the pediatric diagnosis

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some of the nuances of this waiver

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process . So you mentioned Secretary

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Driscoll again that it was inadequate .

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Can you just speak to BM out what

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changes you are looking at in this

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waiver process ? Uh , so , um , the ,

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the Genesis program in and of itself is

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a classic example . I think of the Army

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building a solution or or being part of

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a solution that is siloed and

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ineffective and inefficient . And it's

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probably going to be a better solution

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to go out and grab a um a tool that is

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used in um uh uh areas in the

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commercial sector . So looking at

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something like Salesforce our

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recruiting team has started to on board

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to Salesforce as a CRM and seen

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incredible results with that . In a

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perfect world , we would replace

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something like Geno . It was something

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like Salesforce where we could toggle

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the amount of information we are seeing

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and weight the different outcomes with

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a generative AI model being able to say ,

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hey , is this a kid who got an inhaler

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when they were 12 and 2 months and

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never used it versus somebody who in

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when they were 17.5 actively was using

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an inhaler ? Can we take coach's

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letters of recommendations and apply .

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before we output that they even need a

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waiver and so what we are trying to do

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is essentially apply logic because we

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hate those outcomes too . Thank you .

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Can I mention one thing on the , you

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know , we're looking longitudinally as

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well . I mean , I think , you know ,

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again , the population is changing a

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little bit more as far as , you know ,

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numbers with ADHD or , you know ,

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different issues . Um , so we are

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studying that as well , you know , with ,

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you know , how , how long the soldiers ,

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what do we get for retention , what

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kind of things we have pushed the

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waiver authorities down , you know ,

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further so because a lot of the

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frustration , um , and I enlisted if I

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would have had to wait , you know , 234

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months , I probably would have chosen

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to do something else , um , so that's

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the biggest thing that we are , are

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trying to do and I do think that

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they're , you know , we can get better

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in our software . lady's time to

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expired . Chair , and I recognize young

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lady from , uh , Hawaii , Mr . Kuta .

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Thank you , Mr . Chair . As you both

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know , the Hawaii Board of Land and

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Natural Resources just rejected the

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Army's EIS for the Poulloa training

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area in my district , and in the coming

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weeks , the EIS for Army training areas

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on Oahu will come before the board for

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decision . Given ATI restructuring

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efforts , does that change the army's

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intended footprint needed in Hawaii ,

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perhaps doing less , um , with more of

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an emphasis on things like advanced

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manufacturing , 3D printing , additive

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manufacturing , all in which were

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contained in Secretary Heggset's memo ,

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um , which prioritize this and are in

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line , quite frankly with the work that

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we are starting to do at Schofield

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right now . I , I would just start by

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saying , you know , we have a lot of

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really important units that are out

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right now , um , you know , at

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Schofield Barracks with 25th Infantry

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Division , um , obviously being able to

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train for their , you know , potential

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war fighting missions is critically

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important to us , and that's why those

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training areas are very important to us .

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I think this jointly and I know we're

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working very closely with the , with

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the authorities in in Hawaii to , you

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know , kind of move , move this forward .

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And I'm heading in uh in in July ,

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Congresswoman , I'm going to Hawaii and

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one of the things I want to be um on

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behalf of the army , make sure we tell

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that community is how grateful we are

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for the partnership and the community

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members they've been . Our soldiers

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who've returned from um being stationed

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there have generally nothing but

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amazing experiences with that community ,

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and we're grateful . Yes , well , we

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definitely take care of our people .

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We'd like to be also taken care of as

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well as good neighbors , and I think

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that's where especially if this ATI

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process is intuitive and learning as

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you go , given that we need certainty

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by 2029 when the lease renegotiations

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are up , you need to really know what

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kind of footprint and intention you

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have with our communities , um , in

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terms of training or whether it's to do

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a pivot more towards things like

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additive manufacturing . um , I wanna

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move on to some other questions .

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Questions Mr . Secretary , for over 20

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years , the first Information

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Operations Command was the Army's only

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active duty unit focused on

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synchronizing information capabilities

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and supporting deployed forces to

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counter adversary influences , and its

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recent shutdown as part of a broader

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restructuring raises serious concerns

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about the future of Army information

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ops , in particular China , Russia ,

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and others that set up disinformation ,

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propaganda and cyber enabled influences ,

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um , allowing our . Adversaries to

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control the information and

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disinformation space only adds to the

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fog of war , quite frankly , Mr .

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Secretary , how is the army ensuring

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that the deactivation of the first um

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IO command does not leave operational

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gaps or vulnerabilities in our

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information posture , especially at the

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tactical and operations level , and

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during this transition , what

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safeguards and interim measures are you

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putting in place to ensure the

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continuity of capability and mission ?

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I'm gonna , I'm gonna jump in on that

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one first , Congresswoman , um , first ,

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uh , I think we're working that with

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SOCOM and UAO , and again I think

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everybody sometimes gets , um , you

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know , headquarters caught up with

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whether or not you're gonna do , you

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know , a mission , and I think what

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we've learned is that it's gonna be a

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part of every mission that we're doing .

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We are looking at , um , how we're

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updating . I was talking , uh ,

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answering a question earlier from

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Congressman Ryan and how we talk about

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our people and train our people to get

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differently with information operation .

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Um , psychological operations , you

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know , that runs the gamut of this .

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It's also technical and how , um ,

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everybody knew what was happening this

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weekend instantly because of what was

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happening on the internet and how are

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you having tech , you know , technical

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solutions to understand that . I , I

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think what I'm asking though is when it

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comes to information operations we have

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had a central hub for over 20 years we

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have dismantled other entities within

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the State Department , the Voice of

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America to be able to counter and

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manage information and . Disinformation

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you're talking about disaggregating it

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across all sectors and units and having

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individuals trained in that we need a

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centralized source that we can control

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what information we're putting out and

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what our adversaries knowing what our

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adversaries are putting out there as

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well . Are you concerned at all that we

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are lacking in both readiness and

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capacity in this area as a result of

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shutting down this information

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operations command ? I can be a simple

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yes or no because I do so you have no

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concerns that we are at a disadvantage

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to the areas like China that are very

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very much attuned to the need to be

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able to manage this particular space .

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We'll continue on later , but I wanted

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to ask one question about AI . Now ,

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from what we've seen in your May letter

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to the Forest on Army , you know , ATI ,

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you've stated that command and control

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nodes will integrate AI to accelerate

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decision made . And I fully support us

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moving in that direction , but when

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we've looked at other sectors and how

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AI is distributed , we need to make

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sure there's clear ethical boundaries

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and oversight personnel , or there will

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be serious risk . My question is , can

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you clarify your vision for AI

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integration into command and control ,

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what it looks like in practice ? Are

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you talking about AI and an advisory

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capacity or initiating and executing

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actions autonomously ? How do we ensure

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I will submit questions for the record ,

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Mr . Thank you Mr . Chairman and thank

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you for our witnesses for being here

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today . We wouldn't have a country

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without our military , so , um , really

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appreciate the service , uh , in the

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250 year army parade , uh , I totally

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agree . We live in an incredible

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country . Our US Army has an incredible

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history , and that must be told , and I

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think , well , I appreciate what you

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said about meeting the recruiting goals

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4 months early and before the busier ,

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more productive months . That's

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incredible . I know it's all about

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teamwork . Uh , we've got to make sure

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that our folks can , if God willing ,

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uh , be able to come home and survive a

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fight if they get in a fight , but I

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believe in peace through strength and

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if we have peace through strength , we

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probably won't have to go to war . Um ,

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there's a lot of threats , um , at home

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and abroad , and some people say the

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enemy's at the gate and in some ways

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the enemy is in the gate and I'd like

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to make sure I think we all would that

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what happened in Russia with their

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bombers doesn't happen in the United

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States . There should be , we talk

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about drones we saw what happened . Uh ,

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at Langley Air Force Base , even in my

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district we have nuclear power plant in

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North Anna . Uh , the sheriff says ,

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hey , there are drones over our , our

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plant and we're not sure what we can do .

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There was an advisory put out by DOJ in

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2020 , and I think that caused a lot of

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confusion with , uh , Department of

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Defense and SLTT . And so I've put in a

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bill , it's , uh , HR 3478 . It's

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called the Manned Aircraft

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Clarification Act . And basically that

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advisory made generals and other

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government folks think that a drone was

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the same thing as a remote control I'm

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sorry , a 747 jumbo jet with passengers

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is the same thing as a remote control

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airplane , which they are not . So I

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would ask you guys to look at that DOJ

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advisory back in 2020 . It needs to be

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rewritten , uh , updated , and I'd ask

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you to check out the HR 3478 , uh ,

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manned Aircraft Clarification Act .

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There should be zero restrictions on

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the ability of government to protect

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their property and critical

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infrastructure against drones . Every ,

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uh , obstacle creates opportunity for

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adversaries to do what we saw in Russia

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earlier this week , so please check

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that out . Uh , Ukraine has a goal of

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building 4.5 million drones this

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year and . I read a report . Um ,

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it said the Army Materials Command

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demonstrated the ability to produce 10

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Group 1 drones per week for training

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exercises , uh , using 3D printing ,

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and AMC's acting commander Lieutenant

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General Christopher Mohan recently

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stated that they could potentially use

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advanced manufacturing techniques . To

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expand to 10,000 drones per month , you

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see that's a far cry from what they're

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doing in Ukraine . What's stopping the

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US Army from replicating the success

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across all our material ? Is it

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technology challenge training or

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funding ? I'll start with Secretary

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Driscoll . Um , I , I , I think the

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shortest answer would be all of it ,

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all of the above . Um , we , we as a

11:45.324 --> 11:48.219
defense industrial base have decayed

11:48.219 --> 11:50.489
and lost our ability to rapidly , um ,

11:50.500 --> 11:52.667
procure new technology and , and scale

11:52.667 --> 11:54.611
it to the warfighter . We are very

11:54.611 --> 11:56.389
optimistic that these tools and

11:56.389 --> 11:58.444
solutions , uh , are able to be made

11:58.444 --> 12:00.556
and and mimicked by American industry

12:00.556 --> 12:02.722
to , to copy exactly what is occurring

12:02.722 --> 12:04.840
in Ukraine . Um , we are optimistic

12:04.840 --> 12:06.840
that with the bipartisan support of

12:06.840 --> 12:09.007
this committee , we're able to get the

12:09.007 --> 12:11.229
funding to do this quickly . Uh , there

12:11.229 --> 12:13.451
are tools and General George and I have

12:13.451 --> 12:15.562
visited a number of companies , small

12:15.562 --> 12:17.507
and medium size that we think this

12:17.507 --> 12:19.729
renaissance of the industrial base that

12:19.729 --> 12:21.451
is hopefully . Locke from Army

12:21.451 --> 12:23.673
Transformation Initiative will allow us

12:23.673 --> 12:25.896
to put into place the things that would

12:25.896 --> 12:28.150
be required to scale to something like

12:28.150 --> 12:30.094
keeping up with Russia's 1 million

12:30.094 --> 12:32.094
drones or Ukraine's 4 million , but

12:32.094 --> 12:34.206
we're not there today . And I , and I

12:34.206 --> 12:36.094
apologize but I limited time . So

12:36.094 --> 12:35.989
there's one more question I'd like to

12:35.989 --> 12:38.020
ask . And I appreciate your , uh ,

12:38.030 --> 12:40.086
answer , Mr . Secretary , um , to my

12:40.086 --> 12:42.308
colleagues Joe Wilson and Elyse Sahonik

12:42.549 --> 12:44.493
on the importance of small modular

12:44.493 --> 12:46.716
reactors for the army , but I'd like to

12:46.716 --> 12:48.438
ask about some more details on

12:48.438 --> 12:50.950
executive order 14299 deploy advanced

12:50.950 --> 12:52.783
nuclear reactor technologies for

12:52.783 --> 12:55.006
national security . So Mr . Secretary ,

12:55.006 --> 12:57.061
you mentioned the issue of contested

12:57.061 --> 12:59.228
logistics and supply chains . Where do

12:59.228 --> 13:01.450
you see microreactors in this context ?

13:01.450 --> 13:03.672
And by the way , in my district we have

13:03.672 --> 13:05.894
BWXT , and I think they're gonna be the

13:05.894 --> 13:08.006
first microreactor that's operational

13:08.006 --> 13:09.561
in the world . Uh , I think

13:09.561 --> 13:11.506
microreactors can be an incredible

13:11.506 --> 13:13.672
asset , uh , as we solve against the ,

13:13.672 --> 13:15.839
um , future energy needs of the United

13:15.839 --> 13:17.728
States Army both in KOU Oonis and

13:17.728 --> 13:19.950
peacetime and wartime , um , and we are

13:19.950 --> 13:22.117
excited to lead that effort . And this

13:22.117 --> 13:21.419
is a question for either one of you ,

13:21.500 --> 13:23.611
uh , if you wouldn't mind , is , uh ,

13:23.611 --> 13:25.778
do you have any idea which services or

13:25.778 --> 13:27.833
combatant commands will be receiving

13:27.833 --> 13:27.619
these capabilities first or a time

13:27.619 --> 13:31.590
frame for a roll out ? I

13:31.590 --> 13:33.646
mean , I don't , we can come back to

13:33.646 --> 13:35.812
you , Congressman . I think you know a

13:35.812 --> 13:37.868
lot of us gets to the technology and

13:37.868 --> 13:40.034
how big these systems are , you know ,

13:40.034 --> 13:42.146
are they on , are they how mobile are

13:42.146 --> 13:44.479
they and are they gonna be on our bases ?

13:44.479 --> 13:43.450
Are they gonna be on our installation ?

13:43.570 --> 13:45.681
I think that's gonna change over time

13:45.681 --> 13:47.459
and we're gonna be working with

13:47.459 --> 13:49.570
everybody in the department , um , to

13:49.570 --> 13:51.570
make sure that we're advancing that

13:51.570 --> 13:53.570
effort . I yield back . Thank you ,

13:53.570 --> 13:55.403
gentlemen yields back you're not

13:55.403 --> 13:57.403
recognized as , uh , Representative

13:57.403 --> 13:59.570
Cisneros from California . Thank you ,

13:59.570 --> 14:01.681
Mr . Chairman and thank you Secretary

14:01.681 --> 14:03.792
Driscoll and General George for being

14:03.792 --> 14:05.903
here today . I really appreciate your

14:05.903 --> 14:08.014
time . Uh , secretary Driscoll , um .

14:08.014 --> 14:10.014
You know , uh , diverting a billion

14:10.014 --> 14:12.181
dollars away from barracks , like , so

14:12.181 --> 14:14.719
like a 30 to $40 million do parade , uh ,

14:14.760 --> 14:18.049
you're being forced to make 8% cuts for

14:18.049 --> 14:20.320
projects for pet projects , uh , that

14:20.320 --> 14:22.431
the , the secretary and the , and the

14:22.431 --> 14:24.320
president wants , and this is all

14:24.320 --> 14:26.487
happening while we're under a CR . I'm

14:26.487 --> 14:28.653
kind of getting the impression that is

14:28.653 --> 14:30.764
the army just flush with cash and got

14:30.764 --> 14:32.876
extra money to spend that it can give

14:32.876 --> 14:34.931
away , um , you know , are we giving

14:34.931 --> 14:36.876
you too much ? Um , and you know ,

14:37.000 --> 14:39.280
really , uh , how is this ? I , I know

14:39.280 --> 14:41.336
it's kind of been answered already a

14:41.336 --> 14:43.336
little bit , but just to go more in

14:43.336 --> 14:45.447
depth , like , you know , our service

14:45.447 --> 14:47.447
members , how is this affecting the

14:47.447 --> 14:46.919
quality of life of our service members

14:46.919 --> 14:49.440
if we're moving this money away from

14:49.440 --> 14:52.859
the barracks ? Congressman ,

14:52.979 --> 14:55.201
um , just to go on record , you are not

14:55.201 --> 14:57.312
giving us too much money . Um , the ,

14:57.312 --> 14:59.368
well , you're giving it away , so we

14:59.368 --> 15:01.146
are , as stated earlier to your

15:01.146 --> 15:03.146
colleagues , we , we are incredibly

15:03.146 --> 15:05.312
honored and we take very seriously the

15:05.312 --> 15:07.423
the duty that we have to the American

15:07.423 --> 15:09.090
taxpayer to use those dollars

15:09.090 --> 15:09.059
efficiently and effectively for the

15:09.059 --> 15:11.960
American soldier . For the celebration

15:11.960 --> 15:14.940
of our 250th anniversary , we very the

15:14.969 --> 15:17.136
the the planning has been going on for

15:17.136 --> 15:19.136
years . The army believes that this

15:19.136 --> 15:21.320
will um empower an entire new

15:21.320 --> 15:23.869
generation of America's youth to catch

15:23.869 --> 15:26.049
the spirit to serve their nation , and

15:26.049 --> 15:28.271
we are incredibly honored to be able to

15:28.271 --> 15:30.382
tell that story . Um , General George

15:30.382 --> 15:32.605
and I have reflected , uh , how lucky .

15:32.605 --> 15:34.605
We are to be in these roles in this

15:34.605 --> 15:36.827
moment in time and to tell the story of

15:36.827 --> 15:38.882
an institution that has impacted our

15:38.882 --> 15:41.105
country so greatly since its founding .

15:41.105 --> 15:43.105
You don't think that money could be

15:43.105 --> 15:44.993
better well spent on some type of

15:44.993 --> 15:46.993
recruiting campaign that would work

15:46.993 --> 15:49.309
over a period of time rather than a one

15:49.309 --> 15:51.510
day event that's just going to take

15:51.510 --> 15:53.840
place and then it's done . Yeah , this

15:53.840 --> 15:55.784
parade , I believe will be seen by

15:55.784 --> 15:57.840
Americans across the country , and I

15:57.840 --> 16:00.062
very sincerely , and we can look at the

16:00.062 --> 16:01.673
recruiting numbers . I would

16:01.673 --> 16:03.729
hypothesize and I will come back and

16:03.729 --> 16:03.429
justify whether I was right or wrong

16:03.429 --> 16:06.429
that we will see a uh an incredible ,

16:06.580 --> 16:09.000
um , filling of our pipeline of young

16:09.000 --> 16:11.167
Americans who want to join . One thing

16:11.167 --> 16:13.111
that I know for sure , right , the

16:13.111 --> 16:15.333
thing that does affect recruiting is an

16:15.333 --> 16:17.729
investment in actual recruiting . Um ,

16:17.820 --> 16:19.820
but I think with these 8% cuts that

16:19.820 --> 16:21.987
we're seeing , I'm pretty sure there's

16:21.987 --> 16:24.153
gonna be a big chunk that's gonna come

16:24.153 --> 16:26.209
out of recruiting , uh , and that is

16:26.209 --> 16:28.431
probably gonna hurt numbers over time ,

16:28.431 --> 16:31.320
uh , but General George , um . Yeah You

16:31.320 --> 16:33.431
know , the secretary , uh , Secretary

16:33.431 --> 16:35.590
Hexet has made , uh , some comments

16:35.590 --> 16:37.701
about wanting to reduce the number of

16:37.701 --> 16:40.309
general officers by 20% , 3 star , 4

16:40.309 --> 16:43.530
star officers by 20% . Department of

16:43.530 --> 16:45.641
Defense just went through an exercise

16:45.641 --> 16:47.530
of this not that long ago where a

16:47.530 --> 16:49.586
number of officers , senior officers

16:49.586 --> 16:51.849
were had to be cut . You were part of

16:51.849 --> 16:53.738
those discussions . I heard those

16:53.738 --> 16:56.130
discussions , um , about where they

16:56.130 --> 16:58.450
would come and fighting . So where are

16:58.450 --> 17:00.450
you planning to make these cuts for

17:00.450 --> 17:04.209
these 3 and 4 star senior officers ? So ,

17:04.380 --> 17:07.339
um , Congressman , we've actually been

17:07.339 --> 17:09.339
making some cuts in general officer

17:09.339 --> 17:11.506
billets . I would generally agree that

17:11.506 --> 17:13.172
again we're overstructured on

17:13.172 --> 17:16.540
headquarters and you know , uh , we're

17:16.540 --> 17:18.596
trying to move people down into into

17:18.596 --> 17:20.660
our formations and so I think we're

17:20.660 --> 17:22.882
doing that and we had already made some

17:22.882 --> 17:25.420
of those as part of , um , army

17:25.420 --> 17:27.642
transformation initiative . We're gonna

17:27.642 --> 17:29.642
make some additional cuts . I think

17:29.642 --> 17:31.476
it's gonna make us better . Um ,

17:31.476 --> 17:33.420
oftentimes additional headquarters

17:33.420 --> 17:35.260
slows down processes and adds

17:35.260 --> 17:37.427
bureaucracy that is actually not gonna

17:37.427 --> 17:39.427
help us . I also think that we have

17:39.427 --> 17:41.427
updated , uh , business systems . I

17:41.427 --> 17:43.660
call them readiness systems that we can

17:43.660 --> 17:45.827
actually , you know , do things . Much

17:45.827 --> 17:47.993
more efficiently . I look at a a smart

17:47.993 --> 17:49.938
board in my office , for example ,

17:49.938 --> 17:51.993
rather than calling down to somebody

17:51.993 --> 17:53.989
else so I do think that we can can

17:53.989 --> 17:56.045
reduce those numbers that is part of

17:56.045 --> 17:58.100
our plan and and what and what we're

17:58.100 --> 18:00.100
doing , uh , and I think it's gonna

18:00.100 --> 18:02.378
make us more efficient . Well , I look ,

18:02.378 --> 18:04.600
I would love to see that sheet and what

18:04.600 --> 18:06.711
you think and where you think you can

18:06.711 --> 18:06.709
cut because from my experience and we

18:06.709 --> 18:08.876
heard in the conversations where there

18:08.876 --> 18:10.820
were a lot of arguments and fights

18:10.820 --> 18:12.876
about we need to keep this bill , we

18:12.876 --> 18:14.876
need to keep this bill we can't let

18:14.876 --> 18:16.931
this one go and and . I'm suspecting

18:16.931 --> 18:19.153
that the army's gonna try and fight for

18:19.153 --> 18:19.089
its billets , but if you are ready to ,

18:19.180 --> 18:21.347
to kind of give those up , I , I guess

18:21.347 --> 18:23.458
I , I think the key is congressman is

18:23.458 --> 18:25.402
that we not , we , you know , what

18:25.402 --> 18:27.458
we've been focused on too is outside

18:27.458 --> 18:29.680
moving people out of our headquarters .

18:29.680 --> 18:31.902
I mean , what I've been out in a couple

18:31.902 --> 18:33.902
of places and we have like a combat

18:33.902 --> 18:36.124
division and we are not filled with the

18:36.124 --> 18:38.402
GOs because they're doing other things ,

18:38.402 --> 18:40.458
you know , that are back on whatever

18:40.458 --> 18:42.624
staff that are in it , whatever higher

18:42.624 --> 18:44.680
headquarter . So we need experienced

18:44.680 --> 18:47.699
combat leaders in our combat formations .

18:47.869 --> 18:49.925
That's exactly what we're kind we're

18:49.925 --> 18:51.869
focused on with this and how do we

18:51.869 --> 18:53.813
right size to make sure that we're

18:53.813 --> 18:55.880
doing that . No , I look , I do not

18:55.880 --> 18:57.880
disagree with that at all . I think

18:57.880 --> 18:59.936
they need to be in your formations ,

18:59.936 --> 19:02.158
right ? But gentleman times expired . I

19:02.158 --> 19:04.324
recognize as Doctor Jackson of Texas .

19:04.324 --> 19:06.380
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . I'd also

19:06.380 --> 19:05.989
like to thank our guests for being here

19:05.989 --> 19:08.100
today and uh updating our committee .

19:08.100 --> 19:10.267
Um , since the beginning of the year ,

19:10.267 --> 19:11.989
the United States Army has had

19:11.989 --> 19:14.045
tremendous success by refocusing the

19:14.045 --> 19:16.156
force on the needs of the war fighter

19:16.156 --> 19:18.211
attacking inefficiency and elevating

19:18.211 --> 19:20.433
war winning capabilities . The American

19:20.433 --> 19:22.489
people have recognized this and this

19:22.489 --> 19:24.711
focus on readiness and lethality . They

19:24.711 --> 19:26.656
are in response , they are raising

19:26.656 --> 19:28.545
their hands to serve in the first

19:28.545 --> 19:30.489
quarter as . Mentioned the army is

19:30.489 --> 19:32.711
killing it on their recruitment and the

19:32.711 --> 19:31.854
retention , and you guys are doing a

19:31.854 --> 19:33.854
great job . I want to thank you and

19:33.854 --> 19:35.576
Secretary Hegseth in general ,

19:35.576 --> 19:37.910
everybody else on their efforts on this .

19:37.910 --> 19:37.734
Across the services , we're doing a

19:37.734 --> 19:39.623
really good job on recruiting and

19:39.623 --> 19:41.790
retention , and that is a big change .

19:41.790 --> 19:44.012
I personally want to say thank goodness

19:44.012 --> 19:43.935
we're not wasting money like we did

19:43.935 --> 19:46.255
over the last 4 years , letting DEI and

19:46.255 --> 19:48.144
the Biden's woke agenda drive our

19:48.144 --> 19:49.977
recruiting efforts . That was an

19:49.977 --> 19:51.977
absolute waste of time . We're past

19:51.977 --> 19:53.755
that now . Uh , to deter and if

19:53.755 --> 19:55.866
necessary win against our adversaries

19:55.866 --> 19:58.033
whenever , however , and wherever they

19:58.033 --> 20:00.033
threaten American interests , it is

20:00.033 --> 20:02.033
paramount that we provide essential

20:02.033 --> 20:02.030
funding for army programs and

20:02.030 --> 20:04.949
capabilities . Special operations

20:04.949 --> 20:06.949
forces continue to provide critical

20:06.949 --> 20:08.893
capabilities in countering violent

20:08.893 --> 20:11.119
extremist organizations globally while

20:11.119 --> 20:13.310
also setting the theater , building

20:13.310 --> 20:15.989
partner capacity and conducting other

20:15.989 --> 20:18.267
missions to give our adversaries pause .

20:18.829 --> 20:20.718
The US Special Operations Command

20:20.718 --> 20:24.060
operates by 5 soft truths , one of

20:24.060 --> 20:26.300
which is most special operations

20:26.300 --> 20:28.729
require non-special operations support .

20:29.380 --> 20:31.436
That is why I let a provision in the

20:31.436 --> 20:34.020
FY25 NDAA that prohibits reducing Army

20:34.020 --> 20:36.459
soft enablers until the Army provides a

20:36.459 --> 20:38.403
report on the feasibility of using

20:38.403 --> 20:40.403
inherent relationships with general

20:40.403 --> 20:42.670
purpose forces . It is irresponsible in

20:42.670 --> 20:45.079
my mind to cut soft forces to support ,

20:45.349 --> 20:47.516
uh , support , support , uh , for soft

20:47.516 --> 20:49.182
forces when the requests from

20:49.182 --> 20:51.182
geographic combatant commanders are

20:51.182 --> 20:53.405
increasing , and we have been told that

20:53.405 --> 20:55.460
they're increasingly being told they

20:55.460 --> 20:57.571
cannot that special operations cannot

20:57.571 --> 20:59.682
meet their needs . Secretary Driscoll

20:59.682 --> 21:01.905
and General George , would you describe

21:01.905 --> 21:03.793
the role you see for SOFF and the

21:03.793 --> 21:06.016
department as the department focuses on

21:06.016 --> 21:08.182
readiness and lethality under the Army

21:08.182 --> 21:10.569
Transformation Initiative ? I , I can

21:10.569 --> 21:12.736
um echo the , the importance of soft .

21:12.736 --> 21:14.902
I'm going down to Fort Bragg next week

21:14.902 --> 21:17.069
to , to visit with them and um some of

21:17.069 --> 21:19.013
those units down there . The , the

21:19.013 --> 21:21.125
entire Army Transformation initiative

21:21.125 --> 21:23.069
is premised off , uh , agility and

21:23.069 --> 21:24.902
learning lessons from the actual

21:24.902 --> 21:27.236
soldiers who were out in the field , um ,

21:27.236 --> 21:29.180
and no group is able to do that as

21:29.180 --> 21:31.291
effectively oftentimes as our special

21:31.291 --> 21:33.513
forces soldiers , um , because they are

21:33.513 --> 21:35.513
able to deploy quickly into mission

21:35.513 --> 21:37.291
sets that are just a little bit

21:37.291 --> 21:39.402
irregular and so , um , we are deeply

21:39.402 --> 21:41.569
tied in with their learnings and those

21:41.569 --> 21:41.560
learnings are impacting the broader

21:41.560 --> 21:43.838
army . Thank you , Mr . Secretary . Um ,

21:44.500 --> 21:46.500
only thing I would add , um , and I

21:46.500 --> 21:48.389
would agree on the importance and

21:48.389 --> 21:50.611
they're part of every , they're part of

21:50.611 --> 21:50.380
our transforming and contact

21:50.380 --> 21:52.547
initiatives . They're down at our CTCs

21:52.547 --> 21:54.819
or in our exercises , and I've deployed

21:54.819 --> 21:57.041
alongside those formations , you know ,

21:57.099 --> 21:59.770
for the better part of 20 years , um ,

21:59.780 --> 22:01.947
and every time I did , we had actually

22:01.947 --> 22:04.113
enablers that were helping them . So I

22:04.113 --> 22:06.169
mean I , I think again this is not ,

22:06.169 --> 22:08.280
you know , moving thing this is about

22:08.280 --> 22:10.447
sizing our formation to make sure that

22:10.447 --> 22:12.558
we have the right . Um , capabilities

22:12.558 --> 22:14.836
for our joint force and that's exactly ,

22:14.836 --> 22:16.947
you know , kind of what we're doing .

22:16.947 --> 22:19.002
There's no specific plans to go into

22:19.002 --> 22:21.058
that again right now , but I think ,

22:21.058 --> 22:20.849
you know , we have to continue to

22:20.849 --> 22:23.359
evolve and we'll continue to work with ,

22:23.369 --> 22:25.036
uh , with the US Army Special

22:25.036 --> 22:26.980
Operations Command as , as we move

22:26.980 --> 22:29.313
forward . Yes sir , thank you , General .

22:29.313 --> 22:31.480
and you know , I , uh , I spent it not

22:31.480 --> 22:33.536
near as much time , uh , in , in the

22:33.536 --> 22:33.010
operating theaters you have obviously

22:33.010 --> 22:35.177
on the operational side of the house .

22:35.177 --> 22:37.399
I respect your , your opinion on all of

22:37.399 --> 22:37.104
this . But I will say I've spent a lot

22:37.104 --> 22:38.882
of time , uh , with the special

22:38.882 --> 22:41.104
operations units and in particular with

22:41.104 --> 22:43.215
the tier one units , I think that the

22:43.215 --> 22:45.382
enablers that they have are special in

22:45.382 --> 22:47.437
the sense that they require lots and

22:47.437 --> 22:46.864
lots of additional training once

22:46.864 --> 22:49.086
they're assigned to those units , and I

22:49.086 --> 22:48.984
just don't think they're

22:48.984 --> 22:51.040
interchangeable with enablers , uh ,

22:51.040 --> 22:53.206
that may be in other components of the

22:53.206 --> 22:55.428
force , but , uh , I hope that you guys

22:55.428 --> 22:57.595
will take that in consideration , take

22:57.595 --> 22:57.265
care of our special operators . They're

22:57.265 --> 22:59.487
on the tip of the spear . They're doing

22:59.487 --> 23:01.654
a , uh , a unique job that no one else

23:01.654 --> 23:03.709
can or will do . Uh , real quickly ,

23:03.709 --> 23:05.765
I'm , I , I'm just gonna , uh , uh ,

23:05.765 --> 23:08.098
ask , uh , one more question . Uh , I'm ,

23:08.098 --> 23:07.369
I'm , I'm pleased to hear about the

23:07.369 --> 23:09.536
Army Transformation Initiative and the

23:09.536 --> 23:11.647
efforts to expedite future long range

23:11.647 --> 23:13.536
assault aircraft . Uh , Secretary

23:13.536 --> 23:15.758
Driscoll and General George , could you

23:15.758 --> 23:15.530
describe what steps you're taking in

23:15.530 --> 23:17.697
the department to expedite . Uh , this

23:17.697 --> 23:20.339
urgently needed platform with the newly

23:20.339 --> 23:23.640
designated MV 75 from the flare program ,

23:23.859 --> 23:26.500
uh , to fill this , uh , this key gap

23:26.500 --> 23:28.556
that's referred to as the air ground

23:28.556 --> 23:30.500
littoral . um , what , what are we

23:30.500 --> 23:32.222
doing to make sure that we can

23:32.222 --> 23:34.389
accelerate this and the filling of the

23:34.389 --> 23:36.500
weapon systems associated with it ? I

23:36.500 --> 23:35.780
think it's critically important to the

23:35.780 --> 23:37.959
fight in the future . I , I think this

23:37.959 --> 23:40.660
is a place we as an army can grow very

23:40.660 --> 23:42.959
quickly and take , take into account

23:42.959 --> 23:45.126
some of the lessons learned from being

23:45.126 --> 23:47.126
a wartime , um , body where I think

23:47.126 --> 23:49.237
what , what allowed us to manufacture

23:49.237 --> 23:51.459
and scale so quickly in World War 1 and

23:51.459 --> 23:53.015
2 is we had soldiers on the

23:53.015 --> 23:55.070
manufacturing floor and today . What

23:55.070 --> 23:57.181
we're trying to do is work with those

23:57.181 --> 23:59.403
manufacturers , have them send us lists

23:59.403 --> 23:58.974
of where the federal bureaucracy is

23:58.974 --> 24:01.030
getting in their way . If they can't

24:01.030 --> 24:03.030
find a resource they need , we have

24:03.030 --> 24:04.974
said we will do it . And then very

24:04.974 --> 24:07.085
importantly , we're going to try to ,

24:07.085 --> 24:06.814
uh , General George , I'll take yours

24:06.814 --> 24:09.036
offline . I'm out of time . Thank you .

24:09.036 --> 24:11.203
You're not recognized as Mr . Sorenson

24:11.203 --> 24:13.370
of Illinois . Thank you , Chairman and

24:13.370 --> 24:15.520
ranking member and soldiers on the

24:15.520 --> 24:17.742
manufacturing floor . You know what I'm

24:17.742 --> 24:19.798
gonna talk about . Um , I wanna talk

24:19.798 --> 24:21.909
about manufacturing and how important

24:21.909 --> 24:23.798
this is to , um , the Rock Island

24:23.798 --> 24:26.131
arsenal , uh , and it's storied history .

24:26.131 --> 24:25.880
Uh , good morning . Welcome to

24:25.880 --> 24:28.229
Secretary Driscoll and General George .

24:28.359 --> 24:30.729
um , like many of my colleagues , um ,

24:30.800 --> 24:33.199
I am frustrated , uh , by how the Army

24:33.199 --> 24:35.479
has decided to roll out this Army

24:35.479 --> 24:38.560
transformation initiative . You know ,

24:38.599 --> 24:40.599
it doesn't matter which side of the

24:40.599 --> 24:42.766
aisle that we're on here , we all want

24:42.766 --> 24:44.988
to make sure that the army is lethal it

24:44.988 --> 24:47.119
is ready to meet the challenges of

24:47.119 --> 24:50.849
today and tomorrow . however , um , you

24:50.849 --> 24:52.800
chose to give us a plan with few

24:52.800 --> 24:55.920
details with no budgeting and a failure

24:55.920 --> 24:58.087
to answer a lot of our questions , and

24:58.087 --> 25:00.198
now we're hearing about how this plan

25:00.198 --> 25:02.020
will be implemented from my own

25:02.020 --> 25:04.839
constituents , um , not from leadership .

25:05.260 --> 25:08.400
Uh , the army and Congress have always

25:08.400 --> 25:10.729
had a better relationship than that .

25:11.300 --> 25:13.244
As you both know , I represent the

25:13.244 --> 25:15.356
largest government owned and operated

25:15.356 --> 25:17.430
arsenal , and today we need the same

25:17.430 --> 25:20.420
commitment from you as Congress got

25:20.420 --> 25:22.780
from Abraham Lincoln that the Rock

25:22.780 --> 25:25.099
Island arsenal will be fully funded to

25:25.099 --> 25:27.920
make the army all it can be . Rock

25:27.920 --> 25:30.087
Island is proud to be home of the Army

25:30.087 --> 25:32.400
Sustainment Command and Joint Munitions

25:32.400 --> 25:36.030
Command . Both commands provide vital

25:36.030 --> 25:38.560
but different support to the soldier .

25:39.390 --> 25:41.334
However , this Army Transformation

25:41.334 --> 25:44.229
initiative calls for the integration of

25:44.229 --> 25:46.550
these two , putting Joint Munitions

25:46.550 --> 25:48.606
Command and Army sustainment Command

25:48.660 --> 25:51.359
together . Joint munitions command has

25:51.359 --> 25:53.526
been essential in overseeing Ukraine's

25:53.526 --> 25:56.239
defense of their sovereign ground . We

25:56.239 --> 25:58.520
need to make sure it remains at the at

25:58.520 --> 26:01.650
the ready for the next fight . But now

26:01.650 --> 26:03.650
hundreds of jobs are on the line at

26:03.650 --> 26:05.800
Rock Island and for what ? We can't

26:05.800 --> 26:09.160
afford for expertise to be lost right

26:09.160 --> 26:11.000
at the spot where we have always

26:11.000 --> 26:14.119
bolstered our munition production . JMC

26:14.119 --> 26:17.689
is , is already a lean machine with the

26:17.689 --> 26:19.839
smallest number of employees in Army

26:19.839 --> 26:22.709
material command while overseeing 18

26:22.709 --> 26:25.959
sites . Secretary Driscoll , you spoke

26:25.959 --> 26:28.150
in your opening statements today that

26:28.150 --> 26:30.400
the army has been slow to innovate .

26:31.060 --> 26:34.290
Please explain how merging these two

26:34.290 --> 26:36.579
essential missions at Rock Island will

26:36.579 --> 26:38.880
help the expertise within the army ,

26:39.060 --> 26:41.260
but also help us scale up munitions

26:41.260 --> 26:44.479
productions before 2027 , as well as

26:44.479 --> 26:47.050
our growing organic industrial base .

26:48.329 --> 26:52.209
We as a nation are incapable currently

26:52.209 --> 26:54.050
with all of the bureaucracy and

26:54.050 --> 26:56.369
regulation and over regulation and

26:56.369 --> 26:58.258
calcification of our just kind of

26:58.258 --> 27:00.425
rational decision making bodies , uh ,

27:00.425 --> 27:02.702
at creating the munitions that we need .

27:02.702 --> 27:04.813
um , what we're trying to do with ATI

27:04.813 --> 27:07.050
is get rid of as many headquarters

27:07.050 --> 27:08.717
functions that we believe are

27:08.717 --> 27:10.717
overlapping and actually slowing it

27:10.717 --> 27:12.883
down where where more human beings may

27:12.883 --> 27:14.939
seem like it is helpful , I think in

27:14.939 --> 27:17.272
our impression and what we have learned .

27:17.272 --> 27:19.383
Um , it is actually harming us and so

27:19.383 --> 27:21.494
what we've tried to do is look across

27:21.494 --> 27:23.717
all of our headquarters units and say ,

27:23.717 --> 27:25.939
where can we possibly , um , and , um ,

27:26.209 --> 27:28.376
where can we streamline things and add

27:28.376 --> 27:30.729
a little bit of speed and save some

27:30.729 --> 27:32.840
dollars and reinvigorate the spending

27:32.840 --> 27:34.840
to things that will actually output

27:34.840 --> 27:36.951
more munitions . So where , where are

27:36.951 --> 27:38.840
things being overlapped from Rock

27:38.840 --> 27:41.118
Island ? Where , where is that ? There ,

27:41.319 --> 27:43.652
I , I would just was gonna jump in here .

27:43.652 --> 27:45.875
I mean we can't where we have redundant

27:45.875 --> 27:48.097
capabilities with two headquarters that

27:48.097 --> 27:50.263
are a stone throw away from each other

27:50.263 --> 27:52.486
and , you know , you even look at right

27:52.486 --> 27:52.099
now what you could do with modern

27:52.099 --> 27:53.877
technology , um , so it was the

27:53.877 --> 27:56.210
question before , do we need , you know ,

27:56.210 --> 27:58.709
two GO headquarters of stone throw , um ,

27:58.800 --> 28:00.911
away from each other that can do some

28:00.911 --> 28:03.022
of this , you know , same functions .

28:03.089 --> 28:05.229
Um , we want the same thing you do as

28:05.229 --> 28:07.340
far as keeping , uh , and you , we're

28:07.340 --> 28:09.007
very proud of the 3D printing

28:09.007 --> 28:11.285
capability that we have at Rock Island .

28:11.285 --> 28:13.400
We're very proud of the technicians ,

28:13.790 --> 28:16.012
um , that we have . Those are the kinds

28:16.012 --> 28:18.068
of capabilities that we , you know ,

28:18.068 --> 28:20.179
that we need and we'll continue , and

28:20.179 --> 28:22.401
I've been out there to see that we have

28:22.401 --> 28:24.568
commercial industry actually coming on

28:24.568 --> 28:26.679
to use those , um , capabilities . So

28:26.679 --> 28:28.734
again I don't think I , I just don't

28:28.734 --> 28:30.790
want to conflate headquarters with .

28:30.790 --> 28:32.790
You know , with actual capability ,

28:32.790 --> 28:35.123
especially when they're just , you know ,

28:35.123 --> 28:37.234
a couple of blocks apart , and I just

28:37.234 --> 28:39.512
wanna echo Rock Island is a gem in our ,

28:39.512 --> 28:41.623
um , in the assets and the tools that

28:41.623 --> 28:43.846
we have . Let's get you out there , but

28:43.846 --> 28:43.239
you know , at the end of the day , you

28:43.239 --> 28:45.461
know , uh , we need to make sure that ,

28:45.520 --> 28:47.464
you know , the Army Transformation

28:47.464 --> 28:49.687
initiative is , is , isn't flawed , you

28:49.687 --> 28:51.798
know , I worry that this decision has

28:51.798 --> 28:53.964
has unfortunately more to do with just

28:53.964 --> 28:55.742
an arbitrary cutting of federal

28:55.742 --> 28:55.680
workforce than it does strengthening

28:55.680 --> 28:58.579
our army and our national security . Um ,

28:58.670 --> 29:00.559
you know , Secretary Hag sets one

29:00.559 --> 29:02.819
sentence in the memo is , um ,

29:02.869 --> 29:04.980
absolutely unacceptable when it comes

29:04.980 --> 29:06.702
to changing major commands and

29:06.702 --> 29:08.925
eliminating hundreds of civilian jobs ,

29:09.069 --> 29:11.125
um , and Mr . Chairman , I go back .

29:11.930 --> 29:13.986
General Musbeck , I would say , uh ,

29:13.986 --> 29:16.599
that I have conveyed the same sentiment

29:16.770 --> 29:18.900
of Mr . Sorenson to , uh , General

29:18.900 --> 29:22.229
George , and that is , If budget is

29:22.229 --> 29:24.285
driving policy , you're gonna have a

29:24.285 --> 29:26.396
problem by this committee . If policy

29:26.396 --> 29:29.510
is being driven first and budget is a

29:29.510 --> 29:32.339
consequence , then we're gonna be open

29:32.339 --> 29:34.829
ears , uh , but you can't just let try

29:34.829 --> 29:37.430
to make your policy or your construct

29:37.430 --> 29:41.069
fit a number that's arbitrary . Uh , we

29:41.069 --> 29:43.180
need you to let us know what you need

29:43.180 --> 29:45.347
and then let us worry about funding it

29:45.347 --> 29:47.569
because that's what we're here for . So

29:47.569 --> 29:49.680
just know that you're , you , there's

29:49.680 --> 29:51.902
other people that see this the same way

29:51.902 --> 29:54.069
you do . Which is why we need a budget

29:54.069 --> 29:56.291
so we can talk about these things , but

29:56.291 --> 29:58.513
I can't overstate , we are not going to

29:58.513 --> 30:00.569
be hostile to dramatic changes is if

30:00.569 --> 30:00.569
it's being driven by the need for

30:00.569 --> 30:03.089
change and not just to meet some budget

30:03.089 --> 30:05.256
number that somebody's handed to you .

30:05.300 --> 30:08.339
Uh , I'll get off my sermon pulpit now

30:08.339 --> 30:10.339
and go to Representative Higgins of

30:10.339 --> 30:14.319
Louisiana . Thank you Mr . Chairman and

30:14.319 --> 30:16.319
thank you for your passion and your

30:16.319 --> 30:18.180
leadership , sir . I support the

30:18.180 --> 30:21.060
chairman's uh description early in this

30:21.060 --> 30:23.630
hearing , Mr . Secretary General ,

30:24.180 --> 30:27.099
regarding our , our intention in this

30:27.099 --> 30:30.099
committee to have have policy drive our

30:30.099 --> 30:32.449
narrative and our legislation , uh ,

30:32.459 --> 30:35.500
budget is , is , is part of our , our

30:35.500 --> 30:39.170
larger concern for our country . And ,

30:39.420 --> 30:41.750
and we will address that appropriately ,

30:41.849 --> 30:44.300
but what we ask of the United States

30:44.300 --> 30:46.619
Army , which I'm a proud Army veteran .

30:47.420 --> 30:50.920
Um , we , we ask for you to deliver to

30:50.920 --> 30:53.031
this , this committee what your needs

30:53.031 --> 30:55.031
are , and then under the chairman's

30:55.031 --> 30:57.089
leadership we will drive towards

30:57.089 --> 30:59.900
accomplishing that . Um , I'd like to

30:59.900 --> 31:02.319
mention recruiting Miss Secretary and

31:02.420 --> 31:04.900
and general congratulations for hitting

31:04.900 --> 31:07.369
your recruiting goal early this year .

31:07.540 --> 31:09.596
I , uh , I expect you're gonna get a

31:09.596 --> 31:12.020
big bump during the rest of the year

31:12.020 --> 31:14.500
and let me say that it was very clear

31:14.500 --> 31:17.609
to many of us it's been brought up . In

31:17.609 --> 31:20.060
this hearing You know what's what is

31:20.060 --> 31:22.339
the driving factor behind recruiting

31:22.339 --> 31:25.369
and to me it's always been , uh ,

31:25.380 --> 31:28.510
American families are the driving force

31:29.010 --> 31:31.232
between successful recruiting or failed

31:31.232 --> 31:33.819
recruiting and for for several years

31:33.819 --> 31:36.729
you've had families like mine

31:37.640 --> 31:40.380
advising their their their youngsters

31:40.380 --> 31:43.349
to refrain . From joining the military

31:43.349 --> 31:46.469
if they they want a fence . And since

31:46.469 --> 31:48.691
November of last year it has been quite

31:48.691 --> 31:50.829
a shift . The families are gain

31:50.829 --> 31:52.940
confident in the future of the United

31:52.940 --> 31:55.469
States military and therefore you're

31:55.469 --> 31:57.550
seeing , you're seeing the surge of

31:57.550 --> 32:00.589
recruitment and , and congratulations

32:00.589 --> 32:02.709
on that because families are again

32:03.310 --> 32:04.866
supporting their children's

32:04.866 --> 32:07.229
consideration for service . It's never

32:07.229 --> 32:09.310
been about money . It's always been

32:09.310 --> 32:11.088
about , you know , what are the

32:11.088 --> 32:13.032
principles . Uh , reflected in the

32:13.032 --> 32:14.921
United States Army and the United

32:14.921 --> 32:16.866
States Navy and Air Force , Marine

32:16.866 --> 32:19.650
Corps , do those principles reflect the

32:19.650 --> 32:21.839
core values and principles of

32:21.839 --> 32:24.459
traditional American families ? And if

32:24.459 --> 32:26.650
that alignment is solid , then your

32:26.650 --> 32:28.770
recruitment will be , will be

32:28.770 --> 32:30.969
productive . So thank you for that ,

32:31.089 --> 32:33.650
General and Secretary each mentioned .

32:34.579 --> 32:38.329
Um , The expanded

32:38.329 --> 32:41.079
capability of buying capability , your

32:41.079 --> 32:44.520
quote , general , versus uh being

32:44.520 --> 32:48.349
restricted by quote specific programs

32:50.390 --> 32:52.168
uh in order to provide the best

32:52.168 --> 32:54.150
available tech again your quote ,

32:54.280 --> 32:56.920
general , would you mind elaborating on

32:56.920 --> 32:59.087
that ? I know you have earlier in this

32:59.087 --> 33:01.309
hearing , but please explain to America

33:01.309 --> 33:03.420
what shift we're trying to accomplish

33:03.420 --> 33:05.719
within this committee . To deliver to

33:05.719 --> 33:08.439
the United States Army the ability to

33:08.439 --> 33:10.328
buy the most effective technology

33:10.328 --> 33:13.280
that's available right now or next

33:13.280 --> 33:16.209
month or in 3 months or 6 months as

33:16.209 --> 33:19.109
opposed to being locked into a um

33:19.959 --> 33:22.170
a specific program will you clarify

33:22.170 --> 33:24.829
that , General ? Um , yes , Congressman ,

33:24.869 --> 33:27.150
I think , again , I'll , I'll give a

33:27.150 --> 33:29.261
couple of quick examples , but drones

33:29.261 --> 33:31.483
are a perfect example that we know that

33:31.510 --> 33:33.566
that technology is rapidly advancing

33:33.566 --> 33:35.621
and if you bought a drone now , uh ,

33:35.621 --> 33:37.788
and I had used one in Afghanistan that

33:37.788 --> 33:39.843
was still in service actually when I

33:39.843 --> 33:42.066
became the chief that was like 20 years

33:42.066 --> 33:44.343
old , you know that was old technology .

33:44.343 --> 33:46.399
So we can't be locked into things we

33:46.399 --> 33:48.510
need to , uh , just have a capability

33:48.510 --> 33:50.621
we can come over here and that's what

33:50.621 --> 33:52.899
we're talking about with agile funding .

33:52.899 --> 33:54.899
We could lay out exactly what we're

33:54.899 --> 33:56.732
buying so you know , we want the

33:56.732 --> 33:56.729
oversight to make sure that we're doing

33:56.729 --> 33:59.369
that . Um , but to maintain pace that's

33:59.369 --> 34:01.329
what you're calling capabilities ,

34:01.680 --> 34:04.020
that's the capability drones autonomous

34:04.020 --> 34:06.170
systems would be one . Electronic

34:06.170 --> 34:08.969
warfare systems are gonna change . The

34:08.969 --> 34:11.136
network is gonna adapt . I mean , like

34:11.136 --> 34:12.858
phones , no one's , you know ,

34:12.858 --> 34:15.100
everybody adapts their phones , updates

34:15.100 --> 34:17.211
and does things like that . Yes sir .

34:17.211 --> 34:19.044
So , so , so , general , just to

34:19.044 --> 34:21.211
clarify in the interest of time here ,

34:21.580 --> 34:25.489
um , we want to provide the army

34:25.489 --> 34:28.260
what you're envisioning here . With the

34:28.260 --> 34:30.316
capability to buy , say , showroom .

34:30.918 --> 34:34.309
Like if if if a company produces a new

34:34.309 --> 34:37.789
model that fits your capabilities that

34:37.789 --> 34:39.845
Congress has authorized and funded ,

34:39.868 --> 34:41.979
you want the freedom to be able to go

34:42.099 --> 34:44.749
to the next showroom over and purchase

34:44.749 --> 34:46.693
that model versus the last one you

34:46.693 --> 34:48.805
bought , is that correct ? I think we

34:48.805 --> 34:50.916
also need to be responsible enough to

34:50.916 --> 34:52.971
that when we build things we . Build

34:52.971 --> 34:55.027
the modular so the larger systems we

34:55.027 --> 34:57.305
know active protection is gonna change .

34:57.305 --> 34:59.193
Um , we know the network is gonna

34:59.193 --> 35:01.027
change that you could maybe make

35:01.027 --> 35:03.193
modifications on those systems as well

35:03.193 --> 35:05.249
so we're not building one integrated

35:05.249 --> 35:07.416
system that takes 5 or 6 years to come

35:07.416 --> 35:09.582
to fruition that we know is gonna have

35:09.582 --> 35:11.805
to change . So we have to change to how

35:11.805 --> 35:14.027
we're doing business understood . Thank

35:14.027 --> 35:16.082
you , Mr . Chairman . Uh , chair , I

35:16.082 --> 35:18.305
recognize a gentle lady from Maryland ,

35:18.305 --> 35:20.416
Miss . Thank you , Mr . Chair . Thank

35:20.416 --> 35:22.582
you , gentlemen , and , um , general ,

35:22.582 --> 35:24.638
thank you again for your hospitality

35:24.638 --> 35:26.916
and candor when this committee visited ,

35:26.916 --> 35:28.471
uh , in Austin . I echo the

35:28.471 --> 35:30.749
congratulations from this committee on ,

35:30.749 --> 35:32.971
on recruitment numbers and certainly it

35:32.971 --> 35:35.027
is years of thoughtful and strategic

35:35.027 --> 35:34.689
planning in the making led by your team ,

35:34.870 --> 35:37.092
uh , general , so we greatly appreciate

35:37.092 --> 35:39.259
that . I'm also , I , I agree with and

35:39.259 --> 35:41.370
I'm relieved to hear that you say our

35:41.370 --> 35:43.537
our most critical asset in the US Army

35:43.537 --> 35:45.592
is our personnel . So before I start

35:45.592 --> 35:45.280
questions , I do want to just echo my ,

35:45.340 --> 35:47.250
my colleague , uh , Congresswoman

35:47.250 --> 35:49.729
Houlihan's concerns about some of the ,

35:49.739 --> 35:51.906
the statements that Secretary Hegi has

35:51.906 --> 35:54.072
made as it relates to rolling back the

35:54.072 --> 35:56.295
opportunities for fully qualified women

35:56.295 --> 35:58.239
who meet every fitness standard to

35:58.239 --> 36:00.461
serve in certain roles in the US Army .

36:00.461 --> 36:02.461
Now , obviously , Secretary Hicksis

36:02.461 --> 36:04.517
will answer for himself when he's in

36:04.517 --> 36:04.179
front of this committee next week , but

36:04.179 --> 36:06.068
I unfortunately , I didn't hear a

36:06.068 --> 36:08.401
commitment from either of you . Um , Mr .

