releases: https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/opening-statement-by-ranking-member-jack-reed-sasc-hearing-on-supporting-the-warfighter-of-today-and-tomorrow
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| https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/opening-statement-by-ranking-member-jack-reed-sasc-hearing-on-supporting-the-warfighter-of-today-and-tomorrow | Opening Statement by Ranking Member Jack Reed, SASC Hearing on Supporting the Warfighter of Today and Tomorrow | 2015-12-03 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | RI | Jack Reed | R000122 | www.reed.senate.gov | legacy | 12/03/2015OPENING STATEMENT OF U.S. SENATOR JACK REED RANKING MEMBER, SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE SD-106 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING Thursday, December 3, 2015 To receive testimony on supporting the warfighter of today and tomorrow (As Prepared for Delivery) Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Id like to join you in thanking our witnesses for their willingness to appear today to testify on potential changes to the Department of Defenses (DOD) organization and processes that would enable the best possible support for our warfighters. I have no doubt that our distinguished panel of witnesses will provide the Committee with thought-provoking testimony drawn from their years of service in and out of uniform. A constant theme that has emerged in testimony from previous hearings is that DOD has a 20th century organizational structure which has great difficulty adjusting to many 21st century trends including globalization, rapid adoption of technology, and the free flow of information. These developments have complicated the security environment by facilitating the rise of near-peer competitors and irregular threats from transnational terrorist groups. However, I believe these trends also provide opportunities to improve U.S. military capabilities, which will support the warfighter, if they can be effectively harnessed through updated organizational structures and processes. As yesterdays hearing made clear, the men and women who make up the All-Volunteer Force remain this Committees top concern. And we must ensure they have the resources they need to complete their mission and return safely home. Testifying on these issues earlier this fall, former Secretary Gates described the challenges he faced in delivering rapidly needed capabilities to troops in the field because of prioritization of long-term programs of record by the military services. He said, the only way I could get significant new or additional equipment to commanders in the field in weeks or months not years was to take control of the problem myself through special task forces and ad-hoc processes. As specific examples, he cited task forces he created to rapidly field Mine-Resistant-Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. However, he also pointed out that relying on the intense personal involvement of the Secretary to achieve such outcomes is not sustainable. Given that the Goldwater-Nichols reforms were enacted more than 30 years ago, and the Department continues to face difficulties in rapidly delivering needed capabilities to the warfighter, it is appropriate that we consider additional changes to the Department that can enhance the support we provide to the men and women serving in uniform. Considering the diversity of experience possessed by our witnesses including from the service, combatant command, and defense agency perspectives I look forward to your thoughts on how we might address these issues in a comprehensive manner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |