Chuck Grassley: “as I have said, 9 of the 14 proposed general officers positions are already occupied. Of the nine occupied positions…”

“as I have said, 9 of the 14 proposed general officers positions are already occupied. Of the nine occupied positions, one is filled by a lieutenant general, one is filled by a major general, one is filled by a general selectee, and six are filled by acting brigadier generals. So, Mr. President, it seems like these vacant--again, I emphasize the word ``vacant''--war-fighting positions are already well covered. They are filled. Mr. President, there is one thing about all this that really bothers me, and that is the one vacant position. I want to talk about that one vacant position. Of all of the positions, the vacant one seems like the most important one, and ought to be filled: assistant commander of the 2d Marine Division. It is not like there is a gaping hole in the command structure. As I understand it, the division's chief of staff is doing the job. He is a senior colonel, who is getting excellent experience, experience that is preparing him for promotion to general. But if this position is as important as I think it is, why is this position not filled? Why is the Marine Corps fattening up headquarters staff with generals when one of its three divisions is short a general officer? If war fighting is the top priority--and that is what the Marines say, not what the Senate Armed Services Committee said--why are so few generals assigned to war-fighting billets? Only 25 percent of all Marine generals are in combat posts.”