We, as a Nation, owe it to them for the sacrifices they have made.

If confirmed, I will continue to work with the State Department to monitor progress throughout the transition and provide Congress with information that is responsive to the NDAA.

If confirmed, I plan to fully support the Department's efforts to implement the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally and associated Executive Order.

I believe that the National Guard and Reserve are a tremendous resource of talent and of surge capacity for DOD.

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is vital to training the exceptional officers upon which our military relies, including in cyber skill sets.

I am committed to ensuring every servicemember receives the training, education, and credentials he or she needs to successfully transition to the civilian workforce.

Maintaining personnel critical technical skills will be an increasingly important challenge for DOD.

If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on this important issue that affects so many families.

I believe that the JSF will be a core component of Israel's qualitative military edge (QME).

If confirmed, I will continue our longstanding commitments to all of our Treaty allies, including Japan.

Japan is the linchpin of our presence in Asia.

I view the Department's shaping and prevention efforts as vital to our overall national security.

Naval presence will continue to be vital if we are to rebalance toward the Asia Pacific while maintaining our defense commitments in the Middle East and elsewhere.

I support the administration's approach of cautious and calibrated engagement with the Burmese military through bilateral and multilateral arrangements.

The impact of sequestration combined with a year-long Continuing Resolution will present the Department with very serious funding challenges.

A full-year Continuing Resolution and sequestration would damage our readiness, our people, and our military families.

I share the concern of our senior military leaders that the morale of the force will be affected in ways that are unpredictable if sequester goes into effect and disrupts our training, readiness, and family support programs.

I believe the Department has developed a strategy that meets the challenges of the current and future security environment that both minimizes risk and complies with the fiscal constraints imposed by the Budget Control Act (BCA).