But, I think this young veteran deserves an answer. I think he deserves a response. It's very fair and very supportive of the people who've had to serve, in general.

Congress must do its part to make sure that funded programs are effective and efficient, in keeping with our roles as stewards of the public trust and of taxpayer dollars.

I can't believe two-thirds of America's youth can't meet the mark.

Yes. I wouldn't disagree with you at all on that. It's just--the way that this has been characterized so often in the media has been a DOD issue, and it's a national issue in which DOD is attempting put some efficiencies into, in my view.

It's kind of difficult to place cost-effectiveness on the use of a contractor if you don't know how many you're using.

The individual marine is our Corps' most sacred asset.

I think weight and education are two areas that the country needs to go after.

For the record, we'd like to see your best estimates on those numbers, as we move toward the Defense bill this year, which means fairly soon.

I have strong reservations regarding the administration's proposed enrollment fee increases, based on the fact that retirees have earned this healthcare benefit through their years of service--a moral contract, in my view.

It was a considerable shift, when they decided to do that, back in the 1980s.

I find that astounding.

We may want to reevaluate--I don't want--you don't have to lower the standards, but you may want to reevaluate the standards that are being used, or at least take a look at them.

I can tell you, it was 97 percent, during the Vietnam era.

I look forward to continuing to work with you on our total force of Active, National Guard, and Reserve servicemembers, as well as our civilian workforce, and the dedicated families that support them.

Whether or not we could fight without them, we deserve to be able to have the same oversight over how they are used.

The attention that's being given right now, at all levels, is just incredible compared to what was going on then.

I appreciate all of you coming today and spending time with us.

The point could fairly be made that this is not the result of inefficiencies; it's the result of a national phenomenon.