36:08.401 --> 36:10.512
Secretary , I heard that you hope for

36:10.512 --> 36:12.679
these opportunities to remain for your

36:12.679 --> 36:14.901
daughter and for others , but I would ,

36:14.901 --> 36:14.770
I don't want to presume to tell you

36:14.770 --> 36:16.770
your responsibilities , but I would

36:16.770 --> 36:18.992
hope advocating for personnel for their

36:18.992 --> 36:20.881
hopes , their commitments , their

36:20.881 --> 36:22.881
abilities in back rooms where these

36:22.881 --> 36:24.714
conversations are being had is a

36:24.714 --> 36:26.770
responsibility that you both take to

36:26.770 --> 36:26.760
heart . So I , I , I sincerely hope

36:26.760 --> 36:28.982
that commitment is forthcoming . Moving

36:28.982 --> 36:31.760
on to energy , uh , again , relieved to

36:31.760 --> 36:33.760
hear , Mr . Secretary , your , your

36:33.760 --> 36:35.371
thoughtfulness on this issue

36:35.371 --> 36:36.982
representing . Um , multiple

36:36.982 --> 36:38.649
installations that are , uh ,

36:38.649 --> 36:40.871
vulnerable to sea level rise and severe

36:40.871 --> 36:42.704
storms , not to mention just the

36:42.704 --> 36:44.816
general antiquated nature of our grid

36:44.816 --> 36:46.927
system , uh , including the fact that

36:46.927 --> 36:49.093
99% of our base electricity comes from

36:49.093 --> 36:51.149
outside the installation , clearly a

36:51.149 --> 36:53.260
problem . You talked about SMRs , but

36:53.260 --> 36:53.139
can you speak a little bit to your ,

36:53.219 --> 36:55.629
your planning for other pieces of this

36:55.629 --> 36:57.962
puzzle ? It's not just SMRs , obviously ,

36:57.962 --> 37:00.370
it's , it's also , uh , storage , uh ,

37:00.459 --> 37:02.459
it's also grid resilience . Can you

37:02.459 --> 37:04.620
speak how you are prioritizing

37:04.620 --> 37:08.310
installation resilience ? So , um , we

37:08.310 --> 37:10.366
don't talk about this as often , but

37:10.366 --> 37:12.199
what , what we think and what we

37:12.199 --> 37:14.366
believe and are kind of our one of our

37:14.366 --> 37:16.588
core hypotheses to transformation is to

37:16.588 --> 37:16.570
go get the best of the civilian sector

37:16.870 --> 37:19.909
and , um , create the have the army be

37:19.909 --> 37:22.020
the ingestion point of that on behalf

37:22.020 --> 37:24.242
of the Pentagon and we've talked to the

37:24.242 --> 37:23.870
leadership up and down on that . So

37:23.870 --> 37:25.981
what we just did earlier this week is

37:26.100 --> 37:28.322
we're trying to get . Some of the , the

37:28.322 --> 37:30.489
minds at some of our um best funded VC

37:30.489 --> 37:32.706
and PE backed companies to give us

37:32.706 --> 37:34.762
insight into what they're working on

37:34.762 --> 37:36.817
today to try to figure out how do we

37:36.817 --> 37:38.650
actually just take some of their

37:38.650 --> 37:40.817
prototypes and get them on our base so

37:40.817 --> 37:42.928
we can learn if it can work um and so

37:42.928 --> 37:45.039
we're optimistic that we'll have some

37:45.039 --> 37:44.956
announcements on that in a couple of

37:44.956 --> 37:47.012
quarters . That's exciting . I think

37:47.012 --> 37:49.178
you heard . We have a lot of allies on

37:49.178 --> 37:51.345
this committee for for that priority .

37:51.345 --> 37:51.241
Um , I wanna move on to , uh , Fort

37:51.241 --> 37:53.519
Dietrich , which is not in my district ,

37:53.519 --> 37:55.741
but in Maryland . And as you know , the

37:55.741 --> 37:57.963
Army's Medical Research and Development

37:57.963 --> 37:57.741
Command headquartered at Fort Dietrich ,

37:57.961 --> 37:59.850
uh , has been transitioned to the

37:59.850 --> 38:02.322
Defense Health Agency . MRDC , when it

38:02.322 --> 38:04.044
was under Army control , was a

38:04.044 --> 38:06.100
world-class life cycle incubator for

38:06.100 --> 38:08.378
research , development and acquisition .

38:08.378 --> 38:10.600
Um , not just for warfighters , but for

38:10.600 --> 38:12.711
world health generally on the cutting

38:12.711 --> 38:14.766
edge of Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks

38:14.766 --> 38:16.655
and responses . However , the DHA

38:16.655 --> 38:18.933
contracting Authority is , is managing ,

38:18.933 --> 38:20.878
uh , now managing that medical R&D

38:20.929 --> 38:22.985
which is different from what they've

38:22.985 --> 38:25.207
been used to their , their capabilities

38:25.207 --> 38:27.429
in the past . So , Mr . Secretary , I'm

38:27.429 --> 38:29.485
curious , how are you working ? With

38:29.485 --> 38:32.350
DHA so that we don't lose all of that

38:32.350 --> 38:34.239
research , all of the , the , the

38:34.239 --> 38:36.128
thought leaders that live at Fort

38:36.128 --> 38:38.350
Dietrich , how are we going to continue

38:38.350 --> 38:40.572
to move this ball forward ? Uh , just ,

38:40.572 --> 38:39.750
just personally , my wife is a

38:39.750 --> 38:42.939
physician and a public health physician ,

38:42.989 --> 38:45.030
no less , uh , and , and this is a

38:45.030 --> 38:47.141
topic that is incredibly important in

38:47.141 --> 38:49.252
the army . We believe we can continue

38:49.252 --> 38:51.530
to be a leader and innovator here . Um ,

38:51.530 --> 38:53.863
we are working with that agency . It is ,

38:53.863 --> 38:55.919
it is complicated , um , that it has

38:55.919 --> 38:58.086
been merged and we are working through

38:58.086 --> 39:00.086
some of the , um , issues that come

39:00.086 --> 39:01.808
when you merge across a lot of

39:01.808 --> 39:03.752
different services , um , but it's

39:03.752 --> 39:03.169
important and we're happy to follow up

39:03.169 --> 39:05.290
with more details of helpful . I , I

39:05.290 --> 39:07.290
appreciate that . It's not just the

39:07.290 --> 39:09.457
mergers . Well , there's some critical

39:09.457 --> 39:08.969
infrastructure challenges , including a

39:08.969 --> 39:11.136
new incinerator that's , that's direly

39:11.136 --> 39:13.358
needed on that , on that installation .

39:13.358 --> 39:15.580
So yes , I would love to , to follow up

39:15.580 --> 39:17.913
with you and your team on that . Um , I ,

39:17.913 --> 39:20.090
I also share this committee's concerns

39:20.090 --> 39:22.146
about the , the future of the army ,

39:22.146 --> 39:24.620
and , and , uh , Mr . Secretary , I , I

39:24.620 --> 39:26.564
hear you say that you want greater

39:26.564 --> 39:28.509
flexibility in addressing emerging

39:28.509 --> 39:30.676
threats , and I understand that at the

39:30.676 --> 39:32.398
same time that complicates our

39:32.398 --> 39:34.453
constitutional obligation to conduct

39:34.453 --> 39:36.509
oversight over over taxpayer dollars

39:36.509 --> 39:38.620
and over over the army . So I'm gonna

39:38.620 --> 39:41.570
let you set your own . Game or set your

39:41.570 --> 39:44.129
own goals here when you return to this

39:44.129 --> 39:46.185
committee this time next year ? What

39:46.185 --> 39:48.351
measurement of progress should we hold

39:48.351 --> 39:50.073
you to ? Um , I , I think that

39:50.073 --> 39:52.240
constitutional oversight is incredibly

39:52.240 --> 39:54.185
important , completely and utterly

39:54.185 --> 39:56.351
supportive of it . I think what I have

39:56.351 --> 39:56.320
learned since being here is we went

39:56.320 --> 39:59.449
from directionally 12 funding lines 20

39:59.449 --> 40:01.282
or 30 years ago , and we are now

40:01.282 --> 40:03.171
narrowly told over 1400 different

40:03.171 --> 40:05.171
funding lines what we can buy . The

40:05.171 --> 40:07.393
intent of this is not to allow us to do

40:07.393 --> 40:09.616
things with our money that you wouldn't

40:09.616 --> 40:11.616
support . It's since General George

40:11.616 --> 40:13.616
mentioned for you to bucket us into

40:13.616 --> 40:15.727
appropriate areas , us to provide the

40:15.727 --> 40:17.949
receipts , and when we get too close to

40:17.949 --> 40:16.979
the line , you to provide that

40:16.979 --> 40:19.035
oversight . I look forward to that .

40:19.035 --> 40:21.257
Thank you , Mr . Chair . General lady ,

40:21.257 --> 40:23.257
uh , time's expired . Chair , and I

40:23.257 --> 40:25.368
recognize gentleman from Texas , Mr .

40:25.368 --> 40:27.535
Gooden . Thank you , Mr . Chair . Uh ,

40:27.535 --> 40:29.535
General George , the Army says it's

40:29.535 --> 40:31.701
cutting bureaucracy and reinvesting in

40:31.701 --> 40:33.923
lethality . But historically we've seen

40:33.923 --> 40:33.879
so-called cuts in headquarters just

40:33.879 --> 40:36.919
result in reshuffled org charts and no

40:36.919 --> 40:38.752
real savings . Could you show me

40:38.752 --> 40:40.919
exactly how much manpower and overhead

40:40.919 --> 40:42.975
will be eliminated under ATI and how

40:42.975 --> 40:44.863
much of those resources are being

40:44.863 --> 40:46.641
redirected to frontline units ,

40:46.641 --> 40:48.808
specifically those based in Texas like

40:48.808 --> 40:51.340
Fort Cavasso's and Bliss ? Yeah , I

40:51.340 --> 40:53.229
could , we could come over , um ,

40:53.229 --> 40:55.340
Congressman , and walk that to you in

40:55.340 --> 40:57.562
detail after the budget comes through ,

40:57.620 --> 40:59.770
um , and again we , when we look ,

40:59.780 --> 41:02.002
we're what we're trying to do , we have

41:02.002 --> 41:04.224
a budget and we are trying to build the

41:04.224 --> 41:07.300
very best army for that and again we

41:07.300 --> 41:09.300
are everything that we've looked at

41:09.300 --> 41:11.580
that's on that list , um , we know we

41:11.580 --> 41:13.469
can better use that money in , in

41:13.469 --> 41:15.524
different capability and that's what

41:15.524 --> 41:17.636
we're focused on . So I mean salaries

41:17.636 --> 41:19.636
are money . Um , the things that we

41:19.636 --> 41:21.802
have to do and if we have , you know ,

41:21.802 --> 41:23.691
duplication and effort or we have

41:23.691 --> 41:26.360
inefficiencies , um , we're all about ,

41:26.449 --> 41:28.770
um , making those adjustments , and

41:28.770 --> 41:31.048
Congressman , just to the end strength ,

41:31.048 --> 41:33.270
the actual soldiers , um , when we talk

41:33.270 --> 41:35.381
about these 1000 soldiers that are up

41:35.381 --> 41:37.548
in the headquarters , it's not cutting

41:37.548 --> 41:39.770
them from the United States Army , it's

41:39.770 --> 41:41.881
cutting them from jobs that they hate

41:41.881 --> 41:41.389
where they are . We , we , we , the

41:41.389 --> 41:43.590
army have forced them to push paper

41:43.590 --> 41:45.701
back and forth , and we are returning

41:45.701 --> 41:47.701
them to do the job that they love ,

41:47.701 --> 41:49.757
which is what they signed up to do .

41:49.757 --> 41:51.757
And so at least as far as I know no

41:51.757 --> 41:53.979
soldier that is among the group that we

41:53.979 --> 41:53.629
have told , hey , we're pushing you

41:53.629 --> 41:55.573
from headquarters back out to your

41:55.573 --> 41:57.518
units has been anything other than

41:57.518 --> 41:59.740
thrill . The goal is to grow our combat

41:59.740 --> 42:01.796
formations , to put people in combat

42:01.796 --> 42:04.018
formations . Good to hear . Thank you .

42:04.018 --> 42:06.185
Um , also I want to thank you for your

42:06.185 --> 42:08.240
support for Gray Eagles for the Army

42:08.240 --> 42:09.740
National Guard through the

42:09.740 --> 42:12.350
appropriations and . FY 23 and 25 and

42:12.350 --> 42:14.406
it's my understanding that Army gray

42:14.406 --> 42:16.406
eagles are now currently helping to

42:16.406 --> 42:18.239
protect our borders and that has

42:18.239 --> 42:19.906
significantly increased their

42:19.906 --> 42:21.850
operational tempo . Patrolling the

42:21.850 --> 42:24.072
border seems like a perfect fit for the

42:24.072 --> 42:25.961
National Guard to perform , and I

42:25.961 --> 42:27.794
wonder if the army is giving any

42:27.794 --> 42:27.709
thought to adding gray Eagle force

42:27.709 --> 42:29.765
structure into all eight divisions .

42:31.810 --> 42:35.280
Um , Not really , Congressman . And

42:35.280 --> 42:37.336
again , you know , with Gray Eagle ,

42:37.336 --> 42:39.502
you take Gray Eagle as a , it's a very

42:39.502 --> 42:41.724
it's , it's a great platform , has been

42:41.724 --> 42:43.724
a great platform for us . It's very

42:43.724 --> 42:45.891
expensive . Um , there's 150 people in

42:45.891 --> 42:48.002
a company , it requires an airfield .

42:48.002 --> 42:50.224
And I think there's platforms out there

42:50.224 --> 42:52.391
right now that are probably 10% of the

42:52.391 --> 42:54.613
cost can be operated with 3 or 4 people

42:54.613 --> 42:56.780
and can fit in the back of a truck and

42:56.780 --> 42:58.891
so you know that's kind of what we're

42:58.891 --> 43:00.891
looking at going that we could have

43:00.891 --> 43:03.002
more of those systems , we could have

43:03.002 --> 43:05.113
more capability . Um , for less money

43:05.113 --> 43:07.239
and , and they would be updated and ,

43:07.300 --> 43:09.300
and , uh , moving forward , I think

43:09.300 --> 43:11.409
that's where we need to move , and

43:11.409 --> 43:13.409
Congressman , for the gray Eagle in

43:13.409 --> 43:15.409
particular , we are grateful as the

43:15.409 --> 43:17.576
United States Army for any asset we've

43:17.576 --> 43:19.687
been given or the dollars you gave us

43:19.687 --> 43:19.439
to go purchase . We want to use it in

43:19.439 --> 43:22.000
its most effective way . Um , there are

43:22.000 --> 43:24.000
tools , as General George mentioned

43:24.000 --> 43:25.944
that are significantly cheaper and

43:25.944 --> 43:28.000
better that what we are saying is we

43:28.000 --> 43:30.278
don't think we should purchase anymore .

43:30.278 --> 43:32.056
Thank you . uh , I got one more

43:32.056 --> 43:34.500
question for you talking about AI , the

43:34.500 --> 43:37.300
army in particular pays for humans to

43:37.300 --> 43:39.356
translate everything and translation

43:39.356 --> 43:41.739
services probably wasn't on your radar

43:41.739 --> 43:43.979
today , but , um , the definition of

43:43.979 --> 43:46.469
government waste is in essence what

43:46.469 --> 43:49.300
we're doing now and generative AI

43:49.300 --> 43:51.467
foreign language translation solutions

43:51.467 --> 43:53.633
are being used . By several army units

43:53.635 --> 43:55.802
to drastically increase the efficiency

43:55.802 --> 43:57.913
of Army linguists , but more could be

43:57.913 --> 44:00.079
done and I'm wondering if uh you could

44:00.079 --> 44:02.191
discuss any plans , if you have any ,

44:02.191 --> 44:04.534
to expand AI language translation

44:04.534 --> 44:06.590
technology across all army divisions

44:06.834 --> 44:08.778
and where in your budget you would

44:08.778 --> 44:10.890
allocate these resources . I can take

44:10.890 --> 44:12.945
the the first part , which is almost

44:12.945 --> 44:15.056
nothing gets me more excited than the

44:15.056 --> 44:17.223
use cases of things like generative AI

44:17.223 --> 44:19.334
both for the war fighting function of

44:19.334 --> 44:19.080
the army but also the army as a

44:19.080 --> 44:21.136
business . Um , General George and I

44:21.136 --> 44:23.413
reference us as two discrete functions .

44:23.413 --> 44:25.247
One is a , a very lethal killing

44:25.247 --> 44:27.247
machine , and then the other one is

44:27.247 --> 44:29.413
just a large enterprise scale business

44:29.413 --> 44:31.636
that moves people and things around the

44:31.636 --> 44:33.747
country in the world . AI is going to

44:33.747 --> 44:35.969
unlock so much value immediately on the

44:35.969 --> 44:38.136
armies and enterprise business um that

44:38.136 --> 44:40.024
we are looking actively for every

44:40.024 --> 44:42.302
single place that we can possibly take .

44:42.302 --> 44:44.302
We have over 200 business systems ,

44:44.302 --> 44:46.469
enterprise level systems that we use .

44:46.469 --> 44:48.469
I'm . a number that I think General

44:48.469 --> 44:50.691
George would agree with . I don't think

44:50.691 --> 44:52.802
we need more than 20 , um , and , and

44:52.802 --> 44:54.858
AI is gonna be incredible for things

44:54.858 --> 44:57.025
like language services that helping us

44:57.025 --> 44:56.770
achieve that . Super . Maybe the next

44:56.770 --> 44:58.881
hearing we'll hear what gets you more

44:58.881 --> 45:01.048
excited than that . So thank you and I

45:01.048 --> 45:02.992
appreciate the work you're doing .

45:02.992 --> 45:05.214
Yield back , gentlemen , Ys back here ,

45:05.214 --> 45:05.010
and I recognize a gentleman from

45:05.010 --> 45:07.659
Missouri , Mr . Bale . Thank you Mr .

45:07.669 --> 45:09.891
Chair and ranking member . hello to our

45:09.891 --> 45:11.947
witnesses . Thank you for being here

45:11.947 --> 45:15.870
and for your service as well um and one

45:15.870 --> 45:17.703
thing that I will say about this

45:17.703 --> 45:19.926
committee , um , that is encouraging to

45:19.926 --> 45:22.629
me on my short time in my short time

45:22.629 --> 45:25.330
here in in Congress is that , uh ,

45:25.389 --> 45:27.909
members on both sides of the aisle take

45:27.909 --> 45:30.020
our security and our national defense

45:30.020 --> 45:33.810
very seriously . And I think

45:33.810 --> 45:36.120
members on both sides of the aisle

45:36.120 --> 45:38.530
agree that we have some tough choices

45:38.530 --> 45:42.510
to make . And we must Invest

45:42.510 --> 45:45.139
in our national security . Everyone

45:45.139 --> 45:48.060
understands that we must modernize our ,

45:48.310 --> 45:50.639
our national , our , our armed forces .

45:50.949 --> 45:53.770
Everyone understands that . But we also

45:53.770 --> 45:56.290
know that money is not infinite and

45:56.290 --> 45:59.669
resources are limited . So at a time

45:59.669 --> 46:02.060
when so many across the country ,

46:02.469 --> 46:04.580
including in my own district in Saint

46:04.580 --> 46:06.830
Louis , are still recovering from , and

46:06.830 --> 46:09.350
in our example , the worst natural

46:09.350 --> 46:12.110
disaster since the late 1950s .

46:13.530 --> 46:15.610
When our adversaries are sparing no

46:15.610 --> 46:18.010
expense and investing in AI

46:18.010 --> 46:20.080
technologies , cyber warfare

46:20.330 --> 46:23.270
technologies , hypersonic missiles , we

46:23.270 --> 46:26.040
have to ask those tough questions

46:26.040 --> 46:28.729
because we recognize we have some tough

46:28.729 --> 46:31.530
choices to make and so I do have to ask

46:31.530 --> 46:34.050
the question , is a parade really the

46:34.050 --> 46:37.540
best use of $45 million ? And as we've

46:37.540 --> 46:40.300
heard from many of my colleagues and as

46:40.300 --> 46:43.050
the administration has said military

46:43.050 --> 46:45.100
recruitment and enlistment and

46:45.100 --> 46:47.211
enlistment are at some of its highest

46:47.211 --> 46:49.889
levels I think uh one of our members

46:50.260 --> 46:52.899
said that on the recruiting side we're

46:52.899 --> 46:56.330
killing it in a good way . Um , and

46:56.330 --> 46:59.100
this is the highest . Levels of

46:59.100 --> 47:01.267
recruitment that we've seen in years .

47:01.267 --> 47:04.939
Is this correct ? Correct . And

47:05.149 --> 47:07.371
highest since I , if I'm not mistaken ,

47:07.371 --> 47:09.899
since 2021 . Is , is that not correct ?

47:10.850 --> 47:13.128
I think it goes back farther than that ,

47:13.128 --> 47:16.760
but correct , very high . So and that's

47:16.760 --> 47:18.871
an incredible achievement and I think

47:18.871 --> 47:20.760
on both sides of the aisle we all

47:20.760 --> 47:22.840
appreciate that especially at a time

47:22.840 --> 47:25.120
when we're facing growing threats from

47:25.120 --> 47:27.969
our adversaries that is something we're

47:27.969 --> 47:31.439
celebrating . But that's also exactly

47:31.439 --> 47:34.919
the point . You indicated that

47:35.129 --> 47:38.020
um . Recruitment is surging .

47:39.149 --> 47:41.419
And that's without a $45 million price

47:41.419 --> 47:45.030
tag . So why are we now planning to

47:45.030 --> 47:46.752
spend that money on a parade ?

47:49.199 --> 47:51.310
With the hopes of spiking recruitment

47:51.310 --> 47:53.588
when we're already spiking recruitment ,

47:53.588 --> 47:55.810
why don't we just do what we're doing ?

47:55.889 --> 47:57.722
And and that's not my question .

47:58.939 --> 48:00.995
Because we're talking about symbolic

48:00.995 --> 48:03.040
displays when our real needs lie

48:03.040 --> 48:06.840
elsewhere . Meanwhile , our adversaries

48:06.840 --> 48:10.429
are coming . And we are the measuring

48:10.429 --> 48:13.850
stick . We are the goals that they're

48:13.850 --> 48:17.439
trying to reach and surpass . So , in

48:17.439 --> 48:19.606
my opinion , we should be investing in

48:19.606 --> 48:21.790
what truly strengthens our military ,

48:22.209 --> 48:24.840
not gestures that come at the expense

48:24.840 --> 48:27.110
of more urgent priorities .

48:28.590 --> 48:32.580
Um , Secretary Driscoll , with the army

48:32.580 --> 48:35.139
investing heavily in advanced tech and

48:35.139 --> 48:38.139
modernization . How do you ensure that

48:38.139 --> 48:40.149
funds are not diverted away from

48:40.149 --> 48:43.260
essential soldier support programs such

48:43.260 --> 48:45.689
as mental health , family services ,

48:45.899 --> 48:48.540
and housing , which are critical for

48:48.540 --> 48:50.373
long-term retention and morale ?

48:52.919 --> 48:54.752
I'm , I'm sorry , would you mind

48:54.752 --> 48:56.808
repeating the question ? I shouldn't

48:56.808 --> 49:00.199
for that . Uh , secretary , with the

49:00.199 --> 49:02.421
army investing heavily in advanced tech

49:02.421 --> 49:04.889
and modernization . How do you ensure

49:04.889 --> 49:07.000
that funds are not diverted away from

49:07.000 --> 49:09.810
essential soldier support programs such

49:09.810 --> 49:11.866
as mental health , family services ,

49:11.889 --> 49:14.310
and housing which are critical for long

49:14.310 --> 49:17.330
term retention and morale ? Uh , we

49:17.330 --> 49:19.552
totally agree , Congressman . So , um ,

49:19.552 --> 49:21.774
one of the ways we try to look to see ,

49:21.889 --> 49:23.929
um , quantitatively if the army is

49:23.929 --> 49:26.610
healthy and with our soldiers is we ,

49:26.649 --> 49:29.090
we think of retention as a trailing

49:29.090 --> 49:31.540
indicator of success and a . Recruiting

49:31.540 --> 49:33.699
as a leading indicator of the success

49:33.699 --> 49:35.977
and the health healthiness of the army ,

49:35.977 --> 49:38.199
um , we are thrilled to say that on the

49:38.199 --> 49:40.255
retention piece so the soldiers that

49:40.255 --> 49:42.310
are currently in the army getting to

49:42.310 --> 49:44.199
see are we delivering to them the

49:44.199 --> 49:46.421
things that they need to care for their

49:46.421 --> 49:48.532
families and care for themselves , we

49:48.532 --> 49:50.699
hit our annual retention goal 6 months

49:50.699 --> 49:52.866
into this year and so for us that is a

49:52.866 --> 49:54.699
we we take that as a pretty good

49:54.699 --> 49:56.921
indicator that we are delivering on our

49:56.921 --> 49:58.810
word to them and , and we hope to

49:58.810 --> 50:00.810
continue that . Yes , Congressman ,

50:00.810 --> 50:02.977
thank you . I think that's my time . I

50:02.977 --> 50:05.088
yield back gentlemen , yous back here

50:05.088 --> 50:04.659
and I recognize a gentleman from North

50:04.659 --> 50:06.826
Carolina , Mr . Harrigan . Thank you ,

50:06.826 --> 50:09.048
Mr . Chairman and gentlemen , thank you

50:09.048 --> 50:11.103
so much for your testimony today and

50:11.103 --> 50:13.340
before kind of hopping into this slide

50:13.340 --> 50:15.451
that I've got here , I just wanna say

50:15.451 --> 50:17.507
that since coming to Congress , I've

50:17.507 --> 50:19.673
worked to continually educate everyone

50:19.673 --> 50:21.396
that I possibly can up here in

50:21.396 --> 50:23.451
Washington that we have a very stark

50:23.451 --> 50:25.562
choice when it comes to our defense .

