WEBVTT 00:11.678 --> 00:13.145 - How are y'all today? 00:13.410 --> 00:14.243 Excellent. 00:16.690 --> 00:17.930 Before we begin I'd like to 00:17.930 --> 00:19.910 take a quick moment to make an announcement 00:19.910 --> 00:22.570 that the Navy's newest San Antonio class 00:22.570 --> 00:24.510 amphibious transport dock ship 00:25.320 --> 00:27.340 will be named after Medal of Honor winner 00:27.340 --> 00:29.640 Captain Richard M McCool Junior, 00:29.640 --> 00:30.900 United States Navy. 00:32.010 --> 00:34.400 Captain McCool's a unique person in that he 00:35.230 --> 00:36.510 served in the trifecta, 00:36.510 --> 00:39.170 World War II, Korean War and Vietnam. 00:39.840 --> 00:41.560 He was presented the Medal of Honor 00:41.560 --> 00:43.050 for his bravery under fire 00:43.050 --> 00:44.550 during the Battle of Okinawa. 00:45.010 --> 00:46.420 And I believe this ship serves 00:46.420 --> 00:49.200 as a real testimony and a testament to 00:49.200 --> 00:51.040 our commitment of growing the fleet 00:51.780 --> 00:53.490 and our partnership with America. 00:54.610 --> 00:56.880 We definitely look forward to laying keel 00:56.880 --> 00:59.440 and getting this ship out on to the high seas. 00:59.720 --> 01:00.770 Ladies and gentlemen, 01:01.020 --> 01:03.320 here today and I want to thank you for coming, 01:03.890 --> 01:06.940 to hear about the state of your Department of the Navy. 01:07.610 --> 01:11.130 I'm here with two people that I want to tell you 01:11.130 --> 01:13.060 over the last nine months have truly become 01:13.060 --> 01:15.420 business partners as we face the challenges 01:15.420 --> 01:17.350 and the requirements of Title 10, 01:18.320 --> 01:21.220 General Neller and Admiral Richardson. 01:22.050 --> 01:23.050 A few months ago, 01:23.090 --> 01:23.923 as you all know, 01:23.923 --> 01:26.310 Congress reached a bipartisan agreement 01:26.310 --> 01:28.860 that addressed the President's budget request. 01:30.780 --> 01:34.180 We are very much aware that it stretched everyone 01:34.180 --> 01:35.680 to the limits of comfort. 01:36.660 --> 01:37.940 But it shows that we really can 01:37.940 --> 01:39.450 accomplish goals when needed. 01:40.080 --> 01:42.240 I will tell you that we will smartly walk out 01:42.240 --> 01:44.809 on allocating those resources appropriated 01:44.809 --> 01:47.880 by Congress and will focus that in alignment 01:47.910 --> 01:50.460 as you will see with the National Defense Strategy. 01:50.820 --> 01:52.170 As we're here before you today, 01:52.170 --> 01:54.890 94,000 sailors and Marines are deployed 01:54.890 --> 01:55.790 around the globe 01:56.380 --> 01:59.500 ensuring maritime lanes of commerce remain free and open, 01:59.590 --> 02:01.720 ensuring the access to global commons 02:02.000 --> 02:04.450 and protecting American citizens abroad 02:04.830 --> 02:06.480 and protecting our national interests. 02:06.480 --> 02:08.450 They're on duty 24 hours a day, 02:08.450 --> 02:11.370 365 days a year. 02:11.800 --> 02:14.880 They depend on and appreciate the full support 02:15.260 --> 02:17.310 of Americans as they fulfill their duty. 02:17.920 --> 02:21.220 As directed by the 2018 National Defense Strategy 02:21.220 --> 02:23.220 we're building a model of a more lethal, 02:23.420 --> 02:25.330 resilient and agile force 02:25.460 --> 02:28.020 capable of deterring defeating any enemy 02:28.540 --> 02:31.810 in this age of as we know it renewed power competition. 02:33.320 --> 02:35.900 We're determined to increase our competitive advantage 02:35.900 --> 02:38.460 over our adversaries by focusing on people, 02:38.800 --> 02:40.370 capabilities and process. 02:41.230 --> 02:42.750 The ability to accomplish our mission 02:42.750 --> 02:43.820 relies on people. 02:44.450 --> 02:47.170 Over 800 thousand sailors and Marines, 02:47.170 --> 02:48.940 both active duty and reserve, 02:48.940 --> 02:51.320 our civilian team mates and their families 02:51.320 --> 02:52.500 comprise this team. 02:53.340 --> 02:54.600 We'll continue to build a more 02:54.600 --> 02:57.780 lethal, agile, talented and innovative workforce 02:57.780 --> 02:58.790 as we go forward. 02:59.410 --> 03:03.040 We will recruit, train and retain the best we have 03:03.110 --> 03:06.070 in our bin of where we're fishing. 03:06.070 --> 03:06.903 Pardon me. 03:07.000 --> 03:09.750 Our people are the foundation of everything we do. 03:10.180 --> 03:11.170 So we're committed, 03:11.320 --> 03:12.540 absolutely committed to building 03:12.540 --> 03:14.370 the strongest foundation possible. 03:15.040 --> 03:17.170 Along with having the best war fighters in the world 03:17.170 --> 03:19.010 we must also continue to provide them 03:19.010 --> 03:22.270 the capabilities and capacities needed to fight tonight. 03:22.690 --> 03:24.530 We're investing in modernization 03:24.740 --> 03:27.900 of key capabilities, new technologies every single day. 03:27.900 --> 03:29.980 We're building the Navy the nation needs 03:30.290 --> 03:32.080 and the Marine Corps of the future. 03:32.930 --> 03:34.710 We're building a more lethal and ready 03:34.710 --> 03:36.760 Navy Marine Corps team by focusing 03:36.760 --> 03:38.120 on process improvement. 03:38.580 --> 03:40.130 We'll make sure that our processes are 03:40.130 --> 03:42.950 value add and efficiently supporting our war fighter 03:42.985 --> 03:44.870 as our core competency. 03:45.630 --> 03:46.850 We are internalizing 03:47.030 --> 03:48.460 the lessons learned across 03:48.520 --> 03:50.400 all facets of the naval enterprise 03:50.400 --> 03:53.030 as we refine our processes going forward. 03:53.550 --> 03:56.040 We'll use every acquisition authority given to us 03:56.040 --> 03:59.260 by Congress to grow this Navy Marine Corps team. 03:59.930 --> 04:01.740 We're working in partnership with industry 04:01.740 --> 04:03.410 to deliver maximum efficiency 04:03.410 --> 04:05.600 and value to the American taxpayers. 04:06.130 --> 04:06.963 Ladies and gentlemen, 04:06.963 --> 04:08.830 the Department of Navy is ready, 04:08.970 --> 04:10.100 able and lethal. 04:10.350 --> 04:12.250 We're working with a sense of urgency. 04:12.660 --> 04:14.110 My team and I are committed 04:14.330 --> 04:15.570 to continuing to deliver 04:15.570 --> 04:18.930 combat ready forces capable of meeting and defeating 04:18.930 --> 04:21.160 the challenges of today and tomorrow. 04:21.750 --> 04:23.450 We look forward to your questions. 04:25.380 --> 04:26.213 - Thank you. 04:26.288 --> 04:27.308 General Neller, 04:27.308 --> 04:29.700 a little over a year ago we saw you 04:29.700 --> 04:30.570 and you were talking about the 04:30.570 --> 04:33.910 Marines United scandal that had hit the Marine Corps. 04:34.430 --> 04:37.770 Last week there, we found there's been an increase 04:37.770 --> 04:39.720 in sexual assaults in the Marine Corps. 04:39.770 --> 04:42.440 I was wondering if you could talk about the last year. 04:42.440 --> 04:46.340 What changes, what improvements or what has the 04:46.340 --> 04:48.650 Marine Corps done to address these problems 04:48.930 --> 04:52.490 and do you think enough has been done? 04:52.520 --> 04:54.478 What more do you think you have to do 04:54.478 --> 04:55.670 to get at this? 04:56.960 --> 04:59.020 - I appreciate reminding me about the last time 04:59.020 --> 04:59.970 I was in this room. 05:02.900 --> 05:04.250 So after the events 05:05.950 --> 05:08.250 and the hearings and all that and the article, 05:09.990 --> 05:12.140 we formed a task force cause we recognize 05:12.140 --> 05:13.900 that we had some informational issues. 05:13.900 --> 05:16.390 We had some policy issues 05:16.390 --> 05:17.223 and we had to make sure that 05:17.223 --> 05:20.220 everybody understood what rules of the road were. 05:20.330 --> 05:23.360 So that task force remains in effect. 05:25.720 --> 05:28.270 We don't have the ability nor the legal authority 05:28.270 --> 05:30.500 to monitor social media. 05:31.690 --> 05:35.410 But from me going out and talking to thousands of Marines 05:35.410 --> 05:37.400 and telling em what had happened 05:37.400 --> 05:39.750 and what the expectation of the American people 05:39.790 --> 05:41.900 is for them as US Marines. 