My next observation is with respect to the demographics in this country and the shrinking pool of manpower and womanpower in the foreseeable future. The Corps has a famous slogan-"we need a few good men and women to continue to compete." But I hope that early-on, you begin to focus on what I foresee as a very competitive situation, absent any radical downturn in our economy, amongst the various military branches for the quality people that you are now receiving. Again, I just offer that by way of my observations. Senator WARNER. I only caught a part of Senator Glenn's observation about the Marine Corps and the reorganization act. Based on my experience, a good, strong Commandant, acting within the law, will protect the interests of the Corps. I have had the privilege of seeing you under very unusual circumstances. I know that you can handle yourself, and I do not anticipate that you will have one bit of difficulty, certainly with this Secretary, and I would hope with any future secretaries with whom you will serve. General GRAY. Thank you, Senator. Senator WARNER. I wish you well, you and your family. I presume that your family is very proud of you today. Senator WARNER. Well, your family will become very much a part of your sphere of responsibilities. Your wife, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting, is a wonderful lady. She will discharge her role with traditional excellence. It is a role which she has admirably filled throughout the years. I think this is a superb choice by the President, and I anticipate this committee will act, hopefully today, Mr. Chairman. Have you announced that? Senator BINGAMAN. The Chairman indicates that he is going to try to do that. When we are over on the floor for a vote, he is going to try to convene a quorum of the committee. General GRAY. Thank you, sir. Senator WARNER. Good luck to you, General, and my personal congratulations for coming to the attention of the President and the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy. I sat next to him last night, and we had a lengthy discussion about you. He said that you start off on very high ground with him as well. General GRAY. Thank you very much, Senator. Senator BINGAMAN. Senator Symms. Senator SYMMS. Mr. Chairman and General Gray, I share the comments made this morning by a lot of my colleagues. I believe this is a good choice for the Marine Corps. I think General Gray inherits a Marine Corps that is very well equipped and very proud. General, you certainly have the record, the reputation, and the capability to give a reinstilling of pride in the Marine Corps to the marines. I think that is really the good part about having someone who comes from the enlisted ranks go all the way to Commandant. It is a good example for young marines out there in the fleet, in the divisions, in the air wings. I just think it is an excellent opportunity for all of us to go back through and see how we are doing. If there are places where we can improve things, then let's improve them. And, where we are doing well, let's keep doing well. I think the Marine Corps is probably as good today as it has ever been, and it will probably be better in the future, as it should be. I look forward to moving this confirmation and to get this man in office. So, Semper Fi. Senator BINGAMAN. General, we appreciate your coming this morning. As Senator Nunn said, we will try to act very quickly on your confirmation and report it to the full Senate. We look forward to working with you. Thank you very much. [Questions for the hearing record, with answers supplied, follow:] QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR STROM THURMOND MARINE CORPS GOALS Senator THURMOND. General Gray, what are your priority goals for the Marine Corps as its Commandant? General GRAY. Senator, the primary goal of the Marine Corps is to provide this Nation with a power projection force capable of operating across the spectrum of conflict. The Marine Corps seeks to meet the strategic needs of the Nation in the above context. In doing so, the Marine Corps is going to formally link service planning with the national military strategy in order to produce tailored forces for a unified effort. The emphasis on these strategic needs has caused us to reexamine and refine our Marine Air-Ground Task Force doctrine. We seek that doctrine which complements joint doctrine and contributes to joint and combined operations. To ensure that this Nation always has the ability to project ground combat power overseas, we are continually seeking the application of modern technology in the conduct of amphibious operations. Power projection requires strategic mobility and forcible entry. It is amphibious shipping which provides these two capabilities. The Marine Corps continues to support the maintenance and improvement of amphibious lift. Inherent in every successful operation is the ability to act before the enemy can respond. One major way is through maneuver. We are, therefore, seeking to improve our tactical mobility necessary to facilitate maneuver. The successful execution of our operations depend upon extensive practice or training. Our goal is to ensure that we conduct well-integrated combined-arms training with all required forces to include those of other services. In projecting our forces into a combat environment, we expect all marines to function under a continuous threat. Our goal, therefore, is to provide essential combat skills to all marines as a part of their standard training. We will have to be able to do the entire surveillance reconnaissance and target acquisition function. This includes the entire signal intelligence/electronic warfare area and all that it involves better and quicker than the enemy we may meet. The true essence of the Marine Corps has historically been found in our values. We therefore seek to reinforce these values which have won us the precious respect and confidence of the American people. Excellence in