50:25.562 --> 50:27.784
We can either continue to invest in the

50:27.784 --> 50:30.350
military that we have today , or we can

50:30.350 --> 50:32.572
invest in the military that we actually

50:32.572 --> 50:34.628
need to deter or defeat China . They

50:34.628 --> 50:36.628
are not the same choice . We cannot

50:36.628 --> 50:39.909
choose both , and you gentlemen have

50:39.909 --> 50:43.030
chosen voluntarily something that

50:43.030 --> 50:46.820
rarely is seen in this town to take

50:46.820 --> 50:50.570
the road of courage . Which is to

50:50.570 --> 50:52.626
make change that is exactly what the

50:52.626 --> 50:55.290
Army Transformation initiative is and

50:55.290 --> 50:58.729
what it does through eliminating legacy

50:58.729 --> 51:00.850
assets for structures and contracting

51:00.850 --> 51:03.969
mechanisms . It actually gives us the

51:03.969 --> 51:06.136
opportunity to create the army that we

51:06.136 --> 51:08.358
truly need in order to deter and defeat

51:08.358 --> 51:10.919
China . So you have my sincere thanks

51:11.290 --> 51:13.610
for your efforts and you will have my

51:13.610 --> 51:15.550
support . Part of the Army

51:15.550 --> 51:17.550
transformation initiative is making

51:17.550 --> 51:19.383
sure . That we start winning the

51:19.383 --> 51:21.439
economics of conflict and you cannot

51:21.439 --> 51:23.439
have a discussion about winning the

51:23.439 --> 51:25.606
economics of conflict without having a

51:25.606 --> 51:27.828
discussion about SUAS today and I think

51:27.828 --> 51:30.110
as we all have seen as the Ukrainian

51:30.110 --> 51:32.590
battlefield has fundamentally changed

51:32.590 --> 51:36.489
the rules of modern conflict . Where we

51:36.489 --> 51:40.189
currently drones FPV drones are

51:40.189 --> 51:42.850
accounting for greater than 80% of the

51:42.850 --> 51:44.969
casualties that are inflicted on that

51:44.969 --> 51:47.090
battlefield today . Small arms only

51:47.090 --> 51:50.080
account for 2% . Artillery accounts for

51:50.080 --> 51:53.929
less than 12 . The rules are

51:53.929 --> 51:56.209
changing and if we are to win the

51:56.209 --> 51:58.709
economics of conflict , we must address

51:59.050 --> 52:02.090
SUAS as we saw with Ukraine over the

52:02.090 --> 52:05.699
weekend . In Operation Spider's Web 117

52:05.699 --> 52:07.866
different drones at an average cost of

52:07.866 --> 52:11.419
$800 per unit costing Ukraine less than

52:11.419 --> 52:15.100
$100,000 worth of investment inflicted

52:15.100 --> 52:18.790
more than $7 billion worth of damage

52:19.139 --> 52:21.100
against the Russians . This is

52:21.100 --> 52:23.580
capability that we need . It is also

52:23.580 --> 52:26.219
capability we need to defend against ,

52:26.260 --> 52:29.050
and we have neither at scale right now .

52:29.600 --> 52:31.489
We know that we are significantly

52:31.489 --> 52:33.530
behind both our adversaries and our

52:33.530 --> 52:37.399
allies in our ability to produce SUAS

52:37.399 --> 52:39.343
at scale . Last year , China spent

52:39.343 --> 52:43.080
$29.4 billion on drones , with

52:43.080 --> 52:45.239
some experts estimating that their

52:45.239 --> 52:47.461
production volumes and capacities may .

52:47.465 --> 52:51.195
Exceed 500,000 units per month .

52:51.524 --> 52:54.165
Last year , the Ukrainians produced 4

52:54.165 --> 52:57.364
million SUAS units and are on track to

52:57.364 --> 53:00.195
produce over 5 million units this year .

53:00.445 --> 53:02.501
The Russians are on track to produce

53:02.501 --> 53:04.524
similar numbers and in our current

53:04.524 --> 53:08.070
posture . We in this country we are

53:08.070 --> 53:11.540
only capable of producing 50,000 SUAS

53:11.909 --> 53:13.798
per year . So General George , my

53:13.798 --> 53:16.020
question for you is , given what we are

53:16.020 --> 53:18.179
seeing play out in Ukraine and across

53:18.179 --> 53:20.389
the globe , do you think that the

53:20.389 --> 53:22.445
United States is currently behind in

53:22.445 --> 53:24.580
the attributable attributable SUAS

53:24.580 --> 53:27.219
space as well as the counter SUAS space ?

53:27.550 --> 53:29.661
And if so , how do we close the gap ?

53:30.790 --> 53:33.689
Um , I agree with everything you said ,

53:33.810 --> 53:36.250
Congressman . We have to get cost curve

53:36.250 --> 53:38.417
is a big part of it , and then we have

53:38.417 --> 53:40.639
to be able to produce things at scale ,

53:40.639 --> 53:42.583
and I think that that's one of the

53:42.583 --> 53:42.010
things that we're talking about with

53:42.010 --> 53:44.159
our industrial base that we need to ,

53:44.689 --> 53:47.159
um , be able to produce , uh ,

53:47.169 --> 53:49.225
brushless motors , controllers , you

53:49.225 --> 53:51.447
know , all those things that we know go

53:51.447 --> 53:53.770
into that , um , that right now Chinese

53:53.770 --> 53:55.937
companies , let's say DJI is producing

53:55.937 --> 53:59.129
15 . Million drones a year and we need

53:59.129 --> 54:01.018
to have the ability to do that so

54:01.018 --> 54:03.129
that's where when we talk about scale

54:03.290 --> 54:05.512
um and we're doing some of that with 3D

54:05.512 --> 54:07.734
printing that's exactly what we need to

54:07.734 --> 54:09.790
be able to do and on the flip side ,

54:09.790 --> 54:11.679
the same thing um with scaling on

54:11.679 --> 54:14.790
counter UAS . Thank you , General

54:14.790 --> 54:17.110
George and Secretary Driscoll , as you

54:17.110 --> 54:19.332
and General George have overhauled Army

54:19.332 --> 54:22.830
business processes , how will you

54:22.830 --> 54:25.459
deploy AI driven industrial based

54:25.459 --> 54:28.989
analytics and visibility to flag

54:28.989 --> 54:31.909
Chinese choke points in our critical

54:31.909 --> 54:34.909
materials , restore US forging and

54:34.909 --> 54:38.090
casting capacity . And redesign systems

54:38.090 --> 54:40.810
for surge ready sustainment so that our

54:40.810 --> 54:43.209
logisticians and war fighters aren't

54:43.209 --> 54:45.153
left waiting for parts in the next

54:45.153 --> 54:47.265
fight . Congressman , um , this is an

54:47.265 --> 54:49.320
incredibly important topic and , and

54:49.320 --> 54:51.320
much like many of our answers , the

54:51.320 --> 54:53.042
solution exists already in the

54:53.042 --> 54:55.153
commercial space , and we have done a

54:55.153 --> 54:57.265
poor job of integrating that into our

54:57.265 --> 54:59.431
systems and um we are actively working

54:59.431 --> 55:01.653
on it and hoping to be able to announce

55:01.653 --> 55:03.542
a solution in the coming weeks or

55:03.542 --> 55:03.510
months . Thank you gentlemen . Mr .

55:03.620 --> 55:05.787
Chairman , are you black ? Gentlemen ,

55:05.787 --> 55:07.953
yous back . I recognize as gentle lady

55:07.953 --> 55:09.953
from Washington , Ms . Strickland .

55:09.953 --> 55:12.287
Thank you , thank you , Chairman Rogers .

55:12.287 --> 55:14.176
It is nice to see you , Secretary

55:14.176 --> 55:16.342
Driscoll and General George , formerly

55:16.342 --> 55:18.287
of First Corps at Joint Base Lewis

55:18.287 --> 55:20.342
McCord , so glad to see your role in

55:20.342 --> 55:22.509
the army . So in our testimony today ,

55:22.509 --> 55:24.509
you've heard a lot about quality of

55:24.509 --> 55:26.676
life , and I was appointed to serve on

55:26.676 --> 55:28.979
the Quality of Life panel , and we know

55:28.979 --> 55:31.090
that housing has always been a very ,

55:31.090 --> 55:33.312
very important factor . And I heard one

55:33.312 --> 55:35.479
of you say that recruitment is how you

55:35.479 --> 55:37.812
actually judge whether we're doing well ,

55:37.812 --> 55:39.979
but I would also say retention is just

55:39.979 --> 55:41.979
as important . We are thrilled in a

55:41.979 --> 55:44.035
bipartisan way to see the recruiting

55:44.035 --> 55:46.090
numbers go up . That is a multi-year

55:46.090 --> 55:48.459
bipartisan effort that started in 2023 ,

55:48.540 --> 55:50.989
and even in August of 2024 we had

55:50.989 --> 55:53.211
record numbers of recruiting for Army ,

55:53.211 --> 55:55.156
so kudos to everyone and let's see

55:55.156 --> 55:57.322
those numbers continue to rise , but I

55:57.322 --> 55:59.378
wanna talk about the basic allowance

55:59.378 --> 56:01.378
for housing . I know that um in the

56:01.378 --> 56:03.100
reconciliation bill there is a

56:03.100 --> 56:05.156
provision for a one time infusion of

56:05.156 --> 56:06.989
nearly $3 billion into the basic

56:06.989 --> 56:08.878
allowance for housing account but

56:08.878 --> 56:10.878
there's no further direction on how

56:10.878 --> 56:13.045
that money is going to be allocated so

56:13.045 --> 56:15.100
let's assume this bill becomes law .

56:15.100 --> 56:17.156
How does the army intend to use this

56:17.156 --> 56:19.433
money ? Are you going to , for example ,

56:19.433 --> 56:21.600
raise a basic allowance for housing up

56:21.600 --> 56:23.600
to 100% and keep it there ? Are you

56:23.600 --> 56:25.949
going to take it up to 98% ? Can you be

56:25.949 --> 56:28.116
more specific about how we plan to use

56:28.116 --> 56:30.338
this basic allowance for housing ? I'll

56:30.338 --> 56:32.505
start with Secretary Driscoll and then

56:32.505 --> 56:34.671
General George . Uh , and just to your

56:34.671 --> 56:36.782
point , uh , Congresswoman , first is

56:36.782 --> 56:39.005
the retention , we totally agree . Um ,

56:39.005 --> 56:38.629
we're , we're thrilled , um , I , we

56:38.629 --> 56:40.629
told one of your colleagues earlier

56:40.629 --> 56:42.796
that we hit our 12 month goal 6 months

56:42.796 --> 56:44.851
into this year , um , which makes us

56:44.851 --> 56:44.709
feel good about the state of the army

56:44.709 --> 56:46.653
and they , they're to your point .

56:47.030 --> 56:49.086
Those mechanisms and that experience

56:49.086 --> 56:51.308
that those soldiers had began years and

56:51.308 --> 56:53.474
years and years ago to make them wanna

56:53.474 --> 56:56.179
sign back up to enlist um for BAH and

56:56.179 --> 56:57.790
for what we do with military

56:57.790 --> 57:00.340
construction and for how we provide our

57:00.340 --> 57:03.389
soldiers um what they deserve , where

57:03.389 --> 57:05.500
they deserve to live individually and

57:05.500 --> 57:07.722
where they deserve . To live with their

57:07.722 --> 57:09.889
families , um , one of the fundamental

57:09.889 --> 57:11.889
problems we have and we desperately

57:11.889 --> 57:13.667
need your help is when we build

57:13.667 --> 57:15.833
something on the base like just inside

57:15.833 --> 57:15.739
of our gate , we just did a study it's

57:15.739 --> 57:18.739
68.5% more expensive than on the other

57:18.739 --> 57:20.899
side and as far as we can tell , the

57:20.899 --> 57:23.010
vast majority of those inefficiencies

57:23.010 --> 57:25.232
are not from us , they're legislated to

57:25.232 --> 57:27.350
us and so . Um , as we think about

57:27.350 --> 57:29.406
soldier housing and work together to

57:29.406 --> 57:31.572
solve it , we want to work with you to

57:31.572 --> 57:33.794
get rid of a lot of those regulations .

57:33.794 --> 57:36.017
I appreciate that . Now , can you go to

57:36.017 --> 57:35.949
my question about the basic allowance

57:35.949 --> 57:37.949
for housing $3 billion in the

57:37.949 --> 57:40.149
reconciliation bill . How do you plan

57:40.149 --> 57:42.093
to distribute that money ? Are you

57:42.093 --> 57:44.205
going to raise it to $100 permanently

57:44.205 --> 57:46.427
to 98% permanently ? That's my specific

57:46.427 --> 57:48.649
question I , I , I would have to follow

57:48.649 --> 57:50.871
up . I don't remember . I know that was

57:50.871 --> 57:52.982
the intent , um , was to , you know ,

57:52.982 --> 57:55.205
fully cover the cost . I don't remember

57:55.205 --> 57:57.260
if that was a step . Um , you know ,

57:57.260 --> 57:59.371
the challenge when I was out at Lewis

57:59.371 --> 58:01.593
was , um , you know , these things go ,

58:01.719 --> 58:03.830
you know , happen very quickly as far

58:03.830 --> 58:05.941
as that what happened out there was a

58:05.941 --> 58:08.108
very hot housing market and then put ,

58:08.108 --> 58:10.219
you know , a real strain . So I think

58:10.219 --> 58:12.386
we also need to just figure out how we

58:12.386 --> 58:14.441
are a little bit more dynamic in our

58:14.441 --> 58:16.659
process when prices go up um obviously

58:16.659 --> 58:18.826
no one minds getting a little bit more

58:18.826 --> 58:20.881
in their checkbook . I know I didn't

58:20.881 --> 58:22.715
from growing up , you know , the

58:22.715 --> 58:24.770
problem is is when the costs go down

58:24.770 --> 58:26.992
and how you adjust , you know , some of

58:26.992 --> 58:29.048
those things , but I , I do think we

58:29.048 --> 58:28.899
need to be a little bit more flexible

58:28.899 --> 58:31.121
in how we're figuring , you know , some

58:31.121 --> 58:33.060
of those things out , um , moving

58:33.060 --> 58:35.282
forward so that we're more responsive ,

58:35.300 --> 58:37.356
which is what was the problem that .

58:37.356 --> 58:39.229
That I experienced up at JBLM we

58:39.229 --> 58:41.285
weren't quick enough with , uh , you

58:41.285 --> 58:43.669
know , with our soldiers and getting

58:43.669 --> 58:45.558
the money , you know , for as the

58:45.558 --> 58:47.613
prices were going up . So what do we

58:47.613 --> 58:50.889
plan to do with this $3 billion ? Is

58:50.889 --> 58:54.120
there a plan ? It's your ,

58:54.209 --> 58:56.929
it's specifically labeled , uh , I

58:56.929 --> 58:59.040
would have to come back to you . It's

58:59.040 --> 59:01.096
specifically labeled for for housing

59:01.096 --> 59:03.449
and BH , you know , BAH then that's

59:03.449 --> 59:06.610
what we would . Use it on that's how

59:06.610 --> 59:09.489
it's been . So the basic allowance for

59:09.489 --> 59:13.389
housing will go up . Is that

59:13.389 --> 59:16.020
specific to Joint Base Lewis-McChord or ?

59:16.310 --> 59:18.143
It just says basic allowance for

59:18.143 --> 59:19.588
housing $3 billion in the

59:19.588 --> 59:22.030
reconciliation bill and my question is

59:22.030 --> 59:24.197
how do you plan to deploy that money ?

59:24.197 --> 59:26.419
Is it going to go up ? It would go on .

59:26.419 --> 59:28.590
I would go against housing . OK . All

59:28.590 --> 59:30.646
right . And then one final comment I

59:30.646 --> 59:32.868
want to make . You've heard a lot about

59:32.868 --> 59:35.034
funding for barracks , obviously , and

59:35.034 --> 59:37.201
I'm gonna add and pile on to this just

59:37.201 --> 59:39.312
to emphasize how important this is to

59:39.312 --> 59:41.090
so many members who sit on this

59:41.090 --> 59:42.868
committee . And it was a little

59:42.868 --> 59:42.550
disheartening to hear that you're going

59:42.550 --> 59:44.889
to reprogram a billion dollars from

59:44.889 --> 59:47.111
barracks housing to put to the southern

59:47.111 --> 59:49.350
border , and we've got people at Camp

59:49.350 --> 59:51.639
Humphreys , we've got people at JBLM ,

59:51.909 --> 59:54.076
we have people around the world and if

59:54.076 --> 59:56.298
you visited those barracks , as you all

59:56.298 --> 59:58.465
know , the condition is deplorable a .

59:58.465 --> 01:00:00.631
College parent taking their student to

01:00:00.631 --> 01:00:02.687
see the quality of those dorms would

01:00:02.687 --> 01:00:04.742
actually raise holy hell about it or

01:00:04.742 --> 01:00:06.909
have them disenroll from that school .

01:00:06.909 --> 01:00:06.629
And so I think my question is , you

01:00:06.629 --> 01:00:08.929
know , please think carefully about

01:00:09.110 --> 01:00:11.221
restoring that money . It's a quality

01:00:11.221 --> 01:00:13.388
of life . Generally time expired . She

01:00:13.388 --> 01:00:15.554
now recognizes gentleman from Kansas ,

01:00:15.554 --> 01:00:16.554
Mr . Schmidt .

01:00:19.479 --> 01:00:21.535
Thank you Mr . Chairman General Mr .

01:00:21.535 --> 01:00:23.590
Secretary , thank you for being here

01:00:23.590 --> 01:00:25.812
and we appreciate the time you've given

01:00:25.812 --> 01:00:28.035
to us this morning . General , we had a

01:00:28.035 --> 01:00:30.035
briefing some time ago in which you

01:00:30.035 --> 01:00:32.146
presented to us and one of the issues

01:00:32.146 --> 01:00:34.257
that was discussed briefly as we look

01:00:34.257 --> 01:00:36.423
forward kind of toward the horizon and

01:00:36.423 --> 01:00:38.146
the uh the need to continue to

01:00:38.146 --> 01:00:40.201
integrate uh UAS operations into our

01:00:40.201 --> 01:00:42.201
own land forces operations . We had

01:00:42.201 --> 01:00:44.423
some discussion about the importance of

01:00:44.423 --> 01:00:46.479
identifying maneuver space operation

01:00:46.479 --> 01:00:48.590
and training space in the continental

01:00:48.590 --> 01:00:50.812
US where that can occur . Can you paint

01:00:50.812 --> 01:00:53.035
it out for us briefly sort of what that

01:00:53.035 --> 01:00:52.760
thought process looks like , uh , are

01:00:52.760 --> 01:00:54.830
we , are we trying to identify

01:00:54.830 --> 01:00:56.997
locations I represent Fort Riley , for

01:00:56.997 --> 01:00:59.274
example , as as one example , but , uh ,

01:00:59.274 --> 01:01:01.052
locations other than the NTC in

01:01:01.052 --> 01:01:03.163
Louisiana where we can do those types

01:01:03.163 --> 01:01:05.052
of operations . What , what's our

01:01:05.052 --> 01:01:07.219
thought process ? Yeah , so there is a

01:01:07.219 --> 01:01:09.219
very good training area that's very

01:01:09.219 --> 01:01:11.497
close to Fort Riley , um , that we can ,

01:01:11.497 --> 01:01:13.780
we can , um , that we can train , uh ,

01:01:13.830 --> 01:01:15.830
and our challenge has been to every

01:01:15.830 --> 01:01:17.941
local leaders that we're working at ,

01:01:17.941 --> 01:01:19.552
at all the local levels that

01:01:19.552 --> 01:01:21.719
everybody's getting together just like

01:01:21.719 --> 01:01:23.941
they've been doing with you out at Fort

01:01:23.941 --> 01:01:26.052
Riley . Um , we know drones are gonna

01:01:26.052 --> 01:01:25.989
be part of our formations . We're gonna

01:01:25.989 --> 01:01:28.322
have to start training those , you know ,

01:01:28.322 --> 01:01:30.429
those kinds of things and , um , so

01:01:30.429 --> 01:01:32.096
look , working with the local

01:01:32.096 --> 01:01:33.985
authorities and I always give the

01:01:33.985 --> 01:01:36.318
example when I was a division commander .

01:01:36.318 --> 01:01:38.429
Um , you know , we sent the paperwork

01:01:38.429 --> 01:01:40.651
up , um , and then we worked it locally

01:01:40.651 --> 01:01:42.818
and we had it all figured out before ,

01:01:42.818 --> 01:01:44.985
you know , the paperwork came back and

01:01:44.985 --> 01:01:44.919
so I think a lot of these are gonna be

01:01:44.919 --> 01:01:47.199
local solutions because they have , you

01:01:47.199 --> 01:01:49.520
know , they have to take local

01:01:49.520 --> 01:01:52.129
considerations from FAA or FCC that's ,

01:01:52.500 --> 01:01:54.444
um , for example , in the state of

01:01:54.444 --> 01:01:56.800
Kansas and so , um , we are , we are

01:01:56.800 --> 01:01:58.800
talking about that we're gonna have

01:01:58.800 --> 01:02:00.911
leaders together again this month and

01:02:00.911 --> 01:02:02.856
we'll talk about that , that topic

01:02:02.856 --> 01:02:02.760
again . I think we're gonna have to

01:02:02.760 --> 01:02:04.538
make some , we're gonna have to

01:02:04.538 --> 01:02:06.871
continue to adapt . Thank you , General .

01:02:06.871 --> 01:02:08.649
Well , we want to be supportive

01:02:08.649 --> 01:02:10.816
generally , not just from a Fort Riley

01:02:10.816 --> 01:02:13.038
standpoint , but I will , I will assure

01:02:13.038 --> 01:02:12.669
you from a Fort Riley and first

01:02:12.669 --> 01:02:14.669
infantry standpoint , uh , we would

01:02:14.669 --> 01:02:16.836
like to be helpful in making sure that

01:02:16.836 --> 01:02:18.891
all of the appropriate local players

01:02:18.891 --> 01:02:18.590
are engaged and , and are helpful . We

01:02:18.590 --> 01:02:21.379
want to make that happen . Uh , I might

01:02:21.379 --> 01:02:23.212
also ask , uh , either for you ,

01:02:23.212 --> 01:02:25.323
General or for you , Mr . Secretary ,

01:02:25.323 --> 01:02:27.657
however you want to , to take this , uh ,

01:02:27.657 --> 01:02:29.935
I also represent Fort Leavenworth , uh ,

01:02:29.935 --> 01:02:32.046
the intellectual center of the Army .

01:02:32.046 --> 01:02:34.212
Uh , we're obviously following the ATI

01:02:34.212 --> 01:02:34.100
discussion with great interest , uh ,

01:02:34.260 --> 01:02:36.260
and particularly , uh , some of the

01:02:36.260 --> 01:02:38.371
trade doc changes and the combination

01:02:38.371 --> 01:02:40.593
with the futures command . Can you tell

01:02:40.593 --> 01:02:42.593
us what we need to be focused on or

01:02:42.593 --> 01:02:44.649
what we might expect or what you can

01:02:44.649 --> 01:02:46.760
share at this point ? In terms of the

01:02:46.760 --> 01:02:48.760
role of the uh combined arms center

01:02:48.760 --> 01:02:50.871
going for the centers of excellence ,

01:02:50.871 --> 01:02:52.760
um , we wanna make sure that Fort

01:02:52.760 --> 01:02:54.593
Leavenworth and it's , uh , many

01:02:54.593 --> 01:02:56.816
intellectual and training assets , uh ,

01:02:56.816 --> 01:02:58.871
not only remain but are bolstered in

01:02:58.871 --> 01:03:00.704
all of this , uh , so that we're

01:03:00.704 --> 01:03:00.370
meeting the needs of the army going

01:03:00.370 --> 01:03:04.260
forward . CA , uh , combined arms

01:03:04.260 --> 01:03:06.427
center is critically important to us .

01:03:06.427 --> 01:03:08.538
Um , that's gonna , you know , remain

01:03:08.538 --> 01:03:10.760
there how we do business there is we're

01:03:10.760 --> 01:03:12.927
talking about how we're training and ,

01:03:12.927 --> 01:03:14.871
you know , we're , um , partnering

01:03:14.871 --> 01:03:16.871
right now , um , for example , with

01:03:16.871 --> 01:03:19.093
Arizona State University and seeing how

01:03:19.093 --> 01:03:21.149
we might do some distance learning a

01:03:21.149 --> 01:03:23.371
little bit different . It's still , you

01:03:23.371 --> 01:03:23.060
know , we're still gonna have majors

01:03:23.060 --> 01:03:25.171
that are going there . But how can we

01:03:25.171 --> 01:03:27.919
make other offerings , um , just like

01:03:27.919 --> 01:03:30.110
anywhere else we are looking at , uh ,

01:03:30.280 --> 01:03:32.469
you know what we can do . Do we have

01:03:32.719 --> 01:03:34.886
outdated systems that we've been doing

01:03:34.886 --> 01:03:36.941
uh one example is I think we need to

01:03:36.941 --> 01:03:39.163
update our doctrine much more rapidly ,

01:03:39.419 --> 01:03:42.090
um , in what we're doing and so part of

01:03:42.090 --> 01:03:44.201
that's gonna be upskilling the people

01:03:44.201 --> 01:03:46.257
that we have there , part of that is

01:03:46.257 --> 01:03:48.729
gonna be changing . Um , the , the

01:03:48.729 --> 01:03:50.729
systems that we have , the business

01:03:50.729 --> 01:03:52.729
software , the automation , and the

01:03:52.729 --> 01:03:54.951
things that we have right there so that

01:03:54.951 --> 01:03:57.062
skills are gonna change . So , um , I

01:03:57.062 --> 01:03:59.173
think we're just getting started with

01:03:59.173 --> 01:04:01.340
uh with all of that and we're having ,

01:04:01.340 --> 01:04:01.090
we just had a big conversation on this

01:04:01.090 --> 01:04:05.050
yesterday . Overall , I don't see . Um ,

01:04:05.219 --> 01:04:07.929
you know , the changing , much change ,

01:04:08.199 --> 01:04:10.459
um , at , at Leavenworth , but there

01:04:10.459 --> 01:04:12.419
will be puts and takes as we move

01:04:12.419 --> 01:04:14.540
forward to adapt like any business

01:04:14.540 --> 01:04:16.596
would do . And , and Congressman , I

01:04:16.596 --> 01:04:18.707
just , I would just say for trade doc

01:04:18.707 --> 01:04:20.596
we haven't hit that a lot in this

01:04:20.596 --> 01:04:22.651
hearing yet , but a lot of the tools

01:04:22.651 --> 01:04:24.651
that exist that , um , COVID pushed

01:04:24.651 --> 01:04:26.651
forward for learning . Um , we hope

01:04:26.651 --> 01:04:28.707
that can , um , we can use those for

01:04:28.707 --> 01:04:30.818
our soldiers to train them where they

01:04:30.818 --> 01:04:30.399
are , train them in the community where

01:04:30.399 --> 01:04:32.343
their kids are already in school ,

01:04:32.343 --> 01:04:34.510
prevent them from having to travel and

01:04:34.510 --> 01:04:36.732
uproot their lives for 4 to 6 months at

01:04:36.732 --> 01:04:38.510
a time . Um , we are incredibly

01:04:38.510 --> 01:04:40.455
optimistic like General George was

01:04:40.455 --> 01:04:42.677
saying that those tools already exist .

01:04:42.677 --> 01:04:44.566
We are working with them to pilot

01:04:44.566 --> 01:04:46.455
programs to see how much military

01:04:46.455 --> 01:04:48.621
training can be done remotely . Can we

01:04:48.621 --> 01:04:50.843
use things like metas , glasses to help

01:04:50.843 --> 01:04:52.788
train and , uh , create , create a

01:04:52.788 --> 01:04:52.719
layering , um , with artificial .

01:04:52.985 --> 01:04:55.096
reality that will allow it to achieve

01:04:55.096 --> 01:04:57.263
much of those goals a lot faster and a

01:04:57.263 --> 01:04:59.485
lot cheaper for the American taxpayer .

01:04:59.485 --> 01:05:01.707
Thank you . Thank you , General , and I

01:05:01.707 --> 01:05:00.625
just want to say I know General

01:05:00.625 --> 01:05:02.569
Beagle's time at Leavenworth is is

01:05:02.569 --> 01:05:04.625
limited as it always is , and uh our

01:05:04.625 --> 01:05:06.514
team wants to be very helpful and

01:05:06.514 --> 01:05:08.625
supportive of the army moving forward

01:05:08.625 --> 01:05:10.903
and , and , and do that as we can . Uh ,

01:05:10.903 --> 01:05:13.125
are you back . Gentleman , you's back .

