Wilson Opening Statement for Hearing on Department of Defense End Strength, Recruiting and Retention Overview

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2009

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, today released the following prepared remarks for the subcommittee’s hearing to receive an overview on military end strength, recruiting, and retention.

“We have two excellent witness panels today. Their efforts have directly contributed to the extraordinary success of the active and reserve components in not only sustaining the all volunteer force during a highly stressful time, but also, in the case of the Army, Marine Corps and Army National Guard, in substantially accelerating the growth of the force. I want to thank each of our witnesses for their efforts.

“With regard to growth, the Army and the Marine Corps sought strengths of 547,400 and 202,000, respectively, to be achieved in 2011 or beyond. Amazingly, they will achieve those strengths before the end of this year. The Army National Guard has already exceeded its 2013 strength goal of 358,000. This accelerated growth reflects the effects of the final budget submitted by President Bush, and the subsequent fine work of our witnesses today.

“The challenge for President Obama’s 2009 supplemental funding proposal and for the 2010 budget request is to sustain that accelerated growth in the Army, Marine Corps and Army National Guard.

“Moreover, I understand that both the Navy and the Air Force will seek to increase strength in 2010 and beyond. I look forward to the details of the President’s budget request next month to see if that additional Navy and Air Force growth is provided.

“I firmly believe that our military needs to be larger to address the full range of missions we have levied upon it and to ensure that the stress on the force, and the families who support it, is minimized. Any calls now to reduce military manpower to fund modernization would be shortsighted. Both the Air Force and Navy have reached that conclusion. I would hope the Congress will, too.

“The keys to sustaining and increasing military manpower are recruiting, retention and control of unplanned attrition. Our two panels today can help us to better understand the challenges in each of those areas.

“So I join you, Madame Chairwoman, in welcoming our witnesses and look forward to their testimony.”

###