05:41.900 --> 05:44.450 To making every Marine from myself 05:44.450 --> 05:46.080 down to every Marine who joins 05:46.400 --> 05:49.330 sign a what we call a page 11, 05:49.890 --> 05:51.820 something administrative in your record book 05:51.820 --> 05:53.720 that you acknowledge that you've read the policy 05:53.720 --> 05:54.820 and you know what the rules are. 05:54.820 --> 05:57.014 Therefore if you violate those rules 05:57.014 --> 06:01.070 you're potentially subject to violation of the UCMJ. 06:01.750 --> 06:03.940 To talking to different groups 06:03.940 --> 06:06.250 to making sure that commanders understood 06:06.250 --> 06:08.970 what their responsibilities were. 06:08.970 --> 06:12.580 To changing fourth phase of recruit training 06:12.580 --> 06:14.670 to give young Marines 06:15.080 --> 06:16.870 some time to practice being Marines 06:16.870 --> 06:18.170 before they got out there. 06:18.540 --> 06:19.540 So I could go on. 06:19.960 --> 06:21.730 So when I was briefed the other day 06:21.730 --> 06:24.820 by the OSD task force on sexual assault 06:24.820 --> 06:27.550 obviously we were aware that we'd had a slight increase 06:27.550 --> 06:28.670 over the previous year 06:30.160 --> 06:32.540 and you have to decide what are the metrics you're 06:32.540 --> 06:34.410 gonna measure improvement. 06:35.260 --> 06:36.610 So they were actually saying this is 06:36.610 --> 06:38.360 good that more people are reporting. 06:38.360 --> 06:39.670 Cause to me the metric is 06:39.672 --> 06:42.660 do Marines have confidence in their chain of command 06:43.580 --> 06:44.530 and do they believe that 06:44.530 --> 06:46.540 the potential retribution goes down? 06:47.380 --> 06:48.720 So that's what we're trying to measure. 06:48.720 --> 06:50.520 So are we where we want to be? 06:50.960 --> 06:51.793 No. 06:53.700 --> 06:55.410 If that number continues to go up 06:55.730 --> 06:56.940 then I have to decide, 06:56.940 --> 06:58.650 we have to decide if that's because 06:58.650 --> 07:01.070 we still can't improve our behavior 07:01.070 --> 07:03.540 and our discipline or it's because people are reporting. 07:03.540 --> 07:06.080 Cause by all accounts everyone believes 07:06.080 --> 07:08.070 this is well under reported event. 07:09.140 --> 07:10.780 So am I happy where we are? 07:12.840 --> 07:13.690 It's been a year. 07:14.470 --> 07:15.920 I mean we're trying to change 07:17.370 --> 07:20.550 a culture that didn't start a year ago. 07:21.330 --> 07:24.290 And social media is something that's across the country. 07:25.360 --> 07:27.360 I'm not responsible for rest of the country 07:27.360 --> 07:29.260 but I think we should all be concerned 07:30.179 --> 07:31.280 with some of the negative things 07:31.280 --> 07:32.680 that happen on social media. 07:33.150 --> 07:34.420 So we continue to monitor it, 07:34.420 --> 07:35.830 we still continue to pay attention 07:35.830 --> 07:37.820 and continue to hold people accountable 07:38.450 --> 07:40.510 no matter what their rank or status is. 07:41.020 --> 07:41.990 And that's the bottom line. 07:41.990 --> 07:43.040 We're all accountable 07:43.040 --> 07:45.350 and if we're aware of an allegation 07:45.350 --> 07:46.520 we're gonna investigate it 07:46.520 --> 07:48.800 and if it's substantiated the individuals involved 07:48.800 --> 07:50.050 will be held accountable. 07:50.060 --> 07:51.840 - I'm gonna add a punctuation on that 07:51.840 --> 07:54.590 because I think this is a tremendously important issue. 07:54.970 --> 07:56.720 Having been here only for nine months 07:56.720 --> 07:58.910 I can tell you that we do hold ourselves 07:58.910 --> 08:01.900 in a higher level than the American public 08:01.900 --> 08:04.260 because we are the military that represents 08:04.260 --> 08:05.560 the country going forward. 08:05.810 --> 08:07.440 But having seen the resources 08:07.480 --> 08:09.800 and the products that we have in place 08:09.800 --> 08:12.230 to battle this cancerous issue, 08:12.870 --> 08:15.260 I will entertain sharing that with any college, 08:15.410 --> 08:17.310 university or company that wants to see 08:17.310 --> 08:18.920 what we're doing because I believe we have 08:18.920 --> 08:20.670 one of the best products out there. 08:21.380 --> 08:22.870 - Can I just, just a quick follow up. 08:22.870 --> 08:24.900 Do you know if either the Navy or the Marine Corps 08:24.900 --> 08:28.800 has disciplined anyone under the new social media policies 08:28.800 --> 08:30.740 that were put together last year? 08:30.740 --> 08:31.573 - Yes. 08:31.600 --> 08:32.900 I can get you the numbers. 08:34.120 --> 08:35.310 But this isn't about 08:37.380 --> 08:39.670 counting coo or hanging scalps. 08:39.874 --> 08:41.950 What you want to make people understand is 08:41.950 --> 08:42.783 hey look, 08:42.783 --> 08:43.616 this is about respect, 08:43.616 --> 08:44.880 it's about recognition of 08:46.830 --> 08:47.880 a Marine is a Marine. 08:48.230 --> 08:51.130 You're evaluated based on your performance as a Marine. 08:52.000 --> 08:54.940 But just in the civil world 08:55.320 --> 08:58.010 there are behaviors that are going on out there 08:58.010 --> 09:00.760 that try sometimes we recruit from the American people. 09:01.210 --> 09:02.980 And we have to teach people that 09:03.070 --> 09:04.550 we have a different standard 09:04.950 --> 09:06.700 for your behavior and your conduct. 09:06.720 --> 09:08.270 And if they don't understand it 09:08.610 --> 09:11.320 then they're going to have to be held accountable 09:11.320 --> 09:12.990 and if necessary they're gonna leave. 09:13.520 --> 09:14.550 - Yeah I'll just jump on to this. 09:14.550 --> 09:15.430 Same thing with the Navy. 09:15.430 --> 09:18.260 It's really the accountability part 09:18.260 --> 09:20.760 is certainly one of the aspects of this 09:20.760 --> 09:22.390 but there is a cultural change 09:22.390 --> 09:23.740 that we're trying to create 09:23.940 --> 09:26.290 where you gotta depend on your team mate, 09:26.290 --> 09:27.580 your ship mate for your life. 09:27.580 --> 09:30.030 That's the thing that should really drive behavior, 09:30.030 --> 09:30.863 mutual respect. 09:31.430 --> 09:34.340 We've really aimed our signature behavior program 09:34.340 --> 09:35.740 at the small unit level, 09:35.740 --> 09:36.750 small unit leaders. 09:36.750 --> 09:38.860 That's where we think there's gonna be 09:39.010 --> 09:40.610 potential for a lot of progress. 09:41.060 --> 09:43.875 So that's completely support 09:43.875 --> 09:46.390 the Commandant's approach there. 09:46.940 --> 09:48.470 - Thanks Captain Hicks. 09:48.890 --> 09:52.240 So last week Vice Admiral Ocquain raised some issues 09:52.240 --> 09:53.450 in a proceedings article 09:54.320 --> 09:57.200 concerning the CR and SRR and some of the shortcomings 09:57.200 --> 10:00.700 that he felt weren't adequately addressed. 10:00.700 --> 10:02.120 I don't want to raise those concerns here 10:02.120 --> 10:03.790 but what I do want to ask is, 10:05.080 --> 10:06.010 setting aside the concerns, 10:06.010 --> 10:07.520 what does it say about the system 10:07.520 --> 10:09.470 that your leaders seem to operate under 10:09.920 --> 10:11.870 if they feel like they have to wait until 10:11.870 --> 10:13.670 their retirement grade determination 10:13.730 --> 10:16.580 to speak out about issues like this that they care about. 10:16.600 --> 10:18.400 It feels like if there were issues 10:18.880 --> 10:22.260 that were addressed by the CR or SRR 10:23.070 --> 10:25.320 that his input and perhaps 10:25.720 --> 10:29.130 input earlier on might have led something. 10:29.130 --> 10:30.940 But it doesn't seem like he did until 10:30.940 --> 10:32.490 he waited until his retirement. 10:32.700 --> 10:33.860 - Let me answer your question 10:33.860 --> 10:38.350 and I'll also have the CNO weigh in if he desires. 10:39.410 --> 10:41.560 If you've heard my three priorities, 10:41.560 --> 10:44.510 they're people, capabilities and process. 10:44.510 --> 10:45.810 And if you've heard me make any of 10:45.810 --> 10:47.510 my presentations under people, 10:47.920 --> 10:50.570 people who are facing off issues have the best solutions. 