01:05:13.125 --> 01:05:12.520
Chair , and I recognize the gentleman

01:05:12.520 --> 01:05:14.464
from North Carolina , Mr . Davis .

01:05:15.560 --> 01:05:17.393
Thank you so much , Mr . Chair .

01:05:17.520 --> 01:05:19.687
General George , thank you so much for

01:05:19.687 --> 01:05:21.742
your continued service . It's always

01:05:21.742 --> 01:05:24.719
good to see you . Mr . Secretary , I

01:05:24.719 --> 01:05:26.959
wanna first and foremost with all of my

01:05:26.959 --> 01:05:28.959
heart , thank you , um , to be out

01:05:28.959 --> 01:05:32.169
there at the Vietnam Memorial wall

01:05:32.169 --> 01:05:35.010
watching that wall together preparing

01:05:35.479 --> 01:05:37.701
for the American people to come out for

01:05:37.701 --> 01:05:39.757
Memorial Day . It meant a lot to see

01:05:39.757 --> 01:05:41.812
you that day and it was early in the

01:05:41.812 --> 01:05:44.035
morning and uh we still made it after a

01:05:44.035 --> 01:05:47.010
long day overnight here . Um , my

01:05:47.010 --> 01:05:50.760
question is , starting with the

01:05:50.760 --> 01:05:53.090
Global Trans Park in eastern North

01:05:53.090 --> 01:05:55.257
Carolina , I know you're familiar with

01:05:55.257 --> 01:05:57.909
North Carolina . Um , which I proudly

01:05:57.909 --> 01:05:59.465
represent Northland's first

01:05:59.465 --> 01:06:01.576
congressional district has tremendous

01:06:01.576 --> 01:06:05.070
capability in leveraging its inter

01:06:05.389 --> 01:06:09.189
um uh multi mobile functions to

01:06:09.189 --> 01:06:11.270
partner with the US Army . um ,

01:06:11.350 --> 01:06:13.572
Secretary Driscoll , how do you see the

01:06:13.572 --> 01:06:15.350
value of partnering with , uh ,

01:06:16.030 --> 01:06:18.350
entities such as the Global Trans Park

01:06:18.350 --> 01:06:21.149
in the east and units like the 18th

01:06:21.149 --> 01:06:24.070
Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg , I'm

01:06:24.070 --> 01:06:27.189
given . The global transports unique

01:06:27.189 --> 01:06:30.469
skill and scope to serve as a mob uh

01:06:30.469 --> 01:06:32.459
mobility platform for the army's

01:06:32.459 --> 01:06:35.340
tactical equipment and aircraft . I

01:06:35.340 --> 01:06:37.173
think those those partnerships ,

01:06:37.173 --> 01:06:39.340
congressmen are incredibly important ,

01:06:39.340 --> 01:06:41.507
incredibly valuable . A lot , a lot of

01:06:41.507 --> 01:06:43.618
them , we , we get our best practices

01:06:43.618 --> 01:06:45.784
from watching and learning how they do

01:06:45.784 --> 01:06:48.062
it . Um , the more soldiers are around ,

01:06:48.062 --> 01:06:50.118
um , civilian counterparts , um , we

01:06:50.118 --> 01:06:52.229
are able to strengthen our ability to

01:06:52.229 --> 01:06:54.173
do transportation in the contested

01:06:54.173 --> 01:06:53.780
logistics and with the tyranny of

01:06:53.780 --> 01:06:55.669
distance we're gonna face an Indo

01:06:55.669 --> 01:06:57.724
Paycom . Um , we have got to learn a

01:06:57.724 --> 01:06:59.891
lot of lessons . We have to update the

01:06:59.891 --> 01:07:01.613
tools we're using and the best

01:07:01.613 --> 01:07:03.558
practices . Yeah , um , Lieutenant

01:07:03.558 --> 01:07:05.502
Colonel Hamilton actually came and

01:07:05.502 --> 01:07:07.780
visited the Global Trans Park and , um ,

01:07:07.780 --> 01:07:10.058
saw the site , you know , the training ,

01:07:10.058 --> 01:07:12.510
uh , uh , potential large scale nature

01:07:12.510 --> 01:07:15.250
logistics exercises , and where I would

01:07:15.250 --> 01:07:17.850
like to get to , um , I would love to

01:07:17.850 --> 01:07:19.810
see you in eastern North Carolina

01:07:19.810 --> 01:07:23.080
extend an invitation . Um , personally

01:07:23.080 --> 01:07:26.449
to you . Now I'm gonna give you the

01:07:26.449 --> 01:07:29.360
toughest question you've had today . Mr .

01:07:29.370 --> 01:07:31.537
Chair , I'm asking for you not to rule

01:07:31.537 --> 01:07:33.709
me out of order . Western Carolina

01:07:33.709 --> 01:07:36.189
barbecue or Eastern Carolina barbecue .

01:07:36.399 --> 01:07:38.621
I'm a mountains of North Carolina boy ,

01:07:38.621 --> 01:07:41.060
so I am a western North Carolina , but ,

01:07:41.090 --> 01:07:43.201
but I have learned to appreciate that

01:07:43.201 --> 01:07:46.070
vinegar flavor . Well , I'll tell you

01:07:46.080 --> 01:07:48.302
you have a staff that they seem they've

01:07:48.302 --> 01:07:50.469
been here all morning we might have to

01:07:50.469 --> 01:07:52.691
have a taste test and figure that out .

01:07:52.691 --> 01:07:54.590
Shifting back to the East , East

01:07:54.590 --> 01:07:57.340
Carolina University is the heartbeat of

01:07:57.340 --> 01:07:59.850
Eastern North Carolina leading in

01:07:59.850 --> 01:08:02.219
research , and we're depending and

01:08:02.219 --> 01:08:04.820
relying so much on um federal

01:08:04.820 --> 01:08:06.820
assistance in terms of what's going

01:08:06.820 --> 01:08:08.987
into the research dollars . The school

01:08:08.987 --> 01:08:11.189
has enjoyed um . Long term successful

01:08:11.189 --> 01:08:13.590
partnership with the Army already um

01:08:13.590 --> 01:08:15.812
through the Pathfinder Airborne program

01:08:16.069 --> 01:08:18.270
um through the NDAA and the defense

01:08:18.270 --> 01:08:20.709
appropriations process um we're working

01:08:20.709 --> 01:08:23.509
trying to um make sure that we can get

01:08:23.509 --> 01:08:26.620
an additional $8 million in that effort ,

01:08:26.859 --> 01:08:29.220
um , innovation . Um , is the greatest

01:08:29.220 --> 01:08:31.140
comparative advantage in the US

01:08:31.140 --> 01:08:35.069
military , um , so , um , I guess to

01:08:35.069 --> 01:08:37.347
both Mr . Secretary and to the general ,

01:08:37.347 --> 01:08:39.180
um , do you support preserving ,

01:08:39.180 --> 01:08:41.125
broadly speaking and expanding the

01:08:41.125 --> 01:08:43.069
mission through Pathfinders , um ,

01:08:43.069 --> 01:08:45.291
airborne program to continue to enhance

01:08:45.291 --> 01:08:47.660
the value in particular of the soldier

01:08:47.660 --> 01:08:51.488
lethality technology account . We ,

01:08:51.659 --> 01:08:53.770
uh , certainly support increasing our

01:08:53.770 --> 01:08:56.579
lethality and , um , our partnerships .

01:08:56.619 --> 01:08:58.841
I mean again I think to the secretary's

01:08:58.841 --> 01:09:01.008
earlier comment , whatever we can do ,

01:09:01.389 --> 01:09:03.611
um , that's already being done , we can

01:09:03.611 --> 01:09:05.778
take advantage of that's being done in

01:09:05.778 --> 01:09:07.611
our universities it's being done

01:09:07.611 --> 01:09:09.556
commercially , um , that's what we

01:09:09.556 --> 01:09:11.611
wanna do we are you know we are just

01:09:11.611 --> 01:09:13.722
talking we're going through a process

01:09:13.722 --> 01:09:15.889
right now making sure that we review .

01:09:15.889 --> 01:09:18.056
How we spend our S&T and you know what

01:09:18.056 --> 01:09:20.167
we're doing we're not duplicating our

01:09:20.167 --> 01:09:22.167
efforts that could be done in other

01:09:22.167 --> 01:09:24.333
places and I think that that's what we

01:09:24.333 --> 01:09:26.111
have to constantly review so we

01:09:26.111 --> 01:09:27.945
appreciate what Eastern Carolina

01:09:27.945 --> 01:09:30.056
University has done . And and I would

01:09:30.056 --> 01:09:32.167
just echo , I , I think I hope what's

01:09:32.167 --> 01:09:31.680
coming through in a lot of our remarks

01:09:31.680 --> 01:09:34.120
is um we the army have not done a

01:09:34.120 --> 01:09:36.064
historically good job sometimes of

01:09:36.064 --> 01:09:37.953
taking what already exists in the

01:09:37.953 --> 01:09:39.842
civilian sector , whether it's in

01:09:39.842 --> 01:09:41.676
education in our institutions or

01:09:41.676 --> 01:09:43.731
whether it's in . Um , for profit or

01:09:43.731 --> 01:09:45.898
nonprofit companies , but we , we , we

01:09:45.898 --> 01:09:48.120
are trying to get better so that we can

01:09:48.120 --> 01:09:50.342
save dollars and reallocate them to the

01:09:50.342 --> 01:09:52.231
things that we need . Well , Mr .

01:09:52.231 --> 01:09:54.287
Secretary , I can say having someone

01:09:54.287 --> 01:09:56.231
from Boone , North Carolina , um ,

01:09:56.231 --> 01:09:58.509
serving our country , um , means a lot ,

01:09:58.789 --> 01:10:01.738
um , but I'm standing by the east , and

01:10:01.738 --> 01:10:03.794
when you find out in Kinston , North

01:10:03.794 --> 01:10:05.682
Carolina , the home of the Global

01:10:05.682 --> 01:10:07.905
Transport that we hold the world record

01:10:07.905 --> 01:10:10.127
in the most barbecue sandwiches sold in

01:10:10.127 --> 01:10:12.470
an 8 hour period . I like yo , I look

01:10:12.470 --> 01:10:14.526
forward to having one of those . All

01:10:14.526 --> 01:10:16.692
right , I you're back Mr . If you want

01:10:16.692 --> 01:10:18.748
some good barbecue , you can come to

01:10:18.748 --> 01:10:21.370
Alabama . Gentlemen from Colorado , Mr .

01:10:21.470 --> 01:10:24.540
Kranks reckon that . Thank you Mr .

01:10:24.549 --> 01:10:26.605
Chairman , uh , and thank you , Mr .

01:10:26.605 --> 01:10:28.771
Secretary General George , thank you .

01:10:28.771 --> 01:10:30.993
It's good to see you again . I know you

01:10:30.993 --> 01:10:33.105
have a soft spot , General George for

01:10:33.105 --> 01:10:36.310
Fort Carson . Um , it's also home of

01:10:36.310 --> 01:10:38.477
course to Pinon Canyon maneuver site .

01:10:38.477 --> 01:10:40.754
I want to talk about that for a minute .

01:10:40.754 --> 01:10:43.029
That's located 150 miles south of the

01:10:43.029 --> 01:10:45.196
main base . Pinon Canyon , of course ,

01:10:45.196 --> 01:10:46.862
provides the Army with , uh ,

01:10:46.950 --> 01:10:49.061
significant strategic and operational

01:10:49.061 --> 01:10:51.000
value . By serving as a critical

01:10:51.000 --> 01:10:53.111
training ground for large scale force

01:10:53.111 --> 01:10:55.910
on force maneuver exercises and uh

01:10:56.120 --> 01:10:58.359
however , as you know , large portions

01:10:58.359 --> 01:11:00.439
of Pinon Canyon are restricted from

01:11:00.439 --> 01:11:03.240
military use because of a natural gas

01:11:03.240 --> 01:11:05.296
pipeline that runs right through the

01:11:05.296 --> 01:11:07.407
middle of the site . This pipeline is

01:11:07.407 --> 01:11:09.959
unnecessary and it's redundant to our

01:11:09.959 --> 01:11:12.319
power needs , and I'm glad to have your

01:11:12.319 --> 01:11:14.430
support in finding a solution to have

01:11:14.430 --> 01:11:16.652
it removed . Um , in the meantime , can

01:11:16.652 --> 01:11:18.597
you describe for the committee the

01:11:18.597 --> 01:11:21.359
restrictions that this pipeline places

01:11:21.359 --> 01:11:23.890
on the Army's ability to train at Pinon

01:11:23.890 --> 01:11:27.299
Canyon ? OK , it's been a couple days

01:11:27.669 --> 01:11:29.891
I've been out there , but , um , yeah ,

01:11:29.891 --> 01:11:32.113
I think it's a pri it's privately owned

01:11:32.113 --> 01:11:34.549
it is and so , um , you know , it ,

01:11:34.669 --> 01:11:37.149
it'll be up to the and they're using as

01:11:37.149 --> 01:11:39.260
far as when I was out there using the

01:11:39.260 --> 01:11:41.427
pipeline . So what when we would cross

01:11:41.427 --> 01:11:43.760
it , it , I would describe it more as a ,

01:11:43.760 --> 01:11:45.816
it was an inconvenience when we were

01:11:45.816 --> 01:11:47.982
training . I mean , it's still a great

01:11:47.982 --> 01:11:47.529
training area that we were able to be

01:11:47.529 --> 01:11:49.362
down there . You had to cross in

01:11:49.362 --> 01:11:51.585
certain crossing points . It's a pretty

01:11:51.585 --> 01:11:53.990
vast area . Um , so that was a

01:11:53.990 --> 01:11:56.101
challenge . Would it be better if the

01:11:56.101 --> 01:11:58.212
pipeline , you know , wasn't , wasn't

01:11:58.212 --> 01:12:00.268
there , you know , yes , it would be

01:12:00.268 --> 01:12:02.046
helpful . Could we do live fire

01:12:02.046 --> 01:12:04.212
exercises there if we didn't have that

01:12:04.212 --> 01:12:06.212
but obviously not . You wouldn't do

01:12:06.212 --> 01:12:08.379
that . There is , uh , I , I know that

01:12:08.379 --> 01:12:11.600
we have a sizable impact area down on ,

01:12:11.649 --> 01:12:14.430
on Fort Carson . Um , we could , you

01:12:14.430 --> 01:12:16.689
know , obviously add that , but again

01:12:16.689 --> 01:12:18.911
when we rack and stack things as far as

01:12:18.911 --> 01:12:21.470
cost , I'm not sure , um . You know

01:12:21.470 --> 01:12:23.748
that that's where I would invest first ,

01:12:23.748 --> 01:12:26.990
OK ? Um , I'm also very proud of the

01:12:26.990 --> 01:12:29.180
work that the 4th Infantry division ,

01:12:29.390 --> 01:12:31.549
uh , from Fort Carson working with

01:12:31.549 --> 01:12:33.660
Northern Command is doing down on the

01:12:33.660 --> 01:12:35.990
border to stop the flow of illegal

01:12:35.990 --> 01:12:38.101
immigration . We've heard a lot about

01:12:38.101 --> 01:12:40.101
that . Um , I think it's great it's

01:12:40.101 --> 01:12:42.310
important , uh , we've seen what this

01:12:42.310 --> 01:12:44.310
administration's been able to do to

01:12:44.310 --> 01:12:46.366
stop the flow of illegal immigration

01:12:46.366 --> 01:12:48.477
and . The military support doing that

01:12:48.477 --> 01:12:50.699
and some of the folks from 4th Infantry

01:12:50.699 --> 01:12:52.810
division and Fort Carson doing that ,

01:12:52.810 --> 01:12:54.754
can you give me an update on their

01:12:54.754 --> 01:12:56.921
activities down at the border ? Yeah ,

01:12:56.921 --> 01:12:58.977
I'm sure the secretary will probably

01:12:58.977 --> 01:13:01.032
want to jump into , but , um , we're

01:13:01.032 --> 01:13:03.366
2nd brigade , 4th ID is down there , uh ,

01:13:03.366 --> 01:13:05.254
every report we get and we , um ,

01:13:05.254 --> 01:13:07.310
probably , uh , at least every other

01:13:07.310 --> 01:13:09.532
week I'm up on the net with , uh , with

01:13:09.532 --> 01:13:11.532
the commander that's in charge down

01:13:11.532 --> 01:13:13.643
there , the division commander that's

01:13:13.643 --> 01:13:16.379
down there , um . We're also trying to ,

01:13:16.459 --> 01:13:18.403
besides the great job that they're

01:13:18.403 --> 01:13:20.459
doing with that mission , we're also

01:13:20.459 --> 01:13:22.515
trying to be very focused on what we

01:13:22.515 --> 01:13:22.299
can do to update those units , and

01:13:22.299 --> 01:13:24.521
that's , you know , they're doing a lot

01:13:24.521 --> 01:13:26.743
of the kind of missions that they would

01:13:26.743 --> 01:13:28.855
do , whether it was reconnaissance or

01:13:28.855 --> 01:13:31.339
guard missions , um , so , uh , we're

01:13:31.339 --> 01:13:33.561
also looking at how we can update their

01:13:33.561 --> 01:13:35.561
network , what we can do to provide

01:13:35.561 --> 01:13:37.672
them additional capabilities so we're

01:13:37.672 --> 01:13:39.506
we're also looking at this as an

01:13:39.506 --> 01:13:41.506
opportunity that we can continually

01:13:41.506 --> 01:13:43.672
transform . Um , those units as well ,

01:13:43.672 --> 01:13:45.839
and , and I would just echo , I , I've

01:13:45.839 --> 01:13:47.950
been down to the border twice now . 1

01:13:47.950 --> 01:13:47.919
10th Mountain took over , um , the

01:13:47.919 --> 01:13:49.975
mission there and talking to the law

01:13:49.975 --> 01:13:51.975
enforcement on the border , um , my

01:13:51.975 --> 01:13:54.086
experience from what , what they have

01:13:54.086 --> 01:13:56.419
said and what our soldiers have said is ,

01:13:56.419 --> 01:13:58.641
um , the mission is going well . They ,

01:13:58.641 --> 01:14:00.697
they find it , um . an honor to work

01:14:00.697 --> 01:14:02.752
with the law enforcement and provide

01:14:02.752 --> 01:14:04.975
support for them as they do their job .

01:14:04.975 --> 01:14:07.197
Um , this , uh , the Customs and Border

01:14:07.197 --> 01:14:09.252
Patrol have said the assets that the

01:14:09.252 --> 01:14:11.475
army has been able to provide have made

01:14:11.475 --> 01:14:13.697
a big difference , um , and , and we're

01:14:13.697 --> 01:14:15.641
excited that our soldiers are down

01:14:15.641 --> 01:14:15.430
there and being supported . And it's

01:14:15.430 --> 01:14:17.750
remarkable within months , uh , we've

01:14:17.750 --> 01:14:21.220
had it , we've seen a 97% reduction in

01:14:21.220 --> 01:14:23.509
the number of humans coming across that

01:14:23.509 --> 01:14:25.669
southern border . So thank you uh for

01:14:25.669 --> 01:14:27.891
that . I , I , I won't have really much

01:14:27.891 --> 01:14:30.113
time on this , but Secretary Driscoll ,

01:14:30.113 --> 01:14:32.336
I wanted to talk to you . Fort Carson ,

01:14:32.336 --> 01:14:34.447
home of the 11th Expeditionary Combat

01:14:34.447 --> 01:14:36.502
Aviation Brigade . And that's one of

01:14:36.502 --> 01:14:38.336
two aviation brigades the Army's

01:14:38.336 --> 01:14:40.280
proposing to inactivate , and I've

01:14:40.280 --> 01:14:42.336
heard concerns that the Army reserve

01:14:42.336 --> 01:14:44.280
force structure could be unable to

01:14:44.280 --> 01:14:46.447
absorb the newly orphaned 11th Brigade

01:14:46.447 --> 01:14:48.280
personnel resulting in a loss of

01:14:48.280 --> 01:14:49.947
technical skills and years of

01:14:49.947 --> 01:14:51.725
experience if they're forced to

01:14:51.725 --> 01:14:53.558
reclassify . Are you considering

01:14:53.558 --> 01:14:55.336
integrating these soldiers into

01:14:55.336 --> 01:14:57.391
training roles to keep them relevant

01:14:57.391 --> 01:14:59.502
and sharp if we need them for current

01:14:59.502 --> 01:15:01.613
and future requirements ? We have not

01:15:01.613 --> 01:15:03.725
heard of those concerns . Um , we can

01:15:03.725 --> 01:15:05.725
absolutely follow back up with your

01:15:05.725 --> 01:15:07.836
office , um , and just to the broader

01:15:07.836 --> 01:15:09.947
point , um , um , as we are shuffling

01:15:09.947 --> 01:15:12.002
and reordering all of this , we , we

01:15:12.002 --> 01:15:13.447
realized this is a sacred

01:15:13.447 --> 01:15:15.502
responsibility to take care of those

01:15:15.502 --> 01:15:17.613
soldiers , um , and that they provide

01:15:17.613 --> 01:15:19.725
an incredible asset to our army , and

01:15:19.725 --> 01:15:19.569
we are taking that into account . Great ,

01:15:19.700 --> 01:15:21.867
thank you , you could just jump really

01:15:21.867 --> 01:15:24.033
quick , Congressman , that is the idea

01:15:24.033 --> 01:15:26.144
that's , uh , you know , one of those

01:15:26.144 --> 01:15:28.033
units is right there close to 4th

01:15:28.033 --> 01:15:30.089
Infantry division and right close to

01:15:30.089 --> 01:15:32.200
4th . Um , cab and we could use those

01:15:32.200 --> 01:15:34.089
pilots so gentleman's expired . I

01:15:34.089 --> 01:15:36.422
recognize the gentleman from California ,

01:15:36.422 --> 01:15:38.645
Mr . Tran . Thank you , Mr . Chairman .

01:15:38.645 --> 01:15:40.533
Uh , General George , well , good

01:15:40.533 --> 01:15:40.470
seeing you again . Uh , Secretary

01:15:40.470 --> 01:15:42.750
Driscoll , welcome . Uh , the Army

01:15:42.750 --> 01:15:44.972
Transformation initiative has generated

01:15:44.972 --> 01:15:46.917
more questions than answers in the

01:15:46.917 --> 01:15:48.694
department's attempt to deliver

01:15:48.694 --> 01:15:50.750
critical war fighting capabilities ,

01:15:50.750 --> 01:15:52.694
optimize our force structure , and

01:15:52.694 --> 01:15:54.917
eliminate waste and obsolete programs .

01:15:54.917 --> 01:15:57.139
In particular , I am concerned with how

01:15:57.139 --> 01:15:59.250
the ATI position , uh , positions the

01:15:59.250 --> 01:16:01.194
army to better counter a near peer

01:16:01.194 --> 01:16:03.417
adversary like the People's Republic of

01:16:03.417 --> 01:16:05.629
China . China's ability to rapidly

01:16:05.629 --> 01:16:07.296
field new capabilities can be

01:16:07.296 --> 01:16:09.518
attributed to its centralized political

01:16:09.518 --> 01:16:11.479
and military decision making state

01:16:11.479 --> 01:16:13.839
directed industrial base , incremental

01:16:13.839 --> 01:16:15.728
fielding of new systems and their

01:16:15.728 --> 01:16:17.839
blatant theft of foreign intellectual

01:16:17.839 --> 01:16:19.839
property , all with little uh to no

01:16:19.839 --> 01:16:22.149
public oversight . Secretary Driscoll ,

01:16:22.229 --> 01:16:24.430
what acquisition reforms will help us

01:16:24.430 --> 01:16:27.060
counter China's ability to rapidly

01:16:27.060 --> 01:16:29.004
field capabilities compared to our

01:16:29.004 --> 01:16:31.116
slower system that is bound by checks

01:16:31.116 --> 01:16:32.893
and balances across the DOD and

01:16:32.893 --> 01:16:34.893
Congress reliance on private sector

01:16:34.893 --> 01:16:37.060
defense contractors , protected IP and

01:16:37.060 --> 01:16:40.129
real oversight . Congressman , um , I ,

01:16:40.200 --> 01:16:42.589
I , I wouldn't want it to seem as if we

01:16:42.589 --> 01:16:44.867
don't want the checks and balances . I ,

01:16:44.867 --> 01:16:47.089
I think that is an incredibly important

01:16:47.089 --> 01:16:49.422
part of our system of government and so .

01:16:49.422 --> 01:16:49.270
Um , I hope that it is not coming

01:16:49.270 --> 01:16:50.937
across that we don't want the

01:16:50.937 --> 01:16:52.937
congression or the constitutionally

01:16:52.937 --> 01:16:55.103
mandated oversight function of this or

01:16:55.103 --> 01:16:57.149
anybody . I think what what we have

01:16:57.149 --> 01:16:59.316
reflected on what I , uh , told one of

01:16:59.316 --> 01:17:01.538
your colleagues earlier , what we think

01:17:01.538 --> 01:17:03.427
there are a couple of fundamental

01:17:03.427 --> 01:17:05.260
things that are slowing down our

01:17:05.260 --> 01:17:07.371
ability to keep up . Uh , one of them

01:17:07.371 --> 01:17:09.593
is our own bureaucracy . We have nearly

01:17:09.593 --> 01:17:11.649
35 if you define the number of human

01:17:11.649 --> 01:17:13.871
beings in the United States Army . Uh ,

01:17:13.871 --> 01:17:16.093
in our civilian sector and our soldiers

01:17:16.093 --> 01:17:15.390
that are helping us buy things , we

01:17:15.390 --> 01:17:18.470
have like 35,000 . It's , it's just too

01:17:18.470 --> 01:17:20.919
many people like it , it , they're all ,

01:17:21.029 --> 01:17:22.807
uh , many of them are noble and

01:17:22.807 --> 01:17:24.918
patriotic people , but we have got to

01:17:24.918 --> 01:17:27.669
as an army streamline a bit , uh , when

01:17:27.669 --> 01:17:29.669
we receive our funding and it is so

01:17:29.669 --> 01:17:31.899
narrowly focused to 1400 line items ,

01:17:31.910 --> 01:17:33.830
it prevents us from being able to

01:17:33.830 --> 01:17:35.997
purchase the modern updated version of

01:17:35.997 --> 01:17:37.719
a thing and when you look at .

01:17:37.719 --> 01:17:39.886
Something like drones that are needing

01:17:39.886 --> 01:17:41.997
to be updated in Ukraine nearly every

01:17:41.997 --> 01:17:44.219
10 days to 14 days . Our way of funding

01:17:44.219 --> 01:17:46.441
as a country just doesn't fundamentally

01:17:46.441 --> 01:17:48.552
work . And so what we're asking is to

01:17:48.552 --> 01:17:50.719
work with all of you to create buckets

01:17:50.719 --> 01:17:52.663
of funding to drones , and then we

01:17:52.663 --> 01:17:54.663
would use those dollars to purchase

01:17:54.663 --> 01:17:54.424
them , show you our receipts , and you

01:17:54.424 --> 01:17:56.584
would ask the con uh constitutionally

01:17:56.584 --> 01:17:58.984
mandated questions to make sure we're

01:17:58.984 --> 01:18:01.151
doing that accurately . That's great .