almost every aspect of our operations depends upon highly disciplined and educated marines. We therefore seek a quality force, led by those who have successfully demonstrated their leadership abilities. The goal of DOD and the intent of the DOD Reorganization Act is to ensure synergy in joint operations. Our personnel goal in this respect is to provide the most qualified officers for joint service. The Marine Corps has been successful because it has possessed the foresight and vision necessary to anticipate the future needs of the Nation with respect to our mission. For this purpose we seek to expand the role of the Marine Corps Development and Education Command at Quantico, Virginia. It will become even more active in the development and integration of concepts, doctrine, and systems requirements necessary for the conduct of tomorrow's operations. It is apparent that success on the ground will depend on our use of space. Our goal is to continue the application of existing space capabilities in Marine operations and actively search for innovative new applications of future space technologies in warfighting. We will continue to seek ways to improve the quality-of-life efforts for our marines and sailors. They continue to be our most precious resource in this complex and violent age. As always, we will take care of our own! We must improve our understanding of the art, as well as the science, of war. Maneuver, and the thought processes that go with the practice and execution of "winning through combinations of maneuver and firepower," must be improved. In this context, our strategic and tactical mobility must be "second to none" if we are to exploit our unique versatility across a wide spectrum of contingencies and crisis situations. In summary, Senator Thurmond and distinguished members of this committee, our fundamental goal is to have a total force-active and reserve-that is fully prepared tonight to help our great Nation meet her national security objectives. We believe that the Nation, through the Congress, demands that her Corps of Marines be special-a Corps that must strive to be the premier military organization on the globe. A Corps that is the best led, the best trained and the best disciplined-particularly, self-disciplined force-on earth. A Corps that will make major contributions to maintaining deterrence and peace through its flexibility and aggregate usefulness. At the same time, A Corps of Marines that will always maintain the warrior focus-fully prepared to fight, to help us win, and one dedicated to "doing what must be done" to preserve our liberty. If we can do all of this today, then we will maintain this capability. If not, then that is precisely where we are going! MARINE SECURITY GUARD INVESTIGATION Senator THURMOND. The United States was shocked to learn of the recent events in Moscow involving Marine Security Guards. General Kelley has stated that the investigation should not focus solely on the Marines, but should be widened. Do you agree with General Kelley's recommendation, and if so, are you satisfied with the present scope of the investigation? General GRAY. I wholeheartedly agree with General Kelley's position. There must be a broad-based, thorough inquiry to determine what occured, to identify all who were at fault, and to provide a basis for accountability. I see encouraging signs that this process has begun. I will have to await the results of the many ongoing inquiries by bodies such as the Moscow Assessment Review Panel (which will soon complete its work), various congressional committees and subcommitttees, and the NIS before I can state whether I am satisfied. We will do whatever is required to ensure that we execute our mission in support of the Department of State in accordance with the expectations of our Country. Senator BINGAMAN. The committee is now adjourned. [Whereupon, at 10:46 a.m., the committee adjourned, to reconvene on the call of the Chair.] [The nomination of Lt. Gen. Alfred M. Gray, USMC was reported to the Senate by Senator John Glenn on June 24, 1987, with the recommendation that the nomination be confirmed. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on June 25, 1987.] 77-336 0 - 88 - 6 NOMINATION OF H. LAWRENCE GARRETT III TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1987 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in room SR-222, Russell Senate Office Building, Senator Sam Nunn (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Nunn, Exon, Levin, Kennedy, Bingaman, Dixon, Glenn, Wirth, Shelby, Warner, Thurmond, Quayle, Wilson, Symms and McCain. Staff present: Arnold L. Punaro, staff director; Carl M. Smith, staff director for the minority; Jeffrey H. Smith, general counsel; Patrick A. Tucker, minority counsel; Andrew S. Effron, counsel; Christine C. Dauth, chief clerk; Robert E. Bayer, Robert G. Bell, George K. Johnson, Jr., David S. Lyles, Norman G. Mosher, professional staff members; Pamela G. Powell, staff assistant. Also present: Jeffrey B. Subko, assistant to Senator Exon; Gregory J. Weaver, assistant to Senator Levin; William J. Lynn, assistant to Senator Kennedy; Edward M. McGaffigan, Jr., assistant to Senator Bingaman; Charles C. Smith, assistant to Senator Dixon; Donald A. Mitchell, assistant to Senator Glenn; James R. Sayer, assistant to Senator Wirth; Terrence Lynch, assistant to Senator Shelby; William J. Wight, assistant to Senator Warner; Dale F. Gerry, assistant to Senator Cohen; Mark J. Albrecht, assistant to Senator Wilson; Alan Ptak, assistant to Senator Gramm; Samuel J. Routson, assistant to Senator Symms; and Patrick A. Putignano, assistant to Senator McCain. Chairman NUNN. The committee will come to order. The committee meets today to consider the nomination of Hon. Harry Lawrence Garrett III to serve as Under Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary of the Navy, Jim Webb, has spoken to me, and I am sure to others on the committee, several times about his pressing need