10:50.570 --> 10:51.590 They should bring them forward. 10:51.590 --> 10:53.230 That is the standard that 10:53.230 --> 10:54.830 we're operating under right now. 10:56.597 --> 10:57.660 The fact of the matter is 10:57.660 --> 10:59.450 everyone has responsibilities to do 10:59.450 --> 11:02.480 what they can within their areas of responsibility. 11:03.050 --> 11:04.850 And we expect people to affect that. 11:06.510 --> 11:07.760 - I think I see it the same way. 11:07.760 --> 11:09.390 There's nothing that I'm aware of 11:09.390 --> 11:11.300 that would have prohibited him from speaking up. 11:11.300 --> 11:13.420 In fact he had plenty of opportunity 11:13.420 --> 11:14.570 when he was in command. 11:15.290 --> 11:16.910 We read that article and 11:17.110 --> 11:18.590 really there wasn't a whole lot new 11:18.590 --> 11:20.770 that isn't covered by the CR and SRR. 11:20.990 --> 11:23.460 So I think we're in a pretty good spot there. 11:24.153 --> 11:24.986 - Do you think the culture some how 11:24.986 --> 11:29.160 limits or discourages senior officers from speaking out 11:30.230 --> 11:32.690 publicly at the very least about issues like this? 11:32.690 --> 11:33.523 - No I don't think so. 11:33.523 --> 11:34.356 - Not at all. 11:35.300 --> 11:37.460 - Yes I thank you gentlemen very much 11:37.460 --> 11:39.020 for giving this presentation. 11:39.040 --> 11:41.610 And my question has to do with the long war 11:41.610 --> 11:43.740 that this country's been in since 9/11. 11:44.280 --> 11:46.960 And it's specifically a question for General Neller. 11:48.693 --> 11:52.000 We've been fighting this war now 17 years long time. 11:52.630 --> 11:55.680 How do you understand the enemy that we're fighting? 11:55.680 --> 11:58.440 We call it radical Islam or the global jihad. 11:59.330 --> 12:01.910 Do you see people tend to think of it as 12:02.190 --> 12:04.460 one Islamic or a few Islamic characters 12:04.460 --> 12:06.060 and their crazy followers. 12:06.560 --> 12:09.590 But do you see intelligence agencies involved in that 12:09.780 --> 12:12.580 and specifically are intelligence agencies 12:12.580 --> 12:13.990 involved in radical Islam 12:13.990 --> 12:16.160 using and covertly supporting these people? 12:16.750 --> 12:18.890 And specifically in regards to ISIS, 12:20.110 --> 12:22.850 there was a very interesting article 12:22.850 --> 12:24.980 in the German magazine Der Spiegel 12:25.340 --> 12:26.800 about three years ago 12:27.210 --> 12:32.100 which said that the core of ISIS 12:32.110 --> 12:34.250 is the former Iraqi regime 12:34.260 --> 12:35.960 with this Islamic overlay. 12:36.330 --> 12:37.750 Is that something you would agree with 12:37.750 --> 12:39.550 or you have a different perspective? 12:41.970 --> 12:43.930 - I left Iraq in 2007. 12:45.570 --> 12:50.570 And clearly the ISIS Al Qaeda Iraq that we fought there 12:50.800 --> 12:54.500 did include former Saddam personnel. 12:55.030 --> 12:56.840 I can't tell you what it is now. 12:57.790 --> 12:59.910 And I don't think, it's not this, 12:59.910 --> 13:02.020 I think you gotta look country by country. 13:02.420 --> 13:04.190 What's going on in the Philippines, 13:04.560 --> 13:06.220 what's going on in Afghanistan, 13:06.510 --> 13:07.710 what's going on in Iraq, 13:07.810 --> 13:09.060 what's going on in Yemen, 13:09.060 --> 13:10.310 what's going on in Somalia, 13:10.310 --> 13:12.210 what's going on in Nigeria, Libya, 13:12.740 --> 13:16.710 Chad, Niger, Syria, Europe. 13:17.630 --> 13:18.980 It's not this, 13:20.590 --> 13:23.850 there's not a single thing other than 13:24.370 --> 13:25.990 them, whoever these people are, 13:25.990 --> 13:27.460 whether they're criminals, 13:27.880 --> 13:29.660 whether they are believers 13:29.660 --> 13:32.270 that they use Islam as you know, 13:32.270 --> 13:33.710 with Islam's being violated, 13:33.710 --> 13:35.060 that's my personal opinion. 13:35.750 --> 13:38.170 And that therefore you should come and help us 13:38.170 --> 13:43.170 because you're not being given the opportunity to worship 13:43.360 --> 13:45.460 or whatever or your land's being occupied. 13:46.230 --> 13:49.150 So at the end of the day 13:49.320 --> 13:50.520 that's very interesting. 13:52.050 --> 13:55.360 All I know is based on the information that we see. 13:55.710 --> 13:56.910 There's people out there 13:57.190 --> 13:59.490 that want to come to this country and hurt us. 14:00.590 --> 14:02.360 - Do you think if the United States did more 14:02.360 --> 14:04.950 in terms of its information operations 14:04.950 --> 14:07.870 and the way it presents this threat, 14:08.360 --> 14:09.890 say it regarding ISIS, 14:09.890 --> 14:10.920 to emphasize that they're 14:10.920 --> 14:13.350 former Iraqi regime officials involved? 14:13.680 --> 14:17.230 And if you say you live in France and you go join ISIS, 14:17.550 --> 14:19.550 you are in fact cannon fodder 14:20.040 --> 14:21.780 for these former Iraqi regime elements? 14:21.780 --> 14:23.150 That that would be a good approach information. 14:23.150 --> 14:24.470 - I think that people are already, 14:24.470 --> 14:25.620 I think, I'm not gonna, 14:25.680 --> 14:28.020 I don't know what the French information policy is 14:28.020 --> 14:29.910 or the German information or the Italian 14:29.910 --> 14:31.410 or the Spanish or the Belgian, 14:31.850 --> 14:33.470 who all have significant 14:33.868 --> 14:36.570 populations that came from this part of the world. 14:36.890 --> 14:38.460 But I believe they all use that 14:38.760 --> 14:39.730 as a say look, 14:40.120 --> 14:42.270 these people are not telling you the truth. 14:42.290 --> 14:43.490 You're not gonna go there 14:43.490 --> 14:44.940 and then many people that have come back 14:44.940 --> 14:46.190 and publicly stated that. 14:46.620 --> 14:48.130 And they're on the news and they're saying, 14:48.130 --> 14:49.890 hey this is not a true story, 14:49.890 --> 14:50.740 you're not there, 14:51.750 --> 14:52.930 they're using Islam 14:53.016 --> 14:56.950 to deceive you and take advantage of you. 14:57.040 --> 14:58.980 So I believe that's been happening 14:59.570 --> 15:01.050 but we also have to have, 15:01.050 --> 15:03.540 you're gonna be on the information highway, 15:03.860 --> 15:06.030 you have to have something that somebody's gonna read. 15:06.030 --> 15:07.070 We as Americans, 15:07.070 --> 15:08.460 we've tried very, very hard 15:08.790 --> 15:12.160 to message the populations to tell them 15:12.180 --> 15:14.172 what we believe is to their advantage 15:14.172 --> 15:15.330 that we're not there. 15:15.330 --> 15:16.210 We don't want their land, 15:16.210 --> 15:17.150 we're not gonna stay, 15:17.150 --> 15:18.830 we're not there to take anything. 15:19.350 --> 15:22.100 We're here to give you an opportunity to live in peace. 15:22.560 --> 15:24.450 But they have to be able to believe that 15:24.450 --> 15:25.800 and there's always a counter narrative. 15:25.800 --> 15:28.270 So the information fight goes on everyday. 15:29.350 --> 15:31.730 And we're continuing to try to be as effective 15:31.730 --> 15:33.930 as we can in that end space. 15:34.850 --> 15:37.910 We're probably gonna have a hard time being 15:38.010 --> 15:39.300 as effective as we would like 15:39.300 --> 15:41.050 but we're still fighting that fight. 15:41.670 --> 15:43.040 - This is for Admiral Richardson, 15:43.040 --> 15:44.220 also the Secretary. 15:44.960 --> 15:47.810 Admiral, back in November after the ship accidents 15:47.810 --> 15:49.110 in the Pacific you were asked 15:49.110 --> 15:51.750 are you worried there are too many officers 15:51.750 --> 15:53.400 out there in the fleet who simply 15:53.600 --> 15:55.150 don't know how to drive a ship. 15:55.940 --> 15:57.210 And you said we're doing these 15:57.210 --> 16:00.120 ready for sea assessments to determine that exactly. 16:00.980 --> 16:02.150 So six months later 16:02.150 --> 16:04.280 what have you learned from these assessments? 16:04.740 --> 16:07.680 Are there any problems with the basics? 16:08.075 --> 16:09.520 - Well I'll tell you what, 16:09.980 --> 16:11.400 whenever you look at something this close 16:11.400 --> 16:13.200 you always see areas of improvement. 16:14.486 --> 16:15.486 And I think that the 16:16.200 --> 16:18.560 steps and the measures laid out 16:18.560 --> 16:21.060 in what is sort of a comprehensive plan 16:21.060 --> 16:25.070 that includes not only the results and recommendations 16:25.070 --> 16:26.700 from the individual investigations 16:26.700 --> 16:27.910 in to each one of those incidents 16:27.910 --> 16:30.720 but also the systemic investigation 16:30.720 --> 16:32.920 we did by virtue of the comprehensive review 16:33.100 --> 16:34.810 and then the strategic readiness review 16:34.810 --> 16:35.960 that the Secretary did. 16:36.210 --> 16:39.150 We also rolled in all of the GAO reports 16:39.150 --> 16:40.660 and pretty much everything that we could 16:40.660 --> 16:43.700 get our arms around into a single comprehensive plan. 16:43.700 --> 16:45.100 When you look at all of that 16:45.310 --> 16:47.060 there's always ways that you can improve. 16:47.060 --> 16:49.320 So we're looking at individual training over the 16:49.320 --> 16:52.530 course of the career of those surface warfare officers. 16:52.920 --> 16:54.490 We're looking and that starts 16:54.490 --> 16:56.570 with their initial basic course. 16:57.280 --> 16:59.900 Looking to improve that through 17:00.300 --> 17:04.500 more challenging scenarios and simulators. 17:04.500 --> 17:06.050 Give them more chance to drive. 17:06.250 --> 17:08.160 And that goes up through command. 17:08.480 --> 17:11.060 And with increasing levels of difficulty 17:11.320 --> 17:14.500 and also increasing the levels of increasingly difficult 17:14.750 --> 17:16.050 assessments along the way. 17:16.940 --> 17:19.730 As well we're also looking in the fleet concentration areas 17:19.730 --> 17:23.660 to supplement that individual training with team training. 17:23.960 --> 17:25.700 So you get a chance to see 17:25.990 --> 17:28.590 how that particular bridge team operates. 17:28.600 --> 17:31.390 So you're always gonna sort of see ways 17:31.390 --> 17:32.650 you can improve. 17:33.580 --> 17:35.770 This is exactly along those lines. 17:36.460 --> 17:38.230 We're working very closely with 17:38.360 --> 17:39.193 the fleets, 17:40.010 --> 17:43.030 with the private sector and those folks 17:43.030 --> 17:44.490 who can provide that technology, 17:44.490 --> 17:46.590 and also the Congress to make sure that we 17:47.100 --> 17:49.570 get the funding to do that through the fit ups. 17:49.980 --> 17:52.400 - Any common problems, common themes 17:52.450 --> 17:55.390 in any of these shortfalls or training? 17:55.390 --> 17:56.650 What exactly was it? 17:57.150 --> 17:58.630 Were they getting to the ship too early 17:58.630 --> 18:00.550 before they were actually well trained? 18:00.770 --> 18:02.680 - I think that we found that the, 18:02.680 --> 18:05.390 I think that we found that we could do a little bit more 18:05.390 --> 18:08.520 in terms of giving them some basic ship driving skills 18:08.840 --> 18:10.790 before they report as a junior officer. 18:10.970 --> 18:12.060 - Why wasn't that done then? 18:12.060 --> 18:12.893 - What's that? 18:12.893 --> 18:13.726 - Why wasn't that done? 18:13.726 --> 18:15.310 - Well, it's, what do you mean? 18:16.040 --> 18:17.380 Being done right now. - It's basic ship driving. 18:17.380 --> 18:18.610 - Well you know it's like I said, 18:18.610 --> 18:21.110 every time you look you look for areas where you can improve 18:21.110 --> 18:22.010 and we found some. 18:22.110 --> 18:24.250 It's not like we hadn't looked at that 18:24.250 --> 18:25.360 and had done an assessment. 18:25.360 --> 18:28.410 At that time what we thought we were doing was appropriate. 18:29.210 --> 18:31.070 Since then we've learned that we could probably 18:31.070 --> 18:33.000 do a little bit more, technologies advance, 18:33.000 --> 18:33.940 those sorts of things. 18:33.940 --> 18:38.120 So it's really this spirit of continuing improvement 18:38.170 --> 18:40.040 and opportunity that we're looking at. 18:40.040 --> 18:41.480 - Does the Secretary want to add to this? 18:41.480 --> 18:42.313 - Yeah sure. 18:42.313 --> 18:44.950 If you look at what the CNO just said 18:44.950 --> 18:46.790 about what we corralled in to look at, 18:46.790 --> 18:51.310 it was a 140 or so recommendations, observations, steerage. 18:52.030 --> 18:55.160 We think we boiled it down to about 110 or so. 18:55.160 --> 18:57.370 There are 111 that we wanted to actually enact. 18:57.370 --> 18:59.620 We've enacted 20 of them, 78 percent. 19:00.010 --> 19:02.870 There are not, a lot of them are immediate 19:03.560 --> 19:07.400 remedies but just to make sure we manage expectations, 19:07.400 --> 19:08.900 a lot of these are cultural shifts. 19:08.900 --> 19:11.000 And one of them is the continuing learning 19:11.010 --> 19:12.630 that we really have to culturally get at. 19:12.630 --> 19:13.810 This isn't a one time, 19:13.810 --> 19:15.120 wow now we're gonna have someone 19:15.120 --> 19:17.520 drive a ship for five hours before they show up. 19:17.670 --> 19:18.503 This is gonna be, 19:18.503 --> 19:19.760 wow let's start with five, 19:19.760 --> 19:20.840 maybe it goes down to four, 19:20.840 --> 19:21.980 maybe it goes up to eight. 19:21.980 --> 19:24.420 We're gonna continually be in the learning process 19:24.420 --> 19:26.670 of what we can do to correct the root causes. 19:28.720 --> 19:29.553 - Thank you. 19:29.865 --> 19:30.698 A question for each of of the joint chiefs 19:30.698 --> 19:31.531 if I could please. 19:31.880 --> 19:35.140 Admiral, we've seen some pretty ugly allegations 19:35.140 --> 19:37.690 on Rear Admiral Jackson over the last couple weeks. 19:38.360 --> 19:40.660 A lot of it is not substantiated at this point 19:41.530 --> 19:44.550 and Secretary Mattis suggested that the IG might 19:44.570 --> 19:47.320 look at what to do with this over the last couple days. 19:47.600 --> 19:48.770 From a Navy perspective, 19:48.770 --> 19:51.070 do you see yourself referring this to Navy IG? 19:51.828 --> 19:53.430 And for the General please, 19:54.180 --> 19:55.013 there's a new book out 19:55.013 --> 19:56.060 and there's been a lot of discussion 19:56.060 --> 19:57.360 over the last couple years 19:57.960 --> 20:00.900 that kinda debate whether or not to fully gender integrate 20:01.900 --> 20:02.733 Parris Island. 20:03.570 --> 20:05.400 Where do you stand on that at this point? 20:05.400 --> 20:08.810 Is there any thought of changing things up 20:08.810 --> 20:10.850 or further integrating where we are now? 20:12.960 --> 20:14.160 - I guess I'll go first. 20:14.661 --> 20:15.494 The way that this happens 20:15.494 --> 20:17.440 by virtue of Admiral Jackson being a flag officer, 20:17.440 --> 20:19.410 the default organization would be DoD IG 20:19.410 --> 20:21.070 to look at those and so we're 20:21.070 --> 20:23.100 at the beginning stages of getting that done. 20:25.990 --> 20:28.670 - We train our recruits by platoons. 20:29.700 --> 20:31.710 And there's a federal statute that says 20:31.710 --> 20:34.740 you live with your same gender. 20:35.450 --> 20:37.450 Our drill instructors stay with their recruits 20:37.450 --> 20:40.020 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 20:40.020 --> 20:41.520 the entire time they're there. 20:42.120 --> 20:45.530 So I'm not considering having men and women 20:45.870 --> 20:48.860 live together in an open squad bay. 20:48.860 --> 20:50.300 And I'm not considering 20:50.670 --> 20:52.760 having Marine recruits fall out 20:53.500 --> 20:55.250 and go from one platoon to another. 20:55.980 --> 20:56.980 We train by platoon. 20:57.740 --> 20:59.810 So if you want to come down to Parris Island 20:59.810 --> 21:02.070 I will show you that after the first phase of training 21:02.070 --> 21:03.600 which lasts about three weeks, 21:04.280 --> 21:09.280 male and female platoons do almost 65 to 70 percent 21:09.290 --> 21:10.620 of their training together. 21:10.620 --> 21:12.140 Whether it be the rifle range, 21:12.470 --> 21:14.320 whether it be swim qualification, 21:14.320 --> 21:16.320 whether it be their fitness test, 21:16.320 --> 21:19.330 whether it be going to the battle skills training 21:19.330 --> 21:20.880 at the field training division, 21:21.050 --> 21:22.460 whether it be the Crucible. 21:22.870 --> 21:24.700 And the last now fourth phase 21:24.700 --> 21:27.080 where they're actually sitting in classroom 21:27.080 --> 21:29.770 where we will have them sitting next to each other. 21:30.090 --> 21:32.430 Because that's what happens the rest of the time. 21:32.560 --> 21:36.220 So we do this because this is the way we believe 21:36.300 --> 21:38.400 is the most effective way to make Marines. 21:38.430 --> 21:39.930 We don't do it in any other reason. 21:39.930 --> 21:42.540 We don't do it to disadvantage women. 21:42.670 --> 21:45.190 Quite frankly we do it to advantage women. 21:45.190 --> 21:48.950 We want em focused on learning how to be a Marine. 21:49.620 --> 21:51.060 And so the answer to your question, 21:51.060 --> 21:53.020 am I considering any changes right now? 21:53.400 --> 21:54.233 No. 21:57.510 --> 21:59.850 - I have another CR and SRR question for you two. 21:59.850 --> 22:01.800 One of the issues that came up 22:01.800 --> 22:03.420 was the length of time that some of the ships 22:03.420 --> 22:05.750 had spent forward deployed in the FDNF fleet. 22:05.750 --> 22:07.410 I understand that about half of them 22:07.410 --> 22:08.960 have been there longer than 10 years 22:08.960 --> 22:10.620 and one as long as 23 years. 22:10.900 --> 22:12.380 So I was wondering in the aftermath of both of 22:12.380 --> 22:14.310 those reports how you guys are looking at 22:14.310 --> 22:15.630 potentially bringing some of those ships 22:15.630 --> 22:18.090 back stateside and what the readiness concerns are 22:18.090 --> 22:20.360 and also if you could just update generally 22:20.360 --> 22:22.660 on the CR and SRR implementation? 22:23.290 --> 22:24.123 - Sure. 22:24.123 --> 22:25.540 We had already decided before 22:26.010 --> 22:29.248 the CR and SRR early last year that 22:29.248 --> 22:32.780 that plan was starting to show some 22:32.780 --> 22:33.640 weaknesses already. 22:33.640 --> 22:35.740 So we had already decided to rotate em back Megan 22:35.740 --> 22:39.050 in terms of about every eight years. 22:39.050 --> 22:40.140 So nobody will be deployed. 22:40.140 --> 22:41.460 Now it'll take us some time 22:41.460 --> 22:42.710 to transition into that 22:42.710 --> 22:44.310 so that we get on to this eight year cycle 22:44.310 --> 22:46.360 but we'll do that as briskly as possible. 22:46.520 --> 22:47.920 And we're really seeing that 22:48.520 --> 22:50.370 some of the deep maintenance issues 22:50.400 --> 22:52.780 we're having trouble addressing those 22:53.170 --> 22:55.080 at the SRF and the QC. 22:55.080 --> 22:58.780 They're absolutely superb working team 22:59.120 --> 23:02.070 but it's hard to get into some of the deeper maintenance. 23:03.160 --> 23:04.120 - Is there a plan in place 23:04.120 --> 23:05.590 to get some of those older ships back? 23:05.590 --> 23:06.440 - There is. Yeah. 23:08.493 --> 23:10.720 - Admiral Richardson, thank you. 23:11.440 --> 23:12.640 I would like to ask you, 23:12.790 --> 23:17.010 how do you assess Iran's behavior 23:17.480 --> 23:20.230 in the Persian Gulf in the recent month? 23:20.230 --> 23:24.330 Have you seen any unsafe, unprofessional actions 23:24.455 --> 23:26.160 by the Iranian Navy? 23:26.720 --> 23:30.130 - We've seen generally fewer provocative actions 23:30.130 --> 23:32.980 by the Iranians in the Persian Gulf recently. 23:33.760 --> 23:35.800 - This is the last few month or it's un? 23:36.540 --> 23:37.990 - Yeah last six months or so. 23:39.170 --> 23:40.003 - Thank you. 23:40.590 --> 23:43.150 - Thanks. Sir the Pentagon today announced 23:43.150 --> 23:45.140 that it was gonna ban mobile phones 23:45.750 --> 23:47.520 to Chinese companies. 23:48.010 --> 23:49.650 What were your recommendations on this 23:49.650 --> 23:51.680 and why'd you make those recommendations? 23:52.120 --> 23:55.190 - Well the mobile phone ban was more due to 23:55.710 --> 23:57.580 location devices than anything else. 23:57.580 --> 23:58.880 The ability to be located. 24:00.420 --> 24:02.540 I think you probably heard the story 24:03.410 --> 24:06.880 concerning Chinese manufacturers that we talked about 24:07.150 --> 24:10.160 during the testimony period which was a contract that we let 24:10.160 --> 24:11.260 that we put a hold on. 24:11.810 --> 24:13.980 That addresses more Chinese manufacturers 24:13.980 --> 24:15.850 than it does the cell phone issue 24:15.850 --> 24:17.800 but it's more a location device concern 24:17.900 --> 24:19.480 than a listening device concern. 24:19.480 --> 24:21.130 - Would it be fair to extrapolate 24:21.570 --> 24:24.680 the idea that perhaps there's other devices 24:24.680 --> 24:28.100 like this that's not necessarily Chinese companies but 24:28.320 --> 24:31.630 devices generally that we talked about Fitbit earlier here 24:31.630 --> 24:32.463 in the Pentagon. 24:32.463 --> 24:34.020 There hasn't been a decision on that. 24:34.330 --> 24:36.550 But generally throughout the, would that be fair? 24:36.550 --> 24:37.870 - That would be a fair assessment. 24:37.870 --> 24:38.720 - Okay thank you. 24:41.235 --> 24:43.390 - Sir I wanted to follow up on Joe's question 24:43.390 --> 24:45.520 in regards to Iranian activity. 24:46.370 --> 24:48.790 What do you attribute that drop to? 24:48.990 --> 24:52.850 Is it a cause of the current debate that's going on 24:52.880 --> 24:54.000 regarding nuclear deal, 24:54.000 --> 24:55.270 are there other issues at play here 24:55.270 --> 24:57.140 why you're seeing this sort of drop? 24:57.140 --> 25:00.040 And I have a second a follow up question for General Neller. 25:00.280 --> 25:01.870 - Yeah it'd be pure speculation 25:01.870 --> 25:04.630 and so I just respond to the behavior that I see. 25:06.050 --> 25:08.407 - General Neller, regards to Afghanistan with the 25:08.407 --> 25:10.520 annual fighting season about to start, 25:11.090 --> 25:12.860 your forces in southern Afghanistan 25:12.860 --> 25:14.580 there were some incidents this week. 25:14.960 --> 25:16.540 What's your sort of take on 25:16.820 --> 25:18.540 how you sort of see things playing out 25:18.540 --> 25:20.250 under the new strategy by the White House 25:20.250 --> 25:23.580 and what sort of measures can be taken on the ground 25:23.580 --> 25:25.730 to sort of implement that more effectively? 25:32.230 --> 25:35.050 - I don't like talking about the Marines in Afghanistan 25:35.050 --> 25:38.970 because I don't want to draw any more attention to them 25:38.970 --> 25:41.320 because you and I know that they've been 25:41.320 --> 25:43.170 reasonably effective tactically. 25:45.185 --> 25:50.185 But that's a small part of it. 25:50.790 --> 25:51.870 At the end of the day 25:52.740 --> 25:54.440 back to the long war discussion, 25:55.400 --> 25:57.520 there's gonna have to be a political settlement. 25:58.800 --> 26:01.670 And all the efforts to reconcile with the Taliban 26:02.080 --> 26:04.590 through the Afghan government I think we all 26:04.590 --> 26:06.790 fully support because at the end of the day 26:08.250 --> 26:10.450 they're fighting us, they have their agenda. 26:10.620 --> 26:12.820 We're there to support the Afghan government 26:13.260 --> 26:16.020 and they're gonna have to be convinced 26:16.020 --> 26:19.020 or decide on their own that there's a better way to do this. 26:19.050 --> 26:20.110 They've been fighting 26:21.390 --> 26:24.090 what 40 years? 26:26.830 --> 26:31.170 And so we're hopeful that 26:31.170 --> 26:33.310 we can support the Afghan military 26:33.310 --> 26:35.380 and the governor in Helmand 26:36.020 --> 26:38.440 and the local police and the national police 26:38.440 --> 26:41.400 and that we can create a secure environment 26:41.430 --> 26:43.480 so that the Afghans can have an election. 26:44.470 --> 26:49.240 And that possibly there'll be significant enough programs 26:49.240 --> 26:53.370 so that those Taliban who think there might be a better way 26:53.370 --> 26:54.940 to live their lives than continue 26:54.940 --> 26:56.640 to have their young men get killed 26:58.420 --> 27:00.730 being led by people that aren't even there in the fight. 27:00.730 --> 27:02.130 They live in other countries 27:02.720 --> 27:04.140 and that are convincing them that 27:04.140 --> 27:05.380 this is the right thing to do 27:05.380 --> 27:08.130 when really all they're doing is making money on drugs. 27:09.812 --> 27:13.930 We talk about the terrorists call themselves 27:14.040 --> 27:15.830 they're the freedom fighters, they're the mujahideen. 27:15.830 --> 27:16.663 They're not, 27:17.050 --> 27:17.950 they're criminals. 27:18.820 --> 27:21.360 I think the Arabic word is takfiri. 27:22.220 --> 27:23.180 They're apostates. 27:23.880 --> 27:25.130 They hide behind Islam. 27:25.870 --> 27:26.970 They sell drugs, 27:26.970 --> 27:28.270 they kill innocent people. 27:29.380 --> 27:30.630 That's not what Islam is. 27:31.700 --> 27:34.100 The Afghan Army and the America, 27:34.120 --> 27:35.170 we're the mujahideen. 27:36.600 --> 27:37.650 We're the mujahideen. 27:38.850 --> 27:39.800 That's the message. 27:40.700 --> 27:42.240 And maybe they'll get tired of this 27:42.240 --> 27:44.490 and they'll decide that there's a better way. 27:44.740 --> 27:46.920 And then we can move on to something else. 27:48.645 --> 27:50.724 - Thank you. Tara Copp, Military Times. 27:50.724 --> 27:54.730 We recently did an in depth look at the aviation accidents 27:55.120 --> 27:57.630 across the services and the Navy and the Marine Corps 27:57.630 --> 28:01.000 really bore the brunt of the biggest increases in accidents. 28:01.000 --> 28:03.110 After that we heard from multiple families 28:03.110 --> 28:05.100 that were concerned that 28:05.250 --> 28:07.570 both the Navy and Marine Corps continue to put 28:07.690 --> 28:09.920 their aviators in the air 28:10.000 --> 28:11.900 without the proper flight training hours 28:11.900 --> 28:14.000 with aircraft that aren't fully ready. 28:15.050 --> 28:17.000 What can you say to those families that 28:17.490 --> 28:20.970 really wonder if there's a can't say no culture 28:20.970 --> 28:22.150 in both the Navy and Marine Corps 28:22.150 --> 28:24.720 that continues to send aviators out 28:24.720 --> 28:27.570 even if they're not ready or their aircraft aren't ready. 28:29.050 --> 28:29.883 - I'll speak for the Navy. 28:29.883 --> 28:33.140 We don't, these are controlled by strict regulations. 28:33.970 --> 28:36.220 We're not violating any of those regulations. 28:36.330 --> 28:38.710 Those aircraft that we send pilots up in 28:38.830 --> 28:40.360 are fully certified to fly. 28:41.340 --> 28:42.290 The pilots that are 28:43.140 --> 28:45.630 we send in to fly them are fully certified 28:45.920 --> 28:47.670 for the missions that they conduct. 28:48.350 --> 28:52.290 And so now we have been adjusting flight hours. 28:52.290 --> 28:53.860 Those are back on the rise 28:54.180 --> 28:55.220 with the increased readiness. 28:55.220 --> 28:58.170 But we're not sending people into the air 28:58.170 --> 29:00.140 and aircraft or pilots that are unprepared 29:00.140 --> 29:01.540 for the missions that they take. 29:01.540 --> 29:02.420 - And let's look at the data. 29:02.420 --> 29:03.470 The data that you're talking about, 29:03.470 --> 29:05.260 accidents include A, Bs an Cs. 29:05.690 --> 29:08.430 As is not that, we look at five year average. 29:08.430 --> 29:09.620 We're not out of the norm at all. 29:09.620 --> 29:10.453 Cs were up. 29:10.453 --> 29:12.270 Is that an leading indicator that we should be looking at? 29:12.270 --> 29:13.103 Most definitely. 29:13.120 --> 29:14.262 - Cs being the more minor accidents. 29:14.262 --> 29:16.010 - Cs I'm taking for granted. 29:16.010 --> 29:17.222 No yes, exactly. 29:17.222 --> 29:20.950 It's a dollar weighted lower least amount of damage, 29:21.230 --> 29:22.980 towing accidents, things like that. 29:23.570 --> 29:24.890 I can only reverberate 29:25.520 --> 29:28.490 what the CNO said when it comes to training and parance. 29:30.290 --> 29:31.290 - We're flying more. 29:31.570 --> 29:33.770 So we can't get better if we don't fly more. 29:36.220 --> 29:37.590 The aircraft we're flying, 29:37.800 --> 29:39.250 they've been certified and 29:39.460 --> 29:40.460 they're ready to go. 29:42.860 --> 29:44.800 We're not flying aircraft that aren't safe. 29:44.800 --> 29:45.950 And if there's an issue 29:47.340 --> 29:49.210 there's procedure that they're trained to do 29:49.210 --> 29:50.680 to try to get to a safe place. 29:50.680 --> 29:53.350 And we've done a number of precautionary landings. 29:53.950 --> 29:55.120 And that's what I expect them to do. 29:55.120 --> 29:56.610 I'd rather have a precautionary landing 29:56.610 --> 29:58.960 than a mishap. 30:00.836 --> 30:04.240 But so I can show you the numbers are up 30:04.240 --> 30:06.840 by model type series and 30:06.840 --> 30:08.000 there was story out there today 30:08.000 --> 30:09.680 that that's just the forward deployed forces. 30:09.680 --> 30:11.380 It's not, I went back and checked. 30:11.420 --> 30:13.570 Actually the home station forces are flying 30:13.750 --> 30:16.020 in some cases more than the forward deployed forces. 30:16.020 --> 30:17.900 So and why is that? 30:18.220 --> 30:20.050 Well because for the last two years 30:20.050 --> 30:22.530 we finally got sustained, consistent funding and 30:22.530 --> 30:23.580 we got a part stream. 30:23.790 --> 30:26.190 The number one reason aircraft are not ready 30:26.190 --> 30:27.710 is because their short parts. 30:29.850 --> 30:31.860 And now we're starting to get the parts. 30:32.890 --> 30:34.018 And so we're in the middle of, 30:34.018 --> 30:36.160 the Marine Corps is in the middle of transitioning 30:36.160 --> 30:38.210 every model type series aircraft we have. 30:38.510 --> 30:39.540 So there's a training period 30:39.540 --> 30:40.940 and you're flying a new airplane, 30:40.940 --> 30:43.820 except the CH53 which hopefully will transition to the K 30:43.820 --> 30:45.320 here in the next couple years. 30:45.880 --> 30:48.170 So we know we need to fly more, 30:48.230 --> 30:51.150 we know we need to have consistent parts support 30:52.120 --> 30:53.870 and we're working through all that. 30:54.390 --> 30:56.190 So last year we had a horrible year. 30:56.710 --> 30:57.860 We had a horrible year. 30:58.360 --> 31:00.270 And my heart goes out to the families 31:00.270 --> 31:02.020 that lost a Marine. 31:02.020 --> 31:05.290 In one case we had a sailor and 15 Marines on a C130. 31:06.460 --> 31:08.500 And those families were all briefed. 31:08.500 --> 31:09.800 They were told the reason, 31:10.740 --> 31:12.970 what we believe happened in that particular mishap, 31:12.970 --> 31:14.240 just like the families were told 31:14.240 --> 31:16.740 in every other mishap we had where we lost a life. 31:17.300 --> 31:20.810 In some, like the 53 we had at El Centro the other day, 31:20.810 --> 31:21.643 we don't know yet. 31:21.643 --> 31:23.610 We've recovered what we could of the airplane, 31:23.610 --> 31:25.000 we got in the air at Miramar 31:25.000 --> 31:27.250 and we're trying to figure out what happened. 31:31.617 --> 31:33.970 And so we're trying to get better, 31:33.970 --> 31:34.930 we're trying to improve, 31:34.930 --> 31:36.180 we're trying to fly more. 31:36.900 --> 31:39.580 And right now we're doing that. 31:41.340 --> 31:42.840 We're being as safe as we can. 31:43.430 --> 31:45.320 As the Secretary and the CNO mentioned, 31:45.320 --> 31:47.150 class Cs, the kind of minor stuff 31:47.676 --> 31:48.960 that doesn't cause a, 31:49.220 --> 31:51.700 normally doesn't cause loss of life, 31:52.370 --> 31:54.030 that's reduced the number of airplanes we have. 31:54.030 --> 31:55.400 That's the stuff we got to fix too. 31:55.400 --> 31:56.710 Cause we want to be able to fly more. 31:56.710 --> 31:57.730 Cause if we fly more, 31:57.730 --> 31:59.180 we should become more skilled 31:59.600 --> 32:01.650 and we should have fewer Class As. 32:02.020 --> 32:03.390 - But just to make sure that you all 32:03.390 --> 32:04.560 understand something here. 32:04.560 --> 32:06.600 Filling up a part bin does not happen 32:06.600 --> 32:09.500 in one fiscal year cycle. 32:10.080 --> 32:11.930 We need to send the signal to industry 32:11.930 --> 32:14.140 that we need the parts on a consistent basis 32:14.140 --> 32:16.490 so they make the investments to make the parts. 32:16.800 --> 32:19.080 And that's the most important take away here. 32:19.080 --> 32:21.270 Is we have to have consistent funding 32:21.940 --> 32:24.310 to do our mission in the most effective 32:24.310 --> 32:25.360 and efficient manner. 32:26.483 --> 32:27.830 - General if I could just follow up. 32:27.830 --> 32:29.920 You mentioned the KC130 from last year. 32:29.920 --> 32:31.930 Today there's another C130 that crashed. 32:31.930 --> 32:33.460 It was an Air Force asset. 32:33.980 --> 32:37.680 In general, can we attribute this uptick in accidents 32:37.680 --> 32:39.260 to a lack of funding? 32:39.260 --> 32:40.540 We hear that a lot on Capitol Hill 32:40.540 --> 32:41.630 and I understand that some of these 32:41.630 --> 32:42.900 investigations are on going, 32:42.900 --> 32:44.130 especially all these helicopters 32:44.130 --> 32:45.940 that we lost in March and April. 32:46.320 --> 32:47.740 What's the correlation there 32:47.740 --> 32:49.000 and can you sort of lay it out 32:49.000 --> 32:52.872 what you guys think the lack of funding has to do with it? 32:52.872 --> 32:54.760 - I'll go first here 32:54.760 --> 32:57.160 and then defer obviously to the CNO and CMC 32:57.160 --> 33:00.080 but there is not enough data right now 33:00.100 --> 33:02.400 to tell you that there's an exact correlation. 33:03.210 --> 33:05.120 I will make the observation that 33:05.720 --> 33:09.000 one we are training people to the requirements necessary. 33:09.370 --> 33:12.210 Those additive hours that people have in the cockpit 33:12.210 --> 33:14.440 or doing their jobs are only going to help. 33:14.830 --> 33:16.670 So now we have the funds to do that. 33:17.400 --> 33:19.820 But that's kind of brilliant flash of the obvious comment. 33:19.820 --> 33:22.370 I don't have data to give you a direct correlation. 33:23.360 --> 33:24.610 - I'm not gonna correlate 33:25.190 --> 33:26.090 I don't know what, 33:26.140 --> 33:28.090 there's two versions of the C130. 33:28.090 --> 33:29.260 I don't know what it was, 33:29.260 --> 33:31.640 I don't know what happened, I'm not gonna speculate. 33:31.730 --> 33:33.110 I think we have a pretty good idea 33:33.110 --> 33:35.720 what happened to our airplane last year. 33:37.470 --> 33:38.800 In that particular case, 33:40.160 --> 33:41.740 I'm not sure funding would have 33:42.000 --> 33:43.000 changed the outcome. 33:43.140 --> 33:44.420 And I'm not gonna talk about it 33:44.420 --> 33:46.020 because the family's just been informed. 33:46.020 --> 33:47.470 Actually we're coming up on a 33:47.740 --> 33:48.900 anniversary of that. 33:51.870 --> 33:54.220 But that was a mechanical issue. 33:54.400 --> 33:56.550 - But in general you see you guys are saying 33:56.550 --> 33:57.990 that there's really no link between, 33:57.990 --> 33:59.550 because we hear this on Capitol Hill all the time. 33:59.550 --> 34:01.560 It's the lack of funding that's causing these accidents. 34:01.560 --> 34:03.470 And you guys are saying there isn't the data to support it. 34:03.470 --> 34:05.210 - No I think the funding is affecting 34:05.210 --> 34:06.950 the number of airplanes that are ready 34:06.950 --> 34:08.700 and the number of hours we can fly. 34:09.530 --> 34:11.820 So we've been at this, 34:11.950 --> 34:13.690 this just didn't happen overnight. 34:15.100 --> 34:16.950 When was the budget control, 34:16.950 --> 34:18.720 I'm not gonna blame anybody on this, 34:18.720 --> 34:23.720 but we went to BCA what 2012, 2013, 2011? 34:25.590 --> 34:28.450 So we've been on CR the last eight, nine years. 34:28.450 --> 34:30.080 We had a government shutdown. 34:30.780 --> 34:34.530 We didn't fund aviation readiness to the amount that we 34:35.270 --> 34:37.920 probably should have because the money was, 34:38.010 --> 34:42.400 we were in this kind of financial fiscal reduction. 34:42.710 --> 34:44.760 Okay there were decisions that were made. 34:46.904 --> 34:48.630 We've got a backlog of maintenance. 34:48.630 --> 34:50.870 We got airplanes now coming out of depot. 34:51.230 --> 34:52.640 The Secretary went down there. 34:52.640 --> 34:54.170 There's some things going on at the depot 34:54.170 --> 34:55.570 where we were getting the airplane back 34:55.570 --> 34:57.370 and it wasn't in a position where it could fly. 34:57.370 --> 34:58.520 Now we've corrected that, 34:58.520 --> 35:01.040 that cost some money. 35:02.920 --> 35:04.310 And we're buying new airplanes. 35:04.310 --> 35:06.810 So the new planes has a higher level of readiness. 35:07.250 --> 35:08.780 It's not a single thing. 35:09.062 --> 35:10.720 And for pilots, 35:11.060 --> 35:13.680 if you've been a pilot 20 years ago 35:13.680 --> 35:15.910 if you were a senior Captain or a Major 35:15.910 --> 35:18.120 you probably had, I don't know, 35:18.350 --> 35:19.990 1200, 1500 hours. 35:20.510 --> 35:22.410 People that are senior Captains or Majors now 35:22.410 --> 35:24.900 they probably got 800 hours. 35:26.430 --> 35:28.840 So there's not one single thing. 35:28.840 --> 35:30.470 There's not one single thing that's, 35:30.470 --> 35:33.030 you can't say it's because of this. 35:33.180 --> 35:34.870 So we're looking at all these different things. 35:34.870 --> 35:37.080 We need more hours, we need better part support, 35:37.080 --> 35:38.260 we need new airplanes. 35:38.950 --> 35:40.790 We gotta improve our procedures. 35:41.210 --> 35:43.610 We gotta stop doing stuff on the ground 35:43.740 --> 35:46.640 that causes us to lose otherwise perfectly good airplanes. 35:47.080 --> 35:48.060 And we need to train. 35:48.060 --> 35:49.260 And it's a dangerous, 35:49.780 --> 35:51.080 it's a dangerous business. 35:54.669 --> 35:56.049 - Admiral Richardson, 35:56.049 --> 35:58.990 the US has a significant naval presence in Mediterranean. 35:59.420 --> 36:01.340 And also the tensions around the surrounding 36:01.340 --> 36:03.080 is increasing as you have seen. 36:03.330 --> 36:05.800 There's an escalating tension between Israel and Iran 36:05.800 --> 36:07.820 inside western Syria and there is also 36:07.820 --> 36:11.320 a tension between the Turks and Greeks around Cyprus. 36:11.720 --> 36:13.595 So to what extent are you concerned 36:13.595 --> 36:16.700 that you might be caught up in a active conflict 36:16.700 --> 36:18.600 between Iran and Syria in western, 36:18.710 --> 36:20.860 Iran and Israel in western Syria 36:20.860 --> 36:22.480 and then explore fact to you. 36:23.655 --> 36:25.080 And also to the tension between the 36:25.080 --> 36:28.780 Turks and the Greeks around in Cyprus? 36:29.930 --> 36:32.070 - Well the Turks and Greece situation is nothing new 36:32.070 --> 36:33.670 I don't think and so we've been, 36:34.580 --> 36:36.970 even inside of NATO it's a dynamic 36:37.000 --> 36:38.970 that always needs attention. 36:39.620 --> 36:41.430 But there is an increasing activity 36:42.123 --> 36:43.750 and I would agree with you some increasing tension 36:43.750 --> 36:44.750 in the eastern Mediterranean. 36:44.750 --> 36:46.120 It's one of the new dynamics 36:46.120 --> 36:50.410 in this situation that the National Defense Strategy 36:50.410 --> 36:53.220 talks about in terms of a great power competition. 36:53.220 --> 36:55.020 This is one of those manifestations. 36:56.813 --> 36:58.530 We're watching that very closely. 36:59.680 --> 37:03.470 By and large the interactions between United States 37:03.570 --> 37:06.340 and foreign vessels have been safe and professional. 37:07.550 --> 37:09.710 We want to make sure that we have these 37:09.710 --> 37:12.420 operational constructs in place to keep it that way 37:13.410 --> 37:18.100 as things get more activity and potentially more tension, 37:18.530 --> 37:21.060 we just want to make sure we're minimizing the 37:21.300 --> 37:23.800 opportunity or the risk of miscalculation. 