01:18:01.151 --> 01:18:03.373
Thank you , General , anything to add ?

01:18:03.373 --> 01:18:05.484
I mean , I just the the agile funding

01:18:05.484 --> 01:18:07.706
is a big piece of it and we could , you

01:18:07.706 --> 01:18:09.762
know , in modern technology we could

01:18:09.762 --> 01:18:11.928
come over with a database and show you

01:18:11.928 --> 01:18:14.151
that every day if you want , you know ,

01:18:14.151 --> 01:18:13.890
had the appetite for that . I think

01:18:13.890 --> 01:18:16.279
we're trying to also change , um ,

01:18:16.290 --> 01:18:18.401
requirements is a big part of of what

01:18:18.401 --> 01:18:20.179
we're doing and we're trying to

01:18:20.179 --> 01:18:22.234
describe things what we need like we

01:18:22.234 --> 01:18:24.346
were doing out on the West Coast when

01:18:24.346 --> 01:18:24.330
we were , you know , bringing industry

01:18:24.330 --> 01:18:27.009
and and you know they would understand

01:18:27.009 --> 01:18:28.953
our problems . That's part of what

01:18:28.953 --> 01:18:30.842
we're doing with transforming and

01:18:30.842 --> 01:18:32.898
contact we have engineers . With our

01:18:32.898 --> 01:18:34.700
users , with our soldiers that

01:18:34.700 --> 01:18:36.922
understand the problems we're trying to

01:18:36.922 --> 01:18:39.144
solve , and we don't have these big 300

01:18:39.144 --> 01:18:41.311
page documents , um , and then I think

01:18:41.311 --> 01:18:43.367
we have to start buying , looking at

01:18:43.367 --> 01:18:45.589
everything we buy as being more modular

01:18:45.589 --> 01:18:47.756
and open system architecture again you

01:18:47.756 --> 01:18:47.700
go back to the technology that we have

01:18:47.700 --> 01:18:49.709
in our pocket . And we got to buy a

01:18:49.709 --> 01:18:51.653
little bit more like that even for

01:18:51.653 --> 01:18:54.390
larger systems um that we do but

01:18:54.390 --> 01:18:56.612
getting away from the programmer record

01:18:56.612 --> 01:18:58.830
is I think in a lot of these things is

01:18:58.830 --> 01:19:00.886
very important for us . I appreciate

01:19:00.886 --> 01:19:02.719
those remarks , uh , gentlemen .

01:19:02.719 --> 01:19:04.552
Russia's war in Ukraine has also

01:19:04.552 --> 01:19:06.608
exposed weakness in the US munitions

01:19:06.608 --> 01:19:08.608
industrial base , providing Ukraine

01:19:08.608 --> 01:19:10.663
with over 1.5 million 155 millimeter

01:19:10.663 --> 01:19:12.774
rounds . Has pushed the US industrial

01:19:12.774 --> 01:19:14.997
base to capacity while China's capacity

01:19:14.997 --> 01:19:17.108
for peacetime production of artillery

01:19:17.108 --> 01:19:19.330
shells still outpaces that of the US uh

01:19:19.330 --> 01:19:21.274
Secretary Driscoll , can you speak

01:19:21.274 --> 01:19:23.386
specifically about the investment the

01:19:23.386 --> 01:19:22.529
army is making to modernize our

01:19:22.529 --> 01:19:24.529
munitions industrial base to ensure

01:19:24.529 --> 01:19:26.640
that we have sufficient stockpiles of

01:19:26.640 --> 01:19:28.585
munitions and capacity to surge if

01:19:28.585 --> 01:19:30.696
needed ? And how does this compare to

01:19:30.696 --> 01:19:32.473
China's uh munitions industrial

01:19:32.473 --> 01:19:35.450
capacity ? Uh , I'll answer in reverse

01:19:35.450 --> 01:19:38.089
order . Uh , we are worse . Uh , I was

01:19:38.089 --> 01:19:40.256
down in Camden , Arkansas at a General

01:19:40.256 --> 01:19:42.033
Dynamics load assemble and pack

01:19:42.033 --> 01:19:43.922
facility recently , um , which is

01:19:43.922 --> 01:19:45.978
trying to help us with 155s , and it

01:19:45.978 --> 01:19:48.089
was an investment from this committee

01:19:48.089 --> 01:19:50.311
and your colleagues that I think helped

01:19:50.311 --> 01:19:52.367
with that , and it , it even that is

01:19:52.367 --> 01:19:54.367
insufficient . Um , we , we are not

01:19:54.367 --> 01:19:56.533
where we need to be . Um , do you know

01:19:56.533 --> 01:19:56.089
how long it will take us to get to that

01:19:56.089 --> 01:19:58.033
point where we can be sufficient ?

01:19:59.060 --> 01:20:00.949
Under our current funding and our

01:20:00.949 --> 01:20:04.100
current um um constraints , I , I would

01:20:04.100 --> 01:20:06.330
guess it would be 2020 years or more .

01:20:06.500 --> 01:20:09.270
Jesus . Great . With all that talk of

01:20:09.270 --> 01:20:11.548
barbecue , I'm hungry . I'm yield back ,

01:20:11.548 --> 01:20:13.770
Mr . Chairman . Well , thank you , Mr .

01:20:13.770 --> 01:20:15.992
Tran , you raised an issue that is very

01:20:15.992 --> 01:20:18.159
important , and your answer is dead on

01:20:18.159 --> 01:20:20.326
the money , right , and unacceptable .

01:20:20.326 --> 01:20:22.548
We have got to get after this munitions

01:20:22.548 --> 01:20:24.770
production capability issue , and we've

01:20:24.770 --> 01:20:26.992
got to do it in World War II fashion of

01:20:26.992 --> 01:20:29.939
speed . So I , I , I want ideas

01:20:29.939 --> 01:20:32.161
thinking out of the box about solutions

01:20:32.161 --> 01:20:34.272
and you will find this committee very

01:20:34.272 --> 01:20:36.439
receptive to being helpful , but thank

01:20:36.439 --> 01:20:38.383
you for raising that , Mr . Tran .

01:20:38.383 --> 01:20:40.439
Chair and I recognize this gentleman

01:20:40.439 --> 01:20:42.550
from Guam , Mr . Moylan . Thank you ,

01:20:42.550 --> 01:20:44.661
Mr . Chairman , Secretary Jasco , and

01:20:44.661 --> 01:20:46.661
General George . Thank you for your

01:20:46.661 --> 01:20:48.883
service and presenting the Army's FY 26

01:20:48.883 --> 01:20:51.106
priorities before this committee . Uh ,

01:20:51.106 --> 01:20:53.839
secretary , in uh FY 25 cycle I worked

01:20:53.839 --> 01:20:57.200
to increase the National Guard minor

01:20:57.200 --> 01:21:00.140
military construction budget . So that

01:21:00.140 --> 01:21:02.251
sufficient funds will be available to

01:21:02.251 --> 01:21:04.500
the Guam National Guard unfunded

01:21:04.500 --> 01:21:07.290
priorities , including a new hardened

01:21:07.290 --> 01:21:10.169
operation center as we move into the FY

01:21:10.169 --> 01:21:14.060
26 cycle , where your budget prioritize

01:21:14.060 --> 01:21:16.180
facilities used by the Guam Army

01:21:16.180 --> 01:21:19.060
National Guard and how can I work with

01:21:19.060 --> 01:21:21.282
your department to advance the needs of

01:21:21.282 --> 01:21:24.750
the Guam Guard in the Indo-Pacific . We ,

01:21:24.859 --> 01:21:27.081
we would love to work with you and hear

01:21:27.081 --> 01:21:29.192
more about that , and I can follow up

01:21:29.192 --> 01:21:31.081
with specifics to your office . I

01:21:31.081 --> 01:21:33.248
appreciate that . Uh , gender George ,

01:21:33.248 --> 01:21:35.248
um , talk to me about the steps the

01:21:35.248 --> 01:21:37.470
army is taking to address critical gaps

01:21:37.470 --> 01:21:41.080
identified in the May 22nd . GAO

01:21:41.080 --> 01:21:43.024
report on the Guam missile defense

01:21:43.024 --> 01:21:45.910
system , particularly the lack of long

01:21:45.910 --> 01:21:48.459
term installation support strategy .

01:21:49.319 --> 01:21:51.720
Personnel requirements and basic

01:21:51.720 --> 01:21:53.879
readiness infrastructure for soldiers

01:21:53.879 --> 01:21:56.279
and families supporting Guam missile

01:21:56.279 --> 01:21:59.689
defense mission . How are you ensuring

01:21:59.689 --> 01:22:01.578
the army does not repeat the same

01:22:01.578 --> 01:22:03.800
logistical missteps with the deployment

01:22:03.800 --> 01:22:07.729
of GDS elements that GAO highlighted ?

01:22:09.839 --> 01:22:12.006
Um , first , I want to just tell you ,

01:22:12.040 --> 01:22:14.207
uh , Congressman , we're very proud of

01:22:14.207 --> 01:22:16.207
the Guam Guard , um , you know that

01:22:16.207 --> 01:22:18.151
from being out there , and I think

01:22:18.151 --> 01:22:20.207
they're part , as you know , part of

01:22:20.207 --> 01:22:22.262
the , part of that unit that we have

01:22:22.262 --> 01:22:24.040
out there , and we're trying to

01:22:24.040 --> 01:22:26.151
actually make that a better mix , you

01:22:26.151 --> 01:22:28.207
know , the people that actually live

01:22:28.207 --> 01:22:30.484
there and , you know , defending their ,

01:22:30.484 --> 01:22:32.596
um , you know , Guam right there from

01:22:32.596 --> 01:22:34.596
the Guam guard . Um , we're working

01:22:34.596 --> 01:22:36.762
with the Navy , as you know , the Navy

01:22:36.762 --> 01:22:38.984
is in charge of all the installations .

01:22:38.984 --> 01:22:38.529
It's there . Um , when I came out to

01:22:38.529 --> 01:22:40.696
visit one of our big things was making

01:22:40.696 --> 01:22:42.418
sure that , um , you know , we

01:22:42.418 --> 01:22:44.640
understood what our soldiers were , how

01:22:44.640 --> 01:22:46.973
they were living , what they were doing ,

01:22:46.973 --> 01:22:49.251
um , they're very tough out there , um ,

01:22:49.251 --> 01:22:51.418
and doing that , but I , I would agree

01:22:51.418 --> 01:22:51.370
that we need to make some adjustments .

01:22:51.439 --> 01:22:54.370
We've just recently signed . Um , and ,

01:22:54.569 --> 01:22:57.009
uh , an MOU with , uh , both the Navy ,

01:22:57.129 --> 01:22:59.351
I think with Admiral Parpero and , uh ,

01:22:59.351 --> 01:23:01.407
the commandant of the Marine Corps ,

01:23:01.407 --> 01:23:03.240
there is a base there . There is

01:23:03.240 --> 01:23:05.351
structure there for our soldiers that

01:23:05.351 --> 01:23:07.351
could , could actually stay in that

01:23:07.351 --> 01:23:09.407
structure , um , and that's the plan

01:23:09.407 --> 01:23:11.629
right now for them to move , you know ,

01:23:11.629 --> 01:23:13.685
the , the folks that we do have . So

01:23:13.685 --> 01:23:15.907
all that we would have is part of the ,

01:23:15.907 --> 01:23:18.018
um , of that , you know , the missile

01:23:18.018 --> 01:23:20.129
defense , um , that's out there would

01:23:20.129 --> 01:23:22.129
be able to stay and I think in , in

01:23:22.129 --> 01:23:24.296
facilities that are finished and are .

01:23:24.296 --> 01:23:26.410
Um , very nice . And Congressman , I

01:23:26.410 --> 01:23:28.521
would just echo that Guam , uh , um ,

01:23:28.521 --> 01:23:30.632
we talk about it often , um , I think

01:23:30.632 --> 01:23:32.854
next month I'm going out there to visit

01:23:32.854 --> 01:23:34.521
it and so it , it comes up in

01:23:34.521 --> 01:23:36.743
conversations , if not daily , at least

01:23:36.743 --> 01:23:39.077
weekly . We have great barbecue in Guam .

01:23:39.077 --> 01:23:41.209
Uh , general , what steps are being

01:23:41.209 --> 01:23:43.153
taken to ensure that the Guam Army

01:23:43.153 --> 01:23:45.376
National Guard has access to modernized

01:23:45.376 --> 01:23:47.379
equipment , consistent training

01:23:47.379 --> 01:23:50.089
resources , and integration of regional

01:23:50.089 --> 01:23:53.850
exercises under the FY26 budget ? I ,

01:23:53.930 --> 01:23:56.410
I think you'll see , um , Congressman ,

01:23:56.450 --> 01:23:58.689
this comes out , we , we talk about the

01:23:58.689 --> 01:24:02.470
army , um , this , you know , we are

01:24:02.470 --> 01:24:04.692
part of what we were just talking about

01:24:04.692 --> 01:24:06.692
with aviation , what we're doing to

01:24:06.692 --> 01:24:08.970
change our mobile brigade combat teams ,

01:24:08.970 --> 01:24:10.692
uh , this applies across every

01:24:10.692 --> 01:24:12.748
component and we need to update it .

01:24:12.748 --> 01:24:14.803
Every component is gonna have to fix

01:24:14.803 --> 01:24:17.026
their network . Every component's gonna

01:24:17.026 --> 01:24:19.192
have to become more mobile . And lower

01:24:19.192 --> 01:24:21.414
signature every component is gonna have

01:24:21.414 --> 01:24:23.581
to use drones , so it's gonna be all a

01:24:23.581 --> 01:24:25.914
part of that and obviously what they're ,

01:24:25.914 --> 01:24:27.970
you know what that unit is doing out

01:24:27.970 --> 01:24:29.692
there , um , it's part of that

01:24:29.692 --> 01:24:31.914
integrated air missile defense system ,

01:24:31.914 --> 01:24:34.081
you know , they will be a priority for

01:24:34.081 --> 01:24:36.026
making sure that they can do those

01:24:36.026 --> 01:24:38.379
things . Thank you . Uh , let's see ,

01:24:38.439 --> 01:24:40.383
uh , Mr . Secretary , can you also

01:24:40.383 --> 01:24:42.680
clarify whether the army is actively

01:24:42.680 --> 01:24:46.109
planning to any movements of personnel

01:24:46.109 --> 01:24:48.120
or units from South Korea to Guam .

01:24:50.009 --> 01:24:52.870
Um , we can't , um , there , I can't

01:24:52.870 --> 01:24:54.870
provide any sort of confirmation on

01:24:54.870 --> 01:24:57.092
those , uh , specific movements , but ,

01:24:57.092 --> 01:24:58.981
um , I , I think the Secretary of

01:24:58.981 --> 01:25:01.203
Defense and President are very actively

01:25:01.203 --> 01:25:03.629
engaged in , um , the , the posturing

01:25:03.629 --> 01:25:05.796
of our troops around the world , and ,

01:25:05.796 --> 01:25:09.299
um , we , we support them . OK , uh ,

01:25:09.419 --> 01:25:11.419
finally just a few more seconds are

01:25:11.419 --> 01:25:13.859
that system general , uh , there was an

01:25:13.859 --> 01:25:15.915
incident raised with serious concern

01:25:15.915 --> 01:25:17.979
about the , um , infrastructure and

01:25:17.979 --> 01:25:20.146
surveillance with drones . We did have

01:25:20.146 --> 01:25:22.368
an incident out there and can you speak

01:25:22.368 --> 01:25:24.146
of the army's assessment of the

01:25:24.146 --> 01:25:26.368
incident and what steps are being taken

01:25:26.368 --> 01:25:28.535
to strengthen against drones ? We've ,

01:25:28.535 --> 01:25:30.757
we've been talking a lot about drones .

01:25:30.757 --> 01:25:32.868
I think we need to do a lot . I'm not

01:25:32.868 --> 01:25:34.923
familiar with your specific incident

01:25:34.923 --> 01:25:37.146
that happened out there , but I'll call

01:25:37.146 --> 01:25:39.257
the tag . Out there and find out what

01:25:39.257 --> 01:25:41.590
he did so thank you thank you gentlemen ,

01:25:41.590 --> 01:25:43.439
Mr . Chair , you're back . Terry

01:25:43.439 --> 01:25:45.772
recognizes generally from New Hampshire ,

01:25:45.772 --> 01:25:47.717
Ms . Goodlander . Thank you , Mr .

01:25:47.717 --> 01:25:50.600
Chairman . Secretary Driscoll , General

01:25:50.600 --> 01:25:52.656
George , thank you so much for being

01:25:52.656 --> 01:25:54.822
here today . You know , I wanted to be

01:25:54.822 --> 01:25:57.044
on this committee because it has a long

01:25:57.044 --> 01:25:59.156
bipartisan tradition , and I'm really

01:25:59.156 --> 01:26:01.267
grateful to you , Mr . Chairman , for

01:26:01.267 --> 01:26:03.489
your leadership on acquisition reform ,

01:26:03.489 --> 01:26:06.350
uh . I kind of talk about this line of

01:26:06.350 --> 01:26:08.509
effort which has strong bipartisan

01:26:08.509 --> 01:26:10.620
support in a slightly different way ,

01:26:10.620 --> 01:26:13.580
um . To me , monopolies and corporate

01:26:13.580 --> 01:26:15.691
abuses of power in our defense sector

01:26:15.691 --> 01:26:18.259
have undermined our military readiness .

01:26:18.419 --> 01:26:21.180
They have been a prolific driver of

01:26:21.180 --> 01:26:22.958
waste , fraud and abuse for the

01:26:22.958 --> 01:26:25.180
American taxpayer , and they've really

01:26:25.180 --> 01:26:27.347
hurt American small businesses , which

01:26:27.347 --> 01:26:29.513
are the beating heart of our economy .

01:26:29.513 --> 01:26:31.970
I'm very encouraged that uh you

01:26:31.970 --> 01:26:35.129
Secretary Driscoll have prioritized uh

01:26:35.129 --> 01:26:37.185
one of the most pernicious corporate

01:26:37.185 --> 01:26:39.351
practices , uh , the monopolization of

01:26:39.351 --> 01:26:42.049
repair in , in the Army trans uh

01:26:42.049 --> 01:26:44.160
transformation initiative . I'm , I'm

01:26:44.160 --> 01:26:47.589
encouraged , um . About your

01:26:47.589 --> 01:26:50.390
commitment to , as I understand it ,

01:26:50.399 --> 01:26:52.510
and I wanna be sure I understand it ,

01:26:52.510 --> 01:26:54.288
um , that you have committed to

01:26:54.288 --> 01:26:58.189
ensuring that , um , Any existing

01:26:58.189 --> 01:27:01.830
or future contract is going to

01:27:01.830 --> 01:27:04.229
include a right to repair for our

01:27:04.229 --> 01:27:06.340
military and our service members , is

01:27:06.340 --> 01:27:08.340
that right ? Um , very explicitly ,

01:27:08.340 --> 01:27:10.451
Congresswoman , on a go forward basis

01:27:10.451 --> 01:27:12.562
we have been directed to not sign any

01:27:12.562 --> 01:27:14.785
contracts that don't give us a right to

01:27:14.785 --> 01:27:16.951
repair . On a go back basis we've been

01:27:16.951 --> 01:27:19.173
directed to go and do what we can to go

01:27:19.173 --> 01:27:21.229
get . That right to repair and I can

01:27:21.229 --> 01:27:23.939
say on a personal um um how important I

01:27:23.939 --> 01:27:27.580
think this is , we hope that anyone

01:27:27.580 --> 01:27:29.802
listening to us who hopes to pitch us a

01:27:29.802 --> 01:27:31.913
contract going forward will look back

01:27:31.913 --> 01:27:33.969
at their previous agreements they've

01:27:33.969 --> 01:27:36.191
signed with us and if they're unwilling

01:27:36.191 --> 01:27:35.899
to give us that right to repair , I

01:27:35.899 --> 01:27:37.843
think we're gonna have a hard time

01:27:37.843 --> 01:27:40.010
negotiating with them . So how are you

01:27:40.010 --> 01:27:41.843
resourcing and executing on this

01:27:41.843 --> 01:27:45.020
commitment ? We have directed our staff

01:27:45.020 --> 01:27:47.200
to um throughout all of contracting

01:27:47.200 --> 01:27:49.367
follow through on it . And how much do

01:27:49.367 --> 01:27:51.533
you expect this will save the American

01:27:51.533 --> 01:27:54.569
taxpayer . I , I would be , um , I , I

01:27:54.569 --> 01:27:56.736
would be pulling a number that I think

01:27:56.736 --> 01:27:58.736
would be hard to defend with math ,

01:27:58.736 --> 01:28:00.458
Congresswoman , but I think as

01:28:00.458 --> 01:28:02.569
important as the dollars is , we were

01:28:02.569 --> 01:28:04.736
telling your colleagues when we , when

01:28:04.736 --> 01:28:06.625
we tour bases , you see pieces of

01:28:06.625 --> 01:28:08.736
equipment that can be upwards of 2 to

01:28:08.736 --> 01:28:10.791
$3 million that will be unused for a

01:28:10.791 --> 01:28:12.902
year at a time because it's something

01:28:12.902 --> 01:28:15.013
that we can 3D print for a cost of $2

01:28:15.013 --> 01:28:16.930
to $20 and and beyond just the

01:28:16.930 --> 01:28:18.986
sinfulness of not using that asset .

01:28:19.069 --> 01:28:21.120
The American soldiers see that and

01:28:21.120 --> 01:28:23.287
they're not able to use it and that is

01:28:23.287 --> 01:28:25.287
incredibly demoralizing . And so um

01:28:25.287 --> 01:28:27.398
this is a virtuous cycle that I think

01:28:27.398 --> 01:28:29.620
benefits in a lot of ways . And can you

01:28:29.620 --> 01:28:31.509
commit that you'll work with this

01:28:31.509 --> 01:28:33.453
committee on a bipartisan basis to

01:28:33.453 --> 01:28:35.287
codify a right to repair for our

01:28:35.287 --> 01:28:38.115
military . I can commit that it is an

01:28:38.115 --> 01:28:40.282
incredibly important topic and I would

01:28:40.282 --> 01:28:42.282
do whatever I can personally and to

01:28:42.282 --> 01:28:44.337
help . Well , I hope we can count on

01:28:44.337 --> 01:28:46.671
you for that . Um , I wanted to ask you ,

01:28:46.725 --> 01:28:49.714
I think you do agree that the army

01:28:49.714 --> 01:28:53.500
should pass a clean audit . I hope you

01:28:53.500 --> 01:28:56.540
agree . I , I , um , the trust General

01:28:56.540 --> 01:28:58.429
George and I talk a lot about the

01:28:58.429 --> 01:29:00.651
responsibility and duty that we have to

01:29:00.651 --> 01:29:02.651
the American taxpayer , um , and an

01:29:02.651 --> 01:29:04.762
audit is a trailing indicator of that

01:29:04.762 --> 01:29:06.818
responsibility . I think that , um ,

01:29:06.818 --> 01:29:09.040
the way that most audits functions as I

01:29:09.040 --> 01:29:11.040
understand them , the United States

01:29:11.040 --> 01:29:13.096
Army and how we manage our equipment

01:29:13.096 --> 01:29:15.096
makes us uniquely difficult to pass

01:29:15.096 --> 01:29:17.096
audits , uniquely important to make

01:29:17.096 --> 01:29:19.262
sure you're passing a clean audit . So

01:29:19.262 --> 01:29:21.207
I , I , are you on track to pass a

01:29:21.207 --> 01:29:23.429
clean audit in this fiscal year ? I , I

01:29:23.429 --> 01:29:25.484
can tell you that we have had , I've

01:29:25.484 --> 01:29:27.596
had more discussions about audit here

01:29:27.596 --> 01:29:29.762
in the last couple of weeks , so yes ,

01:29:29.762 --> 01:29:32.060
we are completely focused on , on doing

01:29:32.060 --> 01:29:35.959
a fiscal year ? Um , I think

01:29:35.959 --> 01:29:38.126
that's our goal . I think it'd be very

01:29:38.126 --> 01:29:40.237
hard to do that , but we're trying to

01:29:40.237 --> 01:29:42.070
do everything that we can we are

01:29:42.070 --> 01:29:46.009
mandated by December . I'm pushing as

01:29:46.009 --> 01:29:48.231
hard as we can as quickly as possible .

01:29:48.231 --> 01:29:50.453
I am cautious to say yes because of the

01:29:50.453 --> 01:29:52.676
unknown unknown . I understand . I just

01:29:52.676 --> 01:29:52.419
want to crack down on fraud and abuse ,

01:29:52.720 --> 01:29:53.720
and

01:29:57.270 --> 01:29:59.381
passing a clean audit is essential to

01:29:59.381 --> 01:30:01.437
that task . It's essential to public

01:30:01.437 --> 01:30:03.659
trust , and I hope we can work together

01:30:03.659 --> 01:30:05.659
to make . Sure that we get the army

01:30:05.659 --> 01:30:07.714
across the finish line just like our

01:30:07.714 --> 01:30:10.048
colleagues in the Marine Corps . Um , I ,

01:30:10.048 --> 01:30:12.159
I wanna , I wanna also put a plug for

01:30:12.159 --> 01:30:14.270
I'm on the Small Business Committee .

01:30:14.270 --> 01:30:16.326
We have two important programs . Are

01:30:16.326 --> 01:30:18.492
you familiar with the small business ,

01:30:18.492 --> 01:30:20.270
uh , in innovation research and

01:30:20.270 --> 01:30:21.881
technology transfer programs

01:30:21.881 --> 01:30:23.930
administered by the Small Business

01:30:23.930 --> 01:30:26.740
administration . I am not . Well , I

01:30:26.740 --> 01:30:28.684
would love to educate you on these

01:30:28.684 --> 01:30:30.684
programs . They will be expiring on

01:30:30.684 --> 01:30:33.009
September 30th , and they've done a lot

01:30:33.009 --> 01:30:34.731
for tens of thousands of small

01:30:34.731 --> 01:30:36.859
businesses that want to be a part of

01:30:36.859 --> 01:30:38.915
our defense industrial base and that

01:30:38.915 --> 01:30:41.248
could do a lot of good for this country .

01:30:41.248 --> 01:30:43.026
Um , so I hope that we can work

01:30:43.026 --> 01:30:45.248
together to extend those programs which

01:30:45.248 --> 01:30:45.040
have been so important to competition

01:30:45.040 --> 01:30:46.873
in the defense industrial base .

01:30:46.899 --> 01:30:49.010
That'll yield back . Thank you gentle

01:30:49.010 --> 01:30:50.843
yields back . You not recognized

01:30:50.843 --> 01:30:53.439
gentleman from Texas , Mr . Fallon . Mr .

01:30:53.450 --> 01:30:55.672
Chairman , thank you and uh thank you ,

01:30:55.672 --> 01:30:57.839
Mr . Secretary , and thank you general

01:30:57.839 --> 01:30:59.672
for for being here . OK , on the

01:30:59.672 --> 01:31:01.894
recruiting , so Secretary , you were uh

01:31:01.894 --> 01:31:01.890
talking about hitting the recruiting

01:31:01.890 --> 01:31:04.168
goals and I was the first one to cheer ,

01:31:04.168 --> 01:31:06.390
and that is a huge because it we really

01:31:06.390 --> 01:31:08.446
for the last was it 34 or 5 years we

01:31:08.446 --> 01:31:10.557
weren't hitting those goals and we're

01:31:10.557 --> 01:31:12.723
in a crisis . So praise the Lord . One

01:31:12.723 --> 01:31:14.890
thing I would really like to hear your

01:31:14.890 --> 01:31:14.250
thoughts on in general if you wanted to

01:31:14.250 --> 01:31:18.080
pipe in as well is um we we hit our

01:31:18.080 --> 01:31:20.191
goals but I want . I don't know why .

