I have long expressed my concern about the preferred alternative location for the firing ranges on Guam.

I remain concerned that, given the size and the scope of the operation and maintenance budget, these accounts are prime targets for budget cuts.

The Department of Defense has become overly dependent on the use of services contractors.

The Army appreciates the continued commitment and support of the U.S. Congress in all that we do.

a continuing resolution for the Department of Defense will only cost us more money and will certainly be very serious to our security in the future.

I am concerned that there is an over-focus of those assets in the CENTCOM AOR to the detriment of other AOR's like the Pacific.

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.

I stressed that assuming risk is expected in any budget, especially in our operation and maintenance budgets.

What are each of the services top 3 unfunded requirements associated with ensuring a ready force, both in the near-term and in the out-years?

I hope that our witnesses today can contextualize their remarks with these strategic documents as guides.

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

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?

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

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

In your opinion, are we ready? Will we be ready? If not, what should we be doing?

We have become heavily reliant on the Navy and Air Force to provide individual augmentees to meet ground force requirements in CENTCOM.

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

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.

Thank you for your leadership of this very important subcommittee.

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

The military buildup on Guam will not be successful without improvements to our infrastructure.

I had no idea we were so closely connected, through Guam.

I am concerned that project proposals for Fiscal Year 2011, water and wastewater funding, have yet to be received.

I am certainly pleased to know that now there is a new company that is interested in setting up their operation there.