Chairman Wilson Opening Statement - Hearing on Women in Service Reviews
Rep. Joe Wilson (SC), Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, made the following opening statement as prepared for delivery at a hearing on Women in Service Reviews. Witness testimony can be found linked below and on the Committee Repository as prepared for delivery; the committee is no longer providing paper copies of witness testimony. Additionally, a live video feed of the hearing can be seen on the Committee website. "The hearing will come to order. The Subcommittee today will focus on the implementation plans that the military services and the United States Special Operation Command have developed to expand the assignment opportunities for women. "Over the last decade women have served exceptionally in many positions in combat. The decision by the Secretary of Defense in January to rescind the direct ground combat exclusion policy has established a new dynamic – all positions are open to women, unless the military services are granted an exception to policy. "In June, the Secretary of Defense released those implementation plans, which envision full implementation of the new policy by January 2016. Between now and then, the military services and US Special Operation Command will develop the substantive basis for implementation. As is clear from the plans, implementation of the new policy will be incremental, with previously closed units and occupational specialties being opened as gender-neutral performance standards are validated, other issues related to the integration are addressed and Congressional notifications are completed. Implementation of decisions about Army and Marine Corps direct ground combat units (infantry, armor, artillery), as well as specialties controlled by the Special Operations Command, will take place later in the process. "The Secretary of Defense has made clear that standards will not be lowered, and that they will be applied on a gender-neutral basis. That's a key commitment to the success of inclusion efforts. Our witnesses today are:
Witnesses
Ms. Juliet Beyler Director, Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management, Department of Defense
• Witness Statement [PDF]
• Witness Biography [PDF]
Lieutenant General Howard B. Bromberg Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, United States Army
• Witness Statement [PDF]
• Witness Biography [PDF]
Brigadier General Gina M. Grosso Director of Force Managment Policy, Deputy Chief of Statt for Manpower, Personnel and Services, United States Air Force
• Witness Statement [PDF]
• Witness Biography [PDF]
Lieutenant General Robert E. Milstead Jr. Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps
• Witness Statement [PDF]
• Witness Biography [PDF]
Major General Bennet S. Sacolick Director of Force Management and Development, United States Special Operations Command
• Witness Statement [PDF]
• Witness Biography [PDF]
Rear Admiral Barbara Sweredoski Reserve Deputy, Military Personnel Plans and Policy, United States Navy
• Witness Statement [PDF]
• Witness Biography [PDF]
"I ask unanimous consent that Representatives Dr. John Fleming and Loretta Sanchez be allowed to ask questions during the hearing. Further I ask unanimous consent that the following statements be entered into the record:
The written statement of Women in International Security [PDF], and,
The written statement of Elaine Donnelly, President, Center for Military Readiness [PDF]"