OPENING STATEMENT OF U.S. SENATOR JACK REED

RANKING MEMBER, SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

SD-G50

DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

Thursday, January 21, 2016

 

To consider the nominations of:

Honorable Eric K. Fanning to be Secretary of the Army

(As Prepared for Delivery)

 Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.  I join you in welcoming Mr. Fanning, and I thank you for holding this hearing to fill the important position of the Secretary of the Army.  I would also like to thank Mr. Fanning for his willingness to serve in this position of great responsibility.  It is my understanding that your mother, Kathy, is in the audience this morning, and I welcome her to this hearing.

Mr. Fanning has a wealth of experience having served in senior level positions throughout the Department of Defense.  His previous positions include serving as the Acting Under Secretary of the Army where he was responsible for issues related to the daily management and operation of the Army.  Prior to that position, Mr. Fanning was confirmed as the Under Secretary of the Air Force, and he oversaw the Air Force’s annual budget and served as the Chief Management Officer.  Finally, Mr. Fanning has served as the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy and played an integral role in the Navy’s business transformation efforts.

Mr. Fanning, if you are confirmed as the next Secretary of the Army, your experience during your tenure in the Department will be critical in order to lead the Army during a time when the United States faces a multitude of challenges abroad.  As you know, the Army continues to draw down its end strength with a final goal of 450,000 in the Active Army, 335,000 in the Army National Guard and 195,000 in the Army Reserve.  In addition, I would welcome your comments on whether the U.S. can continue to meet its commitments overseas with a smaller Army. 

At the same time, the Army must also contend with how to modernize the force and increase readiness levels.  As you are aware, the Army modernization program has had challenges resulting in programs that have been truncated or cancelled.  Mr. Fanning, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how the Army can make targeted investments in modernization as well as your views on how the Army can improve its acquisition processes. 

Finally, I welcome Secretary Carter’s decision to open all military positions to service by women.  With respect to the Army, it is my understanding that neither General Milley nor Secretary McHugh requested an exception to policy to keep any position within the Army closed.  As General Milley testified last July during his confirmation hearing, “There is no doubt that women can engage in ground combat with the enemies of our nation because they . . .  have been doing it for 10 years.”  I strongly agree with those comments.

Since that hearing, three women have graduated from the US Army Ranger School, which is the premier training school for Army combat arms soldiers and officers.  According to Army statistics, between FY10 and FY14, the graduation rate at Ranger School was only 42 percent.  Those were all males.  The three women who graduated this fall, and those who will come after, prove what most of us already knew—that women can do the job and do it well.  The fuller integration of women into the previously male-dominated corners of Army combat arms and special operations will result, I believe, in a more capable Army, a more professional Army, and an Army that better reflects the meritocracy that we all believe military service to be.

I look forward to hearing from Mr. Fanning about his plans for implementing this decision, what the timeline for assignment will be, what challenges he foresees, and how he will overcome them.

Again, I thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing, and I look forward to hearing from our nominee.