37:26.800 --> 37:28.290 - There were reports earlier today that 37:28.290 --> 37:30.140 the Navy is no longer going to announce 37:30.140 --> 37:31.610 when it fires its commanders. 37:31.910 --> 37:33.320 We're wondering Admiral if you can walk us 37:33.320 --> 37:35.040 through your thinking on that? 37:35.060 --> 37:36.710 - Yeah I don't think that in the practice 37:36.710 --> 37:37.610 much is going to change. 37:37.610 --> 37:39.810 I think that's being over blown quite a bit. 37:39.880 --> 37:42.170 The thing that we value most of all is 37:42.300 --> 37:43.990 a relationship of trust and confidence, 37:43.990 --> 37:47.840 both within the ranks and our sailors 37:47.840 --> 37:49.040 are part of that audience. 37:49.040 --> 37:51.640 And then certainly with the American people as well. 37:52.750 --> 37:55.220 We wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that 37:55.743 --> 37:57.990 relationship of trust and confidence. 37:58.170 --> 38:01.390 I think there's perhaps more being made of that 38:01.396 --> 38:03.160 than you'll see in practice. 38:08.005 --> 38:11.279 - My question is to Admiral and General. 38:11.279 --> 38:15.975 It's been a year since the replacement facility construction 38:15.975 --> 38:17.290 finally started. 38:17.790 --> 38:21.350 So when do you expect construction is going to be over 38:21.560 --> 38:24.980 and at the same time FY 18 budget moves the 38:24.980 --> 38:27.800 ground date up so when's estimated 38:27.830 --> 38:32.830 to start relocating Marines from Okinawa to Guam? 38:33.980 --> 38:36.722 - Okay I'll defer to the Commandant on that. 38:36.722 --> 38:40.960 - Thank you. 38:40.960 --> 38:43.360 The Futenma replacement facility 38:44.430 --> 38:48.260 has been delayed off and on because of a number of things. 38:48.260 --> 38:53.260 Because of discussions between the Japanese government 38:53.800 --> 38:55.670 and the prefecture of Okinawa. 38:56.220 --> 38:59.780 And the efforts of the governor to, 39:00.290 --> 39:01.910 and I understand he's not well. 39:01.910 --> 39:04.170 Governor Onaga I wish him a speedy recovery. 39:06.430 --> 39:08.680 So there have been environmental issues, 39:08.680 --> 39:10.190 there have been other legal issues, 39:10.190 --> 39:12.140 there have been approval of landfill permits. 39:12.140 --> 39:15.130 But I believe that those things are finally resolved 39:15.130 --> 39:17.230 and so when I was there earlier this year 39:17.230 --> 39:19.700 you could see that the work was ongoing. 39:19.700 --> 39:21.550 There were still demonstrators there. 39:21.570 --> 39:25.590 So that will go on and now there's, 39:25.590 --> 39:27.220 we've had other issues 39:27.560 --> 39:30.450 in the Commonwealth of the Marianas 39:30.554 --> 39:32.420 and the training area 39:32.690 --> 39:35.060 because part of the understanding is 39:35.060 --> 39:38.330 Marines would go to Guam is they were able to train. 39:38.830 --> 39:41.830 And there are still some pending environmental issues there. 39:42.360 --> 39:44.380 So that said, 39:44.380 --> 39:45.640 the bottom line is 39:46.700 --> 39:47.850 the agreement that we're going to 39:47.850 --> 39:50.320 reduce the number of Marines on Okinawa, 39:50.860 --> 39:52.750 that the Futenma replacement facility 39:52.750 --> 39:54.160 is gonna be built at Schwab, 39:54.540 --> 39:56.240 that Marines are gonna go to Guam 39:57.200 --> 39:59.420 still remains the plan. 40:02.130 --> 40:04.530 The timeline obviously has slipped to the right. 40:05.150 --> 40:06.740 But we're committed to the plan 40:07.640 --> 40:08.780 and it's principles. 40:09.800 --> 40:12.700 And we're finally startin to see a little bit of progress. 40:13.060 --> 40:15.280 So as far as when 40:15.590 --> 40:17.740 the numbers will go down will depend on 40:18.120 --> 40:20.350 when there's facilities and training facilities 40:20.350 --> 40:23.080 for those Marines to use and occupy in Guam. 40:23.880 --> 40:25.720 The Futenma replacement facility 40:27.050 --> 40:28.100 is gonna take awhile. 40:30.240 --> 40:31.360 - Just following up on that. 40:31.360 --> 40:32.420 How do you ensure, 40:34.470 --> 40:38.500 you need to use Futenma until the construction 40:38.500 --> 40:39.350 is gonna be done. 40:39.590 --> 40:43.980 So how do you ensure the safety issues of Futenma Air Base. 40:44.210 --> 40:45.740 - Well the Japanese government, 40:45.740 --> 40:47.650 Futenma Air Base is very old. 40:48.520 --> 40:49.970 It goes back to World War II. 40:51.220 --> 40:52.450 And if you look at pictures, 40:52.450 --> 40:54.580 Futenma when it was built was 40:54.580 --> 40:58.440 there were no people living within several kilometers. 40:59.450 --> 41:02.250 Now the cities around Futenma are right up to the fence. 41:03.620 --> 41:08.620 So it would be helpful if the people that lived around there 41:10.340 --> 41:13.160 didn't point lasers at our airplanes 41:13.950 --> 41:17.320 or fly kites or balloons in the flight paths. 41:18.880 --> 41:20.830 Because that way we would have a better 41:21.280 --> 41:22.980 assurance that they would be safe. 41:24.200 --> 41:25.720 We want everybody to be safe. 41:26.570 --> 41:30.400 We're there because of a treaty with the government of Japan 41:30.900 --> 41:33.530 to assure the defense of Japan. 41:39.591 --> 41:41.041 We are happy to leave Futenma 41:41.820 --> 41:43.850 when we have a place to leave to go to. 41:44.930 --> 41:47.190 Until then we'll continue to operate 41:47.240 --> 41:48.520 and be as safe as we can. 41:49.430 --> 41:53.720 And that's why if our aircrews know 41:53.720 --> 41:55.120 that if they have a problem, 41:55.570 --> 41:58.570 they're instructed to land in a safe place, 41:59.440 --> 42:00.700 secure their airplane, 42:01.580 --> 42:04.220 and then we'll fix the airplane if there's a problem. 42:06.050 --> 42:08.710 So I would ask the Okinawan people 42:09.460 --> 42:12.860 to understand that we're doing this 42:13.400 --> 42:16.660 for the safety of our aircrew and for their safety. 42:17.160 --> 42:20.480 And they should be and I would ask their consideration, 42:20.480 --> 42:24.620 I know I've lived on Okinawa before with my family. 42:25.700 --> 42:28.320 And I know the great majority of Okinawan people 42:28.320 --> 42:30.330 appreciate the American presence there. 42:30.830 --> 42:33.360 And that the great great majority of us are good neighbors 42:33.360 --> 42:34.460 and we're good friends 42:34.490 --> 42:36.590 and we'll continue to do our very best 42:36.590 --> 42:39.340 to be good neighbors throughout Japan. 42:40.000 --> 42:41.100 - Last question Kevin. 42:41.260 --> 42:45.210 - Thank you, hopefully a quick one on transgender. 42:45.210 --> 42:47.790 Since the policy was changed at OSD 42:47.810 --> 42:50.720 we've heard from I think all of the Joint Chiefs 42:51.020 --> 42:52.826 some different, I'll paraphrase, version of 42:52.826 --> 42:55.230 you know what, there were no problems 42:55.230 --> 42:59.100 with transgender troops, to unit cohesion or to the mission. 42:59.300 --> 43:02.070 And so there's been some commentaries that suggests 43:03.427 --> 43:05.090 that OSD did not take the recommendations 43:05.090 --> 43:06.490 of the Chiefs on that issue. 43:07.662 --> 43:09.180 I just wanted to know if you wanted to address 43:09.240 --> 43:10.073 that commentary. 43:10.073 --> 43:11.810 Is that accurate or was there another way 43:11.810 --> 43:13.380 to characterize it from your perspective? 43:13.380 --> 43:16.480 - I think we've been fairly unwavering in our fact that 43:16.500 --> 43:18.200 any patriot that wants to serve 43:18.200 --> 43:20.780 and qualifies under the requirements that are at hand 43:20.780 --> 43:22.480 has a place in our services. 43:23.540 --> 43:26.610 Right now we have legal system in place 43:27.070 --> 43:28.900 that is entertaining all the arguments 43:28.900 --> 43:30.970 and until those arguments are concluded 43:31.760 --> 43:34.530 really I don't have anything else to address in that regard. 43:35.000 --> 43:35.833 - Thank y'all. 43:35.833 --> 43:36.666 Appreciate it. 43:36.960 --> 43:37.793 - Thank you. 43:38.180 --> 43:39.013 - Thank you.