01:31:20.339 --> 01:31:22.740
Why ? What , what happened , we were

01:31:22.740 --> 01:31:24.962
unsuccessful for 234 years . I mean , I

01:31:24.962 --> 01:31:27.129
have my own suspicions , but I want to

01:31:27.129 --> 01:31:29.462
begin with doubts and end uncertainties .

01:31:29.462 --> 01:31:31.462
So I'd really encourage you both to

01:31:31.462 --> 01:31:33.518
look into what happened , why are we

01:31:33.518 --> 01:31:33.180
succeeding , because obviously we want

01:31:33.180 --> 01:31:35.402
to replicate that . So I just wanted to

01:31:35.402 --> 01:31:37.680
hear your thoughts on that , Mr . Ster .

01:31:37.680 --> 01:31:37.660
Yeah , I , I'll , I'll speak in time

01:31:37.660 --> 01:31:40.310
and work backwards . So most recently I

01:31:40.310 --> 01:31:43.359
um . The , the focus on a return to war

01:31:43.359 --> 01:31:45.680
fighting and lethality as far as we can

01:31:45.680 --> 01:31:47.902
tell qualitatively on these tour , like

01:31:47.902 --> 01:31:49.902
it , it seems to be resonating with

01:31:49.902 --> 01:31:52.013
soldiers . It seems when I was at the

01:31:52.013 --> 01:31:54.013
future soldier prep course that the

01:31:54.013 --> 01:31:56.013
ones who wanted to join and were at

01:31:56.013 --> 01:31:58.069
like the the very front edge of , of

01:31:58.069 --> 01:32:00.759
their careers were excited to join in a

01:32:00.759 --> 01:32:02.815
time . where they thought they could

01:32:02.815 --> 01:32:04.703
contribute to the safety of their

01:32:04.703 --> 01:32:06.926
community by being on the front line of

01:32:06.926 --> 01:32:09.092
keeping Americans safe . I think there

01:32:09.092 --> 01:32:08.694
are some structural changes that this

01:32:08.694 --> 01:32:10.916
committee worked hard on over the years

01:32:10.916 --> 01:32:12.916
before to help with things like the

01:32:12.916 --> 01:32:14.972
future soldier prep course . Some of

01:32:14.972 --> 01:32:17.027
these soldiers who were right on the

01:32:17.027 --> 01:32:19.250
edge of the fitness standards are right

01:32:19.250 --> 01:32:21.361
on the edge of the um the the testing

01:32:21.361 --> 01:32:23.416
to get in . And just needed a little

01:32:23.416 --> 01:32:25.583
bit of academic tutoring to get over .

01:32:25.583 --> 01:32:27.694
I think that that helped a lot . It ,

01:32:27.694 --> 01:32:29.750
it seems to be a very virtuous cycle

01:32:29.750 --> 01:32:31.861
where as the momentum has picked up ,

01:32:31.861 --> 01:32:34.027
we've been able to fill all of the the

01:32:34.027 --> 01:32:35.972
the gaps that we had in individual

01:32:35.972 --> 01:32:38.083
specialties . We think we're gonna go

01:32:38.083 --> 01:32:40.250
into next year with 25,000 soldiers in

01:32:40.250 --> 01:32:42.361
the delayed entry program and so what

01:32:42.361 --> 01:32:44.361
is nice about the momentum that has

01:32:44.361 --> 01:32:46.472
been built by this committee . And um

01:32:46.472 --> 01:32:48.472
the army in the last 6 months since

01:32:48.472 --> 01:32:50.583
President Trump came into office , we

01:32:50.583 --> 01:32:52.750
hope that that will carry forward into

01:32:52.750 --> 01:32:51.850
the next year as well , and we expect

01:32:51.850 --> 01:32:54.072
it to , you know , in general , I would

01:32:54.072 --> 01:32:56.183
just like just an , you know , honest

01:32:56.183 --> 01:32:58.239
brokering of why we succeeded , what

01:32:58.239 --> 01:33:00.294
has changed , whatever that is , and

01:33:00.294 --> 01:33:02.461
I'm not looking for to score political

01:33:02.461 --> 01:33:01.799
points . I just want to know the truth

01:33:01.799 --> 01:33:05.040
of what that is and I will add on , um ,

01:33:05.049 --> 01:33:06.882
add on to what the secretary was

01:33:06.882 --> 01:33:09.379
talking about . Um , we've , it's

01:33:09.379 --> 01:33:11.779
leadership , obviously it's , uh , for

01:33:11.779 --> 01:33:13.501
us it's been picking the right

01:33:13.501 --> 01:33:15.557
recruiters and one of the things , I

01:33:15.557 --> 01:33:17.779
mean , we , what we don't want to do is

01:33:17.779 --> 01:33:19.946
say hey we're all good to go , um , is

01:33:19.946 --> 01:33:22.168
that we're continuing to look at this .

01:33:22.168 --> 01:33:24.390
One of the things that we're looking at

01:33:24.390 --> 01:33:26.501
is the tech that we need to update to

01:33:26.501 --> 01:33:28.612
make it easier for recruiters . We've

01:33:28.612 --> 01:33:30.668
tried to reduce the forms that you ,

01:33:30.668 --> 01:33:32.390
when you come in , um , it was

01:33:32.390 --> 01:33:34.620
something like 670 forms that had to be

01:33:34.620 --> 01:33:36.676
filled out and we've reduced that to

01:33:36.676 --> 01:33:38.899
below 10 . And it's now gonna be , you

01:33:38.899 --> 01:33:41.100
know , in a database , so I think this

01:33:41.100 --> 01:33:43.322
is something that we need to continue .

01:33:43.322 --> 01:33:45.544
I mean it's a big portion of what we do

01:33:45.580 --> 01:33:47.802
that is the one thing that we , I think

01:33:47.802 --> 01:33:51.140
it have consistently are , uh , taking

01:33:51.140 --> 01:33:53.251
a brief on that together , you know ,

01:33:53.500 --> 01:33:55.722
each and every month , and that's gonna

01:33:55.722 --> 01:33:57.722
continue . This isn't a hey , we're

01:33:57.722 --> 01:33:59.722
good to go now . Sure , and , and I

01:33:59.722 --> 01:33:59.379
wanted to also thank that Chairman

01:33:59.379 --> 01:34:01.212
Rogers for his leadership on the

01:34:01.212 --> 01:34:03.212
quality of life . I think that will

01:34:03.212 --> 01:34:05.435
probably when we ask why they came in ,

01:34:05.435 --> 01:34:07.546
be one of the reasons why we . You've

01:34:07.546 --> 01:34:09.601
succeeded . We also , as our job and

01:34:09.601 --> 01:34:11.712
and certainly as a subcommittee chair

01:34:11.712 --> 01:34:13.712
of military personnel , making sure

01:34:13.712 --> 01:34:15.768
that your recruiters have the access

01:34:15.768 --> 01:34:15.084
that they need in those high schools ,

01:34:15.245 --> 01:34:17.467
particularly if they're getting federal

01:34:17.467 --> 01:34:17.464
grant money . I think that's very

01:34:17.464 --> 01:34:19.631
important . I want wanna in my limited

01:34:19.631 --> 01:34:21.686
time skip to , um , when I took this

01:34:21.686 --> 01:34:23.742
job , I promised to do what's in the

01:34:23.742 --> 01:34:25.908
best interest of the United States and

01:34:25.908 --> 01:34:28.020
what's in the best interest of the US

01:34:28.020 --> 01:34:27.685
military on this committee , and I'm

01:34:27.685 --> 01:34:29.907
fully committed to that because we have

01:34:29.907 --> 01:34:31.907
people that say that and they say ,

01:34:31.907 --> 01:34:31.859
well , not in my district . Uh , and

01:34:31.859 --> 01:34:34.379
I'm not going to be one that says I

01:34:34.379 --> 01:34:36.323
want to protect my district at the

01:34:36.323 --> 01:34:38.490
expense of the United States or at the

01:34:38.490 --> 01:34:40.712
expense of the military in readiness in

01:34:40.712 --> 01:34:42.823
taxpayer dollars , but I think from a

01:34:42.823 --> 01:34:42.779
policy perspective when you talk about

01:34:42.779 --> 01:34:46.169
Red River Army Depot , um , there is a ,

01:34:46.250 --> 01:34:48.306
uh , currency and redundancy to some

01:34:48.306 --> 01:34:50.750
degree . You know , I remember when we

01:34:50.750 --> 01:34:52.806
asked the Germans after World War II

01:34:52.806 --> 01:34:55.069
and the , uh , post-action report and

01:34:55.069 --> 01:34:57.180
they said one of the things they said

01:34:57.180 --> 01:34:59.291
was if you just kept bombing the ball

01:34:59.291 --> 01:35:01.513
bearing plants we would have been belly

01:35:01.513 --> 01:35:01.229
up but you didn't you kept moving and

01:35:01.229 --> 01:35:03.451
we were like thank , thank the Lord but

01:35:03.451 --> 01:35:05.618
that specificity now if we learn those

01:35:05.618 --> 01:35:07.673
lessons I'm sure the Chinese did too

01:35:07.673 --> 01:35:09.673
and if they take out certain things

01:35:09.673 --> 01:35:11.785
that don't have any redundancy , then

01:35:11.785 --> 01:35:11.359
what are we gonna do ? How are we gonna

01:35:11.589 --> 01:35:13.990
man things and . Um , what I'd love to

01:35:14.000 --> 01:35:16.229
to visit with you about very quickly is

01:35:16.600 --> 01:35:18.720
we have a skilled workforce that can

01:35:18.720 --> 01:35:20.609
help us with drones . I know that

01:35:20.609 --> 01:35:23.080
drones , unmanned , you're talking UAVs ,

01:35:23.120 --> 01:35:26.160
UVs , the unmanned surface or the

01:35:26.160 --> 01:35:28.382
future , whereas we're moving away from

01:35:28.382 --> 01:35:30.549
Humvees and GLTVs as well , but I just

01:35:30.549 --> 01:35:32.716
really wanted to make sure that , uh ,

01:35:32.716 --> 01:35:34.938
we , we look at that when we're talking

01:35:34.938 --> 01:35:37.049
about Red River moving forward from a

01:35:37.049 --> 01:35:38.827
policy perspective , not from a

01:35:38.827 --> 01:35:41.049
district perspective . I just wanted to

01:35:41.049 --> 01:35:43.104
quickly praise you , uh , for making

01:35:43.104 --> 01:35:45.271
that comment about from not from a , a

01:35:45.271 --> 01:35:47.493
district perspective , my commitment to

01:35:47.493 --> 01:35:49.660
you is and the healthy tension of this

01:35:49.660 --> 01:35:48.810
is we should be able to debate the

01:35:48.810 --> 01:35:50.866
merits of our argument . We have not

01:35:50.866 --> 01:35:52.866
taken one single parochial interest

01:35:52.866 --> 01:35:54.866
into account in this and so we'd be

01:35:54.866 --> 01:35:56.866
happy to dive in with you on that .

01:35:56.866 --> 01:36:00.520
Thank you . Thank you , Chairman . Try

01:36:00.520 --> 01:36:02.853
that recognized gentleman from Virginia ,

01:36:02.853 --> 01:36:05.020
Mr . Berman . Thank you , Mr . Chair .

01:36:06.140 --> 01:36:08.029
Secretary Driscoll , uh , General

01:36:08.029 --> 01:36:10.084
George , it's great to see you again

01:36:10.084 --> 01:36:12.307
and thank you for your testimony . Um ,

01:36:12.307 --> 01:36:14.529
I appreciate the testimony you provided

01:36:14.529 --> 01:36:16.473
that emphasized transformation and

01:36:16.473 --> 01:36:18.640
contact and a commitment to continuous

01:36:18.640 --> 01:36:20.918
adaptation . And I couldn't agree more ,

01:36:20.918 --> 01:36:23.084
um , but when it comes to FPV drones ,

01:36:23.084 --> 01:36:25.307
we're still behind as this past weekend

01:36:25.307 --> 01:36:27.084
demonstrated Ukraine has really

01:36:27.084 --> 01:36:30.529
redefined drone warfare , um , uh ,

01:36:30.540 --> 01:36:32.707
using 3D printing , commercial parts ,

01:36:32.707 --> 01:36:35.450
and on the fly adaptation and frankly ,

01:36:35.660 --> 01:36:37.382
um , I , I don't think it's an

01:36:37.382 --> 01:36:39.382
overstatement to say that this is a

01:36:39.382 --> 01:36:41.382
revolution in warfare much like the

01:36:41.382 --> 01:36:43.493
machine gun was in World War 1 or the

01:36:43.493 --> 01:36:45.438
carrier in World War 2 . Um , they

01:36:45.438 --> 01:36:47.549
treat drones the way artillery treats

01:36:47.549 --> 01:36:50.319
shells , um , disposable cheap ,

01:36:50.509 --> 01:36:53.850
fielded in the tens of thousands . Uh ,

01:36:53.950 --> 01:36:56.172
that's why FVV drones currently account

01:36:56.172 --> 01:36:58.339
for 70% of combat casualties between ,

01:36:58.430 --> 01:37:01.109
uh , Ukraine and Russia . Yet we

01:37:01.109 --> 01:37:03.109
continue to treat drones as durable

01:37:03.109 --> 01:37:05.276
assets centrally managed , selectively

01:37:05.276 --> 01:37:07.442
deployed , and maintenance intensive .

01:37:07.709 --> 01:37:10.189
Uh , I learned on Monday I was out at

01:37:10.189 --> 01:37:12.245
Quantico , which is one of the three

01:37:12.245 --> 01:37:14.356
installations in my district . I also

01:37:14.356 --> 01:37:16.339
have Walker , uh , uh , and , uh ,

01:37:16.350 --> 01:37:19.229
Dahlgren , um , and this is a rare

01:37:19.229 --> 01:37:21.507
thing , uh , given Marines credit , um ,

01:37:21.709 --> 01:37:24.229
they , um , have a drone team and the

01:37:24.229 --> 01:37:27.209
Army just stood up a drone team . Um ,

01:37:27.330 --> 01:37:29.609
and for a competition , and I find this

01:37:29.609 --> 01:37:31.387
encouraging , but we have to do

01:37:31.387 --> 01:37:34.319
obviously a ton more . Quantico is also ,

01:37:34.450 --> 01:37:36.490
uh , actually using one-way attack

01:37:36.490 --> 01:37:38.770
drones , um , and I'm not sure if the

01:37:38.770 --> 01:37:40.970
army has found yet , a test range for

01:37:40.970 --> 01:37:43.192
that , and I'll , I'll get into that in

01:37:43.192 --> 01:37:45.414
a little bit more detail , but I had an

01:37:45.414 --> 01:37:47.303
opportunity to detonate a one-way

01:37:47.303 --> 01:37:49.414
attack drone on a range in Quantico .

01:37:49.414 --> 01:37:51.581
We have to have that capability across

01:37:51.581 --> 01:37:55.080
the force . Few questions here . Um , I

01:37:55.080 --> 01:37:57.136
saw a couple of different drones out

01:37:57.136 --> 01:37:59.247
there , some that were actually built

01:37:59.247 --> 01:38:01.136
by the Marines and some that were

01:38:01.136 --> 01:38:03.247
purchased . One was , uh , was an ISR

01:38:03.247 --> 01:38:06.600
drone that we purchased for $55,000 .

01:38:06.709 --> 01:38:08.765
Ukrainians are manufacturing these ,

01:38:08.765 --> 01:38:10.931
and we , uh , the Marines are actually

01:38:10.931 --> 01:38:13.042
building them for $500 . Shouldn't we

01:38:13.042 --> 01:38:14.987
be treating these drones more like

01:38:14.987 --> 01:38:16.765
artillery and ammunition , more

01:38:16.765 --> 01:38:18.820
disposable , um , and , and building

01:38:18.820 --> 01:38:21.042
them rather than spending tons of money

01:38:21.042 --> 01:38:22.669
on them . You , you couldn't

01:38:22.669 --> 01:38:24.447
Congressman have any two bigger

01:38:24.447 --> 01:38:26.502
supporters of that argument . Um , I

01:38:26.502 --> 01:38:28.790
think drones is highlighting very

01:38:28.790 --> 01:38:31.012
specifically at a very important moment

01:38:31.012 --> 01:38:33.234
in human history and and warfare . Um ,

01:38:33.234 --> 01:38:35.457
the system that we have that has , um ,

01:38:35.457 --> 01:38:37.623
built up over the last 30 and 40 years

01:38:37.623 --> 01:38:39.734
of defense spending is not sufficient

01:38:39.734 --> 01:38:41.790
for this moment that we as a country

01:38:41.790 --> 01:38:44.012
have got to get to a place where we can

01:38:44.012 --> 01:38:46.012
create a . drones that are at least

01:38:46.012 --> 01:38:48.123
directionally in the same price point

01:38:48.123 --> 01:38:50.346
as our enemies because otherwise , even

01:38:50.346 --> 01:38:52.705
as wealthy as we are a $4 million shot

01:38:52.705 --> 01:38:55.424
against an $800 drone , we can only do

01:38:55.424 --> 01:38:57.424
that so many times and kind of more

01:38:57.424 --> 01:38:59.535
importantly , even if we could afford

01:38:59.535 --> 01:39:01.757
it , creating something so exquisite to

01:39:01.757 --> 01:39:03.535
take down such a cheap piece of

01:39:03.535 --> 01:39:05.535
equipment , um , the time costs are

01:39:05.535 --> 01:39:08.109
important too . Yeah , I was just gonna

01:39:08.109 --> 01:39:10.331
say we need to get you back out into an

01:39:10.331 --> 01:39:12.331
army unit , Congressman . I mean we

01:39:12.331 --> 01:39:14.498
just had , um , we were just down at ,

01:39:14.498 --> 01:39:17.180
uh , uh , JRTC . I mean that unit , the

01:39:17.180 --> 01:39:19.620
first pre-8101 , had actually built ,

01:39:20.109 --> 01:39:22.390
uh , more than 100 of their own drones .

01:39:22.470 --> 01:39:24.303
I mean , we're doing that really

01:39:24.303 --> 01:39:26.359
throughout the army at at innovation

01:39:26.359 --> 01:39:28.414
labs . This gets back to the earlier

01:39:28.414 --> 01:39:30.637
comment we were having though . What we

01:39:30.637 --> 01:39:32.692
need is , uh , we need to be able to

01:39:32.692 --> 01:39:34.692
scale production , and that's parts

01:39:34.692 --> 01:39:34.629
that gets back to the organic

01:39:34.629 --> 01:39:36.796
industrial base and what we're doing .

01:39:36.796 --> 01:39:39.169
Here , um , and it gets back to agile

01:39:39.169 --> 01:39:41.169
funding and how we're able to , you

01:39:41.169 --> 01:39:43.391
know , everybody wants to buy these big

01:39:43.391 --> 01:39:45.447
exquisite , you know , once you have

01:39:45.447 --> 01:39:47.558
supporters here , uh , general , uh ,

01:39:47.558 --> 01:39:49.725
on this committee certainly and so one

01:39:49.725 --> 01:39:51.669
of the things I , I watched , um ,

01:39:51.669 --> 01:39:53.891
Secretary you talked about , you know ,

01:39:53.891 --> 01:39:56.113
the Ukrainians . Our our years ahead of

01:39:56.113 --> 01:39:56.060
us in this regard , we don't wanna

01:39:56.060 --> 01:39:58.116
reinvent the wheel . I think what we

01:39:58.116 --> 01:40:01.330
ought to do is if we're gonna buy , uh ,

01:40:01.359 --> 01:40:03.581
US manufactured drones , uh , certainly

01:40:03.581 --> 01:40:06.109
at any cost , they ought to be tested

01:40:06.109 --> 01:40:08.720
in cooperation with our , with our

01:40:08.720 --> 01:40:10.759
friends in Ukraine in a in a real

01:40:10.759 --> 01:40:13.000
combat environment . Um , the other

01:40:13.000 --> 01:40:15.000
thing is , and I don't have a great

01:40:15.000 --> 01:40:17.222
deal of time , so I'm gonna try to move

01:40:17.222 --> 01:40:19.389
through this pretty quickly is we , we

01:40:19.389 --> 01:40:21.556
actually need to develop the whole.LPF

01:40:21.556 --> 01:40:23.556
round . Uh , drone warfare doctrine

01:40:23.556 --> 01:40:25.278
organization training material

01:40:25.278 --> 01:40:27.000
leadership education personnel

01:40:27.000 --> 01:40:29.333
facilities , the whole kit and caboodle ,

01:40:29.333 --> 01:40:31.500
and we have to do this fast . I mean ,

01:40:31.500 --> 01:40:33.819
if we , I've got skill in the game ,

01:40:33.830 --> 01:40:36.399
not just because I'm , uh , a retired

01:40:36.399 --> 01:40:38.560
soldier , uh , or , or a soldier in

01:40:38.560 --> 01:40:40.727
retired status , but I've got a nephew

01:40:40.727 --> 01:40:42.838
in the 82nd on the tip of the spear ,

01:40:42.939 --> 01:40:45.069
um , and we have a number of folks in

01:40:45.069 --> 01:40:48.560
that position . So , um , what

01:40:48.560 --> 01:40:50.560
authorities do you need to get this

01:40:50.560 --> 01:40:52.782
done when we're looking at base defense

01:40:52.782 --> 01:40:56.660
and , and so on ? Um ,

01:40:56.689 --> 01:40:59.950
7 seconds . Agile funding we need to

01:40:59.950 --> 01:41:01.783
figure out how we're gonna train

01:41:01.783 --> 01:41:04.709
locally to do some of this , um , and

01:41:04.709 --> 01:41:06.542
then we do this gets back to the

01:41:06.542 --> 01:41:08.598
organic industrial base . I think we

01:41:08.598 --> 01:41:10.542
need to start making some of these

01:41:10.542 --> 01:41:12.653
things and inviting industry in to do

01:41:12.653 --> 01:41:14.653
this so that we're not buying , you

01:41:14.653 --> 01:41:16.376
know , gentleman's chair and I

01:41:16.376 --> 01:41:18.542
recognize a gentleman from Wisconsin ,

01:41:18.542 --> 01:41:20.431
Mr . Van Orden . Thank you , Mr .

01:41:20.431 --> 01:41:22.970
Chairman . Um , earlier , one of my

01:41:22.970 --> 01:41:25.330
colleagues , uh , was mentioning this

01:41:25.330 --> 01:41:27.930
celebration , the parade for the army ,

01:41:28.000 --> 01:41:31.680
250 years , kind of a big deal . And uh

01:41:31.680 --> 01:41:35.149
I would just like to gently remind him .

01:41:35.830 --> 01:41:37.774
That you cannot put a price tag on

01:41:37.774 --> 01:41:40.310
patriotism , you cannot . And

01:41:40.310 --> 01:41:43.779
celebrating arguably , not even

01:41:43.779 --> 01:41:45.990
arguably the best army that has ever

01:41:45.990 --> 01:41:48.046
existed in the history of the planet

01:41:48.310 --> 01:41:52.160
deserves attention . So , um .

01:41:53.660 --> 01:41:55.716
Send him an invite , dude . You know

01:41:55.716 --> 01:41:57.882
who he is . He sits right over there .

01:41:57.882 --> 01:42:01.490
Do it . Do it . Um , uh ,

01:42:01.500 --> 01:42:04.180
general . What percentage of the army

01:42:04.180 --> 01:42:05.009
is enlisted ?

01:42:08.850 --> 01:42:11.072
She just asked me to throw out a stat .

01:42:11.072 --> 01:42:14.250
I , I would say , uh , 80% ,

01:42:14.259 --> 01:42:16.979
82% . Where are your enlisted people ,

01:42:17.060 --> 01:42:19.899
sir ? Where are they ? Well ,

01:42:20.029 --> 01:42:22.251
thankfully there's not a ton of them in

01:42:22.251 --> 01:42:24.362
the Pentagon . It's not where we need

01:42:24.362 --> 01:42:24.149
them . They're out . They're the ones

01:42:24.149 --> 01:42:26.371
that are , they're the ones leading our

01:42:26.371 --> 01:42:28.316
formations and out there doing the

01:42:28.316 --> 01:42:30.316
individual training and they're the

01:42:30.316 --> 01:42:32.482
experts on that . We do have some that

01:42:32.482 --> 01:42:35.140
are in the Pentagon to include our

01:42:35.350 --> 01:42:37.830
wonderful er major of the army and a

01:42:37.830 --> 01:42:39.719
couple , but not a bunch . Senior

01:42:39.719 --> 01:42:41.719
enlisted leaders are just that they

01:42:41.719 --> 01:42:44.052
lead and the same thing in the Navy and .

01:42:44.450 --> 01:42:46.394
The reason I bring that up is that

01:42:46.394 --> 01:42:48.617
we're here talking about force postures

01:42:48.617 --> 01:42:50.728
and budgets and all this everything ,

01:42:50.728 --> 01:42:52.783
right ? And if 82% of your force are

01:42:52.783 --> 01:42:54.894
enlisted people , which is true , men

01:42:54.894 --> 01:42:56.950
and women , soldiers , both , um , I

01:42:56.950 --> 01:42:59.117
would just say that maybe some of them

01:42:59.117 --> 01:43:01.339
should be here , um , to , to hear this

01:43:01.339 --> 01:43:03.506
at a at a different level , and uh one

01:43:03.506 --> 01:43:05.506
of our , uh , combat spec war crime

01:43:05.506 --> 01:43:07.672
guys , Commander Naval Special Warfare

01:43:07.672 --> 01:43:09.894
Command . Made this habit . It was kind

01:43:09.894 --> 01:43:09.549
of weird . We thought it was goofy to

01:43:09.549 --> 01:43:11.569
begin with , but he just randomly

01:43:11.569 --> 01:43:13.629
picked seals out of different SEAL

01:43:13.629 --> 01:43:16.310
teams and made them go to Warcom and

01:43:16.310 --> 01:43:18.421
worked there for like a month because

01:43:18.421 --> 01:43:20.699
as enlisted guys or as like , you know ,

01:43:20.699 --> 01:43:22.588
what are you guys doing out there

01:43:22.588 --> 01:43:24.866
having cocktail parties and stuff ? No ,

01:43:24.866 --> 01:43:26.810
um , your force needs to know what

01:43:26.810 --> 01:43:28.699
you're doing and Mr . Secretary ,

01:43:28.699 --> 01:43:30.921
please , I'm , I'm so excited to answer

01:43:30.921 --> 01:43:30.810
this question , Congressman . So , uh ,

01:43:30.990 --> 01:43:33.101
some of the first people I brought up

01:43:33.101 --> 01:43:35.455
on to my staff , uh , were the . 3 ,

01:43:35.654 --> 01:43:37.543
who is my driver now works in the

01:43:37.543 --> 01:43:39.765
Pentagon . I see him every single day ,

01:43:39.765 --> 01:43:41.710
uh , and then the , uh , then E5 ,

01:43:41.710 --> 01:43:43.598
who's now a sergeant Major who my

01:43:43.598 --> 01:43:45.710
daughter's named after his daughter ,

01:43:45.710 --> 01:43:47.765
uh , is on staff too , and I talk to

01:43:47.765 --> 01:43:49.932
them every single day . It's great and

01:43:49.932 --> 01:43:49.294
I gotta tell you , uh , General George ,

01:43:49.334 --> 01:43:51.556
I'm so impressed with you . I was there

01:43:51.556 --> 01:43:53.667
in in Austin and the way that you are

01:43:53.667 --> 01:43:55.445
looking at these , you know , a

01:43:55.445 --> 01:43:57.612
different way to do things better is ,

01:43:57.612 --> 01:43:59.612
uh , it's just admirable and , uh ,

01:43:59.612 --> 01:44:01.834
we're here and I know Chairman Rogers ,

01:44:01.834 --> 01:44:04.001
we got your back 100% . So whatever we

01:44:04.001 --> 01:44:06.056
can do um to I don't wanna say break

01:44:06.056 --> 01:44:08.223
the primes but make the primes be more

01:44:08.223 --> 01:44:10.112
responsive , uh , to the American

01:44:10.112 --> 01:44:12.112
public is something that we will be

01:44:12.112 --> 01:44:14.910
doing and honest to goodness , um , if

01:44:14.910 --> 01:44:18.549
you can give me a list like please give

01:44:18.549 --> 01:44:21.509
me a list of the top 5 dumbest programs

01:44:21.509 --> 01:44:23.509
that the army is currently involved

01:44:23.509 --> 01:44:26.740
with so that we can make sure that when

01:44:26.740 --> 01:44:28.830
we do these rescission packages that

01:44:28.830 --> 01:44:31.229
they're included . Every single dollar

01:44:31.229 --> 01:44:33.229
that is spent in a in a manner that

01:44:33.229 --> 01:44:35.396
does not focus on killing the enemy is

01:44:35.396 --> 01:44:37.729
$1 wasted for the Department of Defense .

