I appreciate the fact that you said continuous progress is really dependent on our support.

Historically, we've heard about the difficulty in hiring behavioral health and related providers within the Services.

What are the Services doing to reduce the stigma in seeking help for mental health issues, especially suicide?

I am very concerned these stressors will only get worse in the coming months as debate regarding cuts to the Defense Department budget intensifies.

I am pleased that the subcommittee is maintaining its attention on suicides in the military.

Why did the July 2011 Army numbers spike to an all time high? What is being done to mitigate the spike in July from occurring again?

I am pleased that this subcommittee is maintaining its attention on suicides in the military.

I think the concern that we would all have, of course, is that the reports that are done on all the suicides that occur within the services are done in a comprehensive manner...

Ultimately, it is an individual decision to take one's own life. But we must make sure every opportunity to redirect or change that decision is available before it's too late.

I would like to hear from our witnesses whether those strategies are working. What are your benchmarks for success?

We addressed this a little bit I think yesterday just in talking about some concerns that we might have about the exchange and commissary systems throughout our bases and our communities.