the United States seeks to develop additional opportunities for joint and combined training in the Western Pacific that respond to the need for constant readiness of U.S. forces to carry out joint operations.

I believe it improves readiness as well as morale and welfare when a soldier can deploy and demob from home station.

With your support for this plan, the Army will meet near-term BOG: Dwell goals of 1:2 AC and 1:4 RC starting in FY 12.

I remain concerned that even while our Services move to expanded ISR platforms, we still--we still--do not have sufficient coverage in the Pacific.

The military services have adopted a rotational readiness construct which enables deployed and deploying forces to obtain the highest level of readiness.

It is indeed difficult to measure military readiness without knowing what the measure of effectiveness may be to declare 'strategic readiness.'

The fiscal year 2012 budget request reflects shortfalls in depot maintenance requirements across the Department.

How has the long-term use of sailors and airmen to meet ground force requirements impacted the readiness of the Navy and Air Force?

I do have a couple of questions, but I will enter them into the record, and hopefully the witnesses will be able to answer them.

Congress should exercise stringent oversight of this practice to ensure that no good deeds are being inadvertently punished.

The QDR report identified force structure requirements and capabilities to deal with challenges and threat to U.S. interests.