01:44:38.319 --> 01:44:42.229
Um , I think the top 5 are on our

01:44:42.229 --> 01:44:44.285
army transformation initiative , but

01:44:44.285 --> 01:44:46.507
we'll give you the next 5 if you want ,

01:44:46.507 --> 01:44:48.396
because I think that's what we're

01:44:48.396 --> 01:44:48.009
talking about . I mean , this is

01:44:48.009 --> 01:44:50.065
something that we need to constantly

01:44:50.065 --> 01:44:52.176
look at and that's , um , part of our

01:44:52.176 --> 01:44:54.509
everyday discussion , Congressman . Yes ,

01:44:54.509 --> 01:44:56.620
and that support , Congressman , um ,

01:44:56.620 --> 01:44:58.953
and Congresswoman is incredibly helpful .

01:44:58.953 --> 01:45:00.898
I mean , I , I , I think different

01:45:00.898 --> 01:45:02.620
people look at their jobs very

01:45:02.620 --> 01:45:04.565
differently and so there's nothing

01:45:04.565 --> 01:45:04.544
wrong with that . Advocating for your

01:45:04.544 --> 01:45:06.944
constituents , um , but I , you could

01:45:06.944 --> 01:45:09.277
imagine that over the last 3 or 4 weeks ,

01:45:09.424 --> 01:45:11.646
I think we've probably fielded 40 to 60

01:45:11.646 --> 01:45:13.535
calls on anywhere we're pulling a

01:45:13.535 --> 01:45:15.368
dollar . We have rightfully been

01:45:15.368 --> 01:45:17.625
responsible for , uh , explaining our

01:45:17.625 --> 01:45:19.705
logic , uh , for pulling that dollar

01:45:19.705 --> 01:45:22.185
and so having the silent majority also

01:45:22.185 --> 01:45:24.018
say , hey , this is important is

01:45:24.018 --> 01:45:26.074
valuable . Well , Mr . Secretary , I

01:45:26.074 --> 01:45:28.296
happen to know a guy . His name is Mike

01:45:28.296 --> 01:45:30.407
Rogers , and I know that he is deadly

01:45:30.407 --> 01:45:32.574
serious about making sure that you are

01:45:32.574 --> 01:45:34.629
the most efficient killing machine .

01:45:34.629 --> 01:45:36.629
And uh that's what we're here to uh

01:45:36.629 --> 01:45:36.200
support you in . So with that , uh , Mr .

01:45:36.240 --> 01:45:38.296
Chairman , I yell back , I think the

01:45:38.296 --> 01:45:40.518
gentlemen , I would , uh , note that we

01:45:40.518 --> 01:45:42.684
have been called for votes . So , uh ,

01:45:42.684 --> 01:45:44.740
we are going to let Doctor McCormick

01:45:44.740 --> 01:45:46.907
and Mr . Mesmer do their questions and

01:45:46.907 --> 01:45:48.740
then we will adjourn . So Doctor

01:45:48.740 --> 01:45:50.907
McCormick , you are recognized . Thank

01:45:50.907 --> 01:45:53.129
you , Mr . Chair , and I'll try to keep

01:45:53.129 --> 01:45:55.351
this brief because I know we wanna have

01:45:55.351 --> 01:45:57.518
time for everybody , but , uh , it was

01:45:57.518 --> 01:45:59.740
interesting talking about the munitions

01:45:59.740 --> 01:46:01.796
quandary . Uh , I know that we had a

01:46:01.796 --> 01:46:03.962
big backlog in that we haven't figured

01:46:03.962 --> 01:46:06.073
out how to do it , even though we are

01:46:06.073 --> 01:46:08.240
one of the most . Innovative countries

01:46:08.240 --> 01:46:10.462
in the world ever in history , uh , but

01:46:10.462 --> 01:46:12.573
I thought it was also surprising when

01:46:12.573 --> 01:46:12.290
you gave the answer that that's

01:46:12.290 --> 01:46:14.401
something that we're still working on

01:46:14.401 --> 01:46:16.512
according to what I've been observing

01:46:16.512 --> 01:46:18.568
in Ukraine 155 rounds really don't .

01:46:18.568 --> 01:46:20.401
Get used anymore . Why ? Because

01:46:20.401 --> 01:46:22.179
triangulation counter fires are

01:46:22.179 --> 01:46:24.290
basically devastating . So what we're

01:46:24.290 --> 01:46:26.512
using is mobile applications instead of

01:46:26.512 --> 01:46:28.734
that sort of munitions anymore . So why

01:46:28.734 --> 01:46:30.790
do we even care about that ? This is

01:46:30.790 --> 01:46:32.623
exactly the problem . We keep on

01:46:32.623 --> 01:46:34.679
looking backwards instead of looking

01:46:34.679 --> 01:46:34.589
forward . We talk about Futures command .

01:46:34.669 --> 01:46:36.947
I really enjoyed your presentation too ,

01:46:36.947 --> 01:46:38.891
and we talked about 30% of the Air

01:46:38.891 --> 01:46:40.947
Force assets which are obsolete . We

01:46:40.947 --> 01:46:43.058
don't even know why we're funding and

01:46:43.058 --> 01:46:42.805
building . But we do know why it's a

01:46:42.805 --> 01:46:44.472
political reason that we have

01:46:44.472 --> 01:46:46.694
politicians protecting their own rather

01:46:46.694 --> 01:46:48.583
than being innovative and look at

01:46:48.583 --> 01:46:48.464
what's good for the country and for the

01:46:48.464 --> 01:46:51.305
future of uh of strategy and tactics .

01:46:51.464 --> 01:46:53.520
But once again , let's put aside the

01:46:53.520 --> 01:46:55.575
155 rounds , talk about what kind of

01:46:55.575 --> 01:46:57.520
mobile applications , what kind of

01:46:57.520 --> 01:46:59.686
drones , high marks , whatever it is ,

01:46:59.686 --> 01:47:01.908
uh , how we're going to use wire guided

01:47:01.908 --> 01:47:04.075
munitions now going back now that is a

01:47:04.075 --> 01:47:06.297
backwards that you're looking forward ,

01:47:06.297 --> 01:47:08.297
but , but I wanna talk about that .

01:47:08.297 --> 01:47:10.242
Well , the , the fact that we even

01:47:10.242 --> 01:47:12.408
legitimized talking about 155 rounds ,

01:47:12.408 --> 01:47:14.520
it's almost . It's almost an obsolete

01:47:14.520 --> 01:47:16.686
platform now , uh , when we go out and

01:47:16.686 --> 01:47:18.797
we look at different platforms in the

01:47:18.797 --> 01:47:20.964
future , we , we can't even lament the

01:47:20.964 --> 01:47:22.964
things we haven't done right in the

01:47:22.964 --> 01:47:25.131
past . Uh , it's , it's , I mean our ,

01:47:25.131 --> 01:47:27.242
our best asset is the fact that China

01:47:27.242 --> 01:47:29.464
keeps on trying to copy the things that

01:47:29.464 --> 01:47:31.575
don't work anymore . Uh , but , and I

01:47:31.575 --> 01:47:31.399
don't wanna give away too much in a

01:47:31.399 --> 01:47:33.399
hearing , but , but that's what I'm

01:47:33.399 --> 01:47:35.566
talking about . What is the future and

01:47:35.566 --> 01:47:37.677
how do we streamline what we're gonna

01:47:37.677 --> 01:47:39.121
do in , in , in as far as

01:47:39.121 --> 01:47:39.120
countermeasures too ? Look at what

01:47:39.120 --> 01:47:41.790
Ukraine just did in Russia , phenomenal .

01:47:41.879 --> 01:47:43.990
It reminded me was Israel and some of

01:47:43.990 --> 01:47:46.046
the innovative things they've used ,

01:47:46.046 --> 01:47:47.823
futuristic looking . How are we

01:47:47.823 --> 01:47:47.759
encouraging the army to look forward

01:47:47.759 --> 01:47:49.926
rather than back in the way we prepare

01:47:49.926 --> 01:47:51.815
for the next war ? And I know you

01:47:51.815 --> 01:47:53.703
talked about a general in Futures

01:47:53.703 --> 01:47:56.037
command , but I mean what . Besides you ,

01:47:56.037 --> 01:47:57.815
how are we developing our young

01:47:57.815 --> 01:47:59.926
officers to not think about past wars

01:47:59.926 --> 01:48:02.092
but think in the future and innovation

01:48:02.092 --> 01:48:04.203
tactics , strategy , and even manning

01:48:04.203 --> 01:48:06.569
and and weaponizing ? I think our young

01:48:06.569 --> 01:48:08.847
leaders are doing a really good job of ,

01:48:08.847 --> 01:48:11.013
of thinking forward . And again , some

01:48:11.013 --> 01:48:12.847
of the things that you were just

01:48:12.847 --> 01:48:12.189
talking about , Congressman , when we

01:48:12.189 --> 01:48:14.770
struggle is , is stopping doing some of

01:48:14.770 --> 01:48:16.603
the , you know , hey , I still ,

01:48:16.603 --> 01:48:18.659
somebody still wants us to buy stuff

01:48:18.659 --> 01:48:21.509
that we necessarily don't need . Um , I

01:48:21.509 --> 01:48:23.620
agree with you that we need to invest

01:48:23.620 --> 01:48:25.787
more in drones . That's our plan to do

01:48:25.787 --> 01:48:27.953
that . Same thing with EW , same thing

01:48:27.953 --> 01:48:29.953
with long range fires . I think all

01:48:29.953 --> 01:48:32.176
those things could be done much cheaper

01:48:32.176 --> 01:48:34.398
too , and that's why we're working with

01:48:34.398 --> 01:48:36.565
other companies . If you want magazine

01:48:36.565 --> 01:48:35.910
depth , you know , the other way of

01:48:35.910 --> 01:48:38.790
doing that is to actually , um , bring

01:48:38.790 --> 01:48:40.623
the cost down , and I think that

01:48:40.623 --> 01:48:42.734
there's innovative companies that can

01:48:42.734 --> 01:48:44.957
do that , and it's the same with , um ,

01:48:44.957 --> 01:48:47.290
what we need on training . I would , uh .

01:48:47.290 --> 01:48:49.401
Argue that we're still probably gonna

01:48:49.401 --> 01:48:51.457
have indirect fire is still gonna be

01:48:51.457 --> 01:48:53.679
something that's gonna happen . I think

01:48:53.679 --> 01:48:55.901
the stat that was given out that it was

01:48:55.901 --> 01:48:58.123
only 18% of the casualties , um , and I

01:48:58.123 --> 01:49:00.290
can come talk to you about that in a ,

01:49:00.290 --> 01:49:02.457
in a classified setting and kind of go

01:49:02.457 --> 01:49:01.689
through some of that , but I mean we're

01:49:01.689 --> 01:49:03.689
gonna need some of that too because

01:49:03.689 --> 01:49:06.720
those are not , uh , they're , uh , EW

01:49:06.720 --> 01:49:08.942
is not an issue for , for some of those

01:49:08.942 --> 01:49:10.942
things . Same with mortars and what

01:49:10.942 --> 01:49:13.220
you're gonna need at the tactical edge .

01:49:13.220 --> 01:49:15.331
They're still using that . So I think

01:49:15.331 --> 01:49:17.498
it's a combination of things and we're

01:49:17.498 --> 01:49:19.664
definitely looking to the future . And

01:49:19.664 --> 01:49:19.270
Congressman , I would just quickly say ,

01:49:19.359 --> 01:49:22.439
um . Anything I think we are saying

01:49:22.439 --> 01:49:24.495
about our procurement process or our

01:49:24.495 --> 01:49:26.799
bureaucracy , the the shining star in

01:49:26.799 --> 01:49:29.021
all of this and the gem that we have as

01:49:29.021 --> 01:49:31.021
a nation is our soldiers . So I was

01:49:31.021 --> 01:49:33.188
down at Fort Jackson a couple of weeks

01:49:33.188 --> 01:49:35.188
ago , and these are soldiers who've

01:49:35.188 --> 01:49:37.410
been in the army for 5 weeks . And what

01:49:37.410 --> 01:49:37.080
we've started to do is put a drone up

01:49:37.080 --> 01:49:39.302
while they do their lanes and then when

01:49:39.302 --> 01:49:41.302
they do their after action review ,

01:49:41.302 --> 01:49:43.469
they see themselves and what the drone

01:49:43.469 --> 01:49:45.636
can do and this is what's . Remarkable

01:49:45.636 --> 01:49:47.469
about it as these as these drill

01:49:47.469 --> 01:49:49.580
sergeants have iterated through these

01:49:49.580 --> 01:49:51.524
classes , they've actually learned

01:49:51.524 --> 01:49:53.636
lessons from people in the army for 5

01:49:53.636 --> 01:49:53.000
weeks that have trickled up to the

01:49:53.000 --> 01:49:55.509
Pentagon and spread to our other units

01:49:55.509 --> 01:49:57.680
on how we can improve , which is

01:49:57.680 --> 01:49:59.736
absolutely remarkable and I actually

01:49:59.736 --> 01:50:01.791
love what the army is doing in their

01:50:01.791 --> 01:50:03.736
futuristic thing for training with

01:50:03.736 --> 01:50:03.359
personnel . I was at University of

01:50:03.359 --> 01:50:05.470
North Georgia , love their scientific

01:50:05.470 --> 01:50:07.919
approach to fit this . But I also

01:50:07.919 --> 01:50:10.086
simultaneously see we're still doing a

01:50:10.086 --> 01:50:11.975
huge massive airborne training of

01:50:11.975 --> 01:50:14.086
12,000 soldiers per year on something

01:50:14.086 --> 01:50:16.197
that we'll probably never use again ,

01:50:16.197 --> 01:50:18.252
which also harms over 100 people per

01:50:18.252 --> 01:50:20.419
year , uh , that we're then gonna have

01:50:20.419 --> 01:50:22.475
to pay disability to for the rest of

01:50:22.475 --> 01:50:24.586
their lives , uh , and , and really ,

01:50:24.586 --> 01:50:24.134
uh , it takes them out of the . Field

01:50:24.134 --> 01:50:26.356
on something that really is an obsolete

01:50:26.356 --> 01:50:28.467
tactic in my opinion . So I hope we ,

01:50:28.467 --> 01:50:30.578
uh , I don't wanna belabor that point

01:50:30.578 --> 01:50:30.134
because I know we're out of time and ,

01:50:30.214 --> 01:50:32.325
and , uh , I wanna give you some time

01:50:32.325 --> 01:50:34.603
so I'm gonna yield the rest of my time .

01:50:34.603 --> 01:50:36.436
Thank you , gentlemen , yields I

01:50:36.436 --> 01:50:36.404
recognize gentleman from Indiana .

01:50:36.654 --> 01:50:38.710
Thank you , Chairman and thank you ,

01:50:38.710 --> 01:50:40.654
gentlemen for being here . General

01:50:40.654 --> 01:50:42.710
George , a recent report stated that

01:50:42.710 --> 01:50:44.765
given multiple successful end to end

01:50:44.765 --> 01:50:44.705
flight tests of hypersonic missiles ,

01:50:44.734 --> 01:50:47.975
the Army intends to field LRHW missiles

01:50:47.975 --> 01:50:50.142
to the first unit by the end of fiscal

01:50:50.142 --> 01:50:52.214
2025 . Is , is that still on uh , on

01:50:52.214 --> 01:50:54.649
time ? Yes , it is , Congressman . Do

01:50:54.649 --> 01:50:56.816
you see any , any foreseeable setbacks

01:50:56.816 --> 01:50:58.816
that could delay it any further ? I

01:50:58.816 --> 01:51:00.927
think the big thing that we're trying

01:51:00.927 --> 01:51:03.038
to do with that , um , is look at are

01:51:03.038 --> 01:51:05.205
there other things that can happen out

01:51:05.205 --> 01:51:07.427
there where we can actually build those

01:51:07.427 --> 01:51:09.593
missiles , uh , less expensive and and

01:51:09.593 --> 01:51:11.482
more rapidly . I think that's the

01:51:11.482 --> 01:51:13.760
thinking that we're doing on right now .

01:51:13.760 --> 01:51:15.705
But that's on track and we've been

01:51:15.705 --> 01:51:17.760
partnering with the navy , um , with

01:51:17.760 --> 01:51:19.982
that system and , and that's on track .

01:51:19.982 --> 01:51:21.816
OK , great to hear . All right ,

01:51:21.816 --> 01:51:23.982
Secretary Driscoll . Our Army National

01:51:23.982 --> 01:51:25.927
Guard , uh , provides operates for

01:51:25.927 --> 01:51:27.816
pennies on the dollar compared to

01:51:27.816 --> 01:51:30.038
active duty units while providing a lot

01:51:30.038 --> 01:51:32.205
of the same capabilities . As the army

01:51:32.205 --> 01:51:34.339
moves to implement ATI , is the guard

01:51:34.339 --> 01:51:36.450
being considered as an option to keep

01:51:36.450 --> 01:51:38.506
end strength levels the same ? While

01:51:38.506 --> 01:51:40.395
freeing up funds in the budget to

01:51:40.395 --> 01:51:42.450
modernize and and capitalize on cost

01:51:42.450 --> 01:51:44.617
savings , um , we , we , we are having

01:51:44.617 --> 01:51:46.728
at least that we are a part of a very

01:51:46.728 --> 01:51:48.783
few conversations where end strength

01:51:48.783 --> 01:51:51.006
will go down . Um , what I've heard the

01:51:51.006 --> 01:51:53.006
president say is he wants a , and I

01:51:53.006 --> 01:51:52.870
think he said it at West 0.2 weeks ago ,

01:51:53.120 --> 01:51:55.231
an even larger army . I think to your

01:51:55.231 --> 01:51:57.231
point . On the the National Guard ,

01:51:57.231 --> 01:51:59.231
they're an incredible asset for our

01:51:59.231 --> 01:52:01.453
nation . They've been around for a very

01:52:01.453 --> 01:52:03.509
long time and one of the things that

01:52:03.509 --> 01:52:03.120
General George and I have prided

01:52:03.120 --> 01:52:04.953
ourselves in Army Transformation

01:52:04.953 --> 01:52:07.064
initiative is we have done nothing to

01:52:07.064 --> 01:52:09.064
the regular army that was different

01:52:09.064 --> 01:52:11.176
from the guard , and we have tried to

01:52:11.176 --> 01:52:13.064
treat them exactly the same , and

01:52:13.064 --> 01:52:15.176
General George has done an incredible

01:52:15.176 --> 01:52:17.231
job of working with his peers in the

01:52:17.231 --> 01:52:19.287
guard . I would , I would just add ,

01:52:19.287 --> 01:52:21.453
and I just , we just talked to like 50

01:52:21.453 --> 01:52:23.620
of the tags , and this is before , you

01:52:23.620 --> 01:52:25.620
know , all of this came out to tell

01:52:25.620 --> 01:52:25.169
them , you know , kind of what was

01:52:25.169 --> 01:52:27.470
going on . I think the one area that I

01:52:27.470 --> 01:52:29.526
would , uh , that I think we need to

01:52:29.526 --> 01:52:31.637
adjust inside the guard is I think we

01:52:31.637 --> 01:52:33.803
need to have actually more people than

01:52:33.803 --> 01:52:35.803
we have structure . And I know that

01:52:35.803 --> 01:52:37.803
that's a , you know , always been a

01:52:37.803 --> 01:52:39.859
challenge because everybody wants to

01:52:39.859 --> 01:52:41.914
keep a certain amount of structure ,

01:52:41.914 --> 01:52:41.500
but what you don't have is the

01:52:41.500 --> 01:52:43.778
flexibility to send people to training ,

01:52:44.339 --> 01:52:46.672
you know , that you need to do and , um ,

01:52:46.672 --> 01:52:48.783
send people to school , whatever that

01:52:48.783 --> 01:52:50.950
is . So , um , that's the conversation

01:52:50.950 --> 01:52:53.117
that we've actually had with them is ,

01:52:53.330 --> 01:52:55.330
um , we are gonna have to make some

01:52:55.330 --> 01:52:57.386
adjustments just like we're doing in

01:52:57.386 --> 01:52:59.899
the active , uh , component on .

01:53:00.470 --> 01:53:02.637
Different types of things that we need

01:53:02.637 --> 01:53:04.803
more like we know we need more cyber ,

01:53:04.803 --> 01:53:07.270
we need more counter UAS um we may need

01:53:07.270 --> 01:53:09.492
different of something else and I think

01:53:09.492 --> 01:53:11.103
we're gonna have to have the

01:53:11.103 --> 01:53:13.159
flexibility moving forward and we'll

01:53:13.159 --> 01:53:15.103
work we're working with the , um ,

01:53:15.103 --> 01:53:17.326
director of the Army National Guard and

01:53:17.326 --> 01:53:16.830
the tags to make sure that we're doing

01:53:16.830 --> 01:53:19.430
that . OK , thank you . Um , General

01:53:19.430 --> 01:53:21.620
George on the readiness subcommittee ,

01:53:21.910 --> 01:53:24.132
General Mingus , uh , mentioned foreign

01:53:24.132 --> 01:53:26.490
military sales as a way to sustain , uh ,

01:53:26.589 --> 01:53:29.049
Humvees and JLTs moving forward . As

01:53:29.049 --> 01:53:31.271
often highlighted , those familiar with

01:53:31.271 --> 01:53:33.560
the FMS FMS process , bureaucratic red

01:53:33.560 --> 01:53:35.616
tape , approval times , and delivery

01:53:35.616 --> 01:53:37.671
delays have plagued that process for

01:53:37.671 --> 01:53:39.893
years . Uh , what reforms are needed to

01:53:39.893 --> 01:53:41.782
the FMS process to better support

01:53:41.782 --> 01:53:43.504
allies who want to purchase US

01:53:43.504 --> 01:53:45.616
equipment and our defense enterprises

01:53:45.616 --> 01:53:47.727
that seek to sustain American defense

01:53:47.727 --> 01:53:49.782
production lines like the H , Humvee

01:53:49.782 --> 01:53:52.450
and JLTV . Yeah , um , as you know ,

01:53:52.600 --> 01:53:54.933
Congressman , the army doesn't own that ,

01:53:54.933 --> 01:53:57.100
you know , that process . I agree that

01:53:57.100 --> 01:53:59.100
there's a lot we need to do to make

01:53:59.100 --> 01:54:01.322
sure that we're moving that , um , much

01:54:01.322 --> 01:54:03.433
more quickly . I got a call yesterday

01:54:03.433 --> 01:54:05.489
actually , uh , from an army chief .

01:54:05.489 --> 01:54:07.544
I've had a couple of those , uh , in

01:54:07.544 --> 01:54:10.189
the last month about JLTV specifically

01:54:10.189 --> 01:54:12.245
and , and looking to buy those , and

01:54:12.245 --> 01:54:14.300
you know , people are just like us .

01:54:14.300 --> 01:54:16.467
They want , you know , when you decide

01:54:16.467 --> 01:54:18.578
you have a need , you're ready to get

01:54:18.578 --> 01:54:20.800
this stuff quickly . Um , and they also

01:54:20.800 --> 01:54:22.967
like , uh , American equipment because

01:54:22.967 --> 01:54:25.899
it's good . Um , so we can certainly

01:54:25.899 --> 01:54:28.066
send something over and , and have our

01:54:28.066 --> 01:54:30.121
team come over and talk to you about

01:54:30.121 --> 01:54:32.399
that in detail . would appreciate that .

01:54:32.399 --> 01:54:31.939
And Congressman , just to form military

01:54:31.939 --> 01:54:33.661
sales , I think it's even more

01:54:33.661 --> 01:54:35.740
important than , um , just those two

01:54:35.740 --> 01:54:38.140
those two platforms . The more we can

01:54:38.140 --> 01:54:40.350
smooth our demand signal across us and

01:54:40.350 --> 01:54:42.517
our allies for things like PAC 3s that

01:54:42.517 --> 01:54:44.739
we need , the more joint ventures could

01:54:44.739 --> 01:54:46.683
be stood up in . Places around the

01:54:46.683 --> 01:54:48.906
world and so when you start to think of

01:54:48.906 --> 01:54:51.017
things like preposition stock , the ,

01:54:51.017 --> 01:54:53.128
the , the best outcome is that people

01:54:53.128 --> 01:54:55.239
we trust are building the same things

01:54:55.239 --> 01:54:57.572
we're using . So if we go into conflict ,

01:54:57.572 --> 01:54:57.285
they can either send their people or

01:54:57.285 --> 01:55:00.225
their things , um , and so for military

01:55:00.225 --> 01:55:02.604
sales is an example I think of the

01:55:02.604 --> 01:55:04.604
United States acting in a massively

01:55:04.604 --> 01:55:06.715
overprotected fashion that is harming

01:55:06.715 --> 01:55:09.404
us dramatically . Thank you . Uh , my

01:55:09.404 --> 01:55:11.571
last one , well , I'm , I'll give back

01:55:11.571 --> 01:55:13.737
the rest of my time so we can , we can

01:55:13.737 --> 01:55:16.015
all get moving . Thank you . Gentlemen ,

01:55:16.015 --> 01:55:17.960
you's back . Gentlemen , you did a

01:55:17.960 --> 01:55:17.799
great job . Thank you very much for

01:55:17.799 --> 01:55:20.100
your service , uh , to our country and

01:55:20.100 --> 01:55:21.270
we are adjourned .