General Campbell, Admiral Ferguson, General Paxton, and General Spencer, are you concerned that the steep decline in DOD budgets will eventually erode morale for military members and DOD civilians, ultimately having an insidious effect on…

the fiscal year 2014 budget does not factor in sequestration and was submitted before fiscal year 2013 sequestration was in place.

Admiral Ferguson, last year at our hearing, I asked you about the unsustainable pace of surged fleet operations as high demand for ships and submarines was taking its toll.

Many of us in the Senate tried for more than a year to get firm details on the impact of defense sequestration with little cooperation from the administration.

This has always been one of the things I truly enjoy about the Senate Armed Services Committee--the strong bipartisan support and work that we do together.

The Air Force is planning to fund weapon system sustainment to 81 percent of the fiscal year 2014 requirement.

Readiness is the ability of a unit to provide its designed operational capabilities within the required timeframe.

I worry about is that--I sit on other committees here, and there have been a lot of people trying to claim that OCO money for other purposes.

if we keep going over the--to the 10-year period, that it could get down to 230-235

General Milstead, from a Marine Corps perspective, can you provide an update on the Women in Service Review?

My concern is that we know that certainly the Navy can avoid the civilian furloughs, has a way forward to do it.

what must be done to further reduce the time it takes for soldiers to progress through IDES?

Obviously, I think we can all agree that is totally unacceptable.

I think this is a situation that ends up being pennywise, pound foolish because we will get behind on the maintenance schedule.

It is really important because we just hear from too many people that are waiting too long.

At least you got a system online. They are finally getting their system online. I mean, it is taking too long for these things.

Please, do not tell me you think that 295 days is acceptable either.

I want you to meet it, but do not tell me that that is where we are going to stop because I just do not think that is acceptable.