Depot maintenance funding is a critical component of the Air Force's mission.

Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, would additional reset funding restore readiness levels sooner and what are the anticipated reset costs for the out-years?

I commend you for placing an emphasis on improving readiness and vital depot maintenance requirements across the Active Duty, Air Force Reserve (AFR), and ANG forces.

Does the Air Force have a similar backlog?

What are the risks in terms of long-term sustainment, reduction of the expected service life, and the burden of increased flying hours related to combat operations in Afghanistan?

Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, what additional training is being provided to those forces that will move directly into Afghanistan from Iraq?

Reduction to any appropriation account increases the risks of not being able to meet our mission requirements.

Any action by Congress to reduce the budget request for Defense to fund programs not requested by the administration increases the risk for current and future warfighters.

The budget materials claim to rebalance the force. Yet without a decrease in operational tempo, force readiness continues to be consumed as quickly as it is created.

Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, what are the cost implications for reset/reconstitution given increases in troop levels and new platforms such as MRAP vehicles and Multipurpose All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs)?

what is the plan to recoup those costs which are currently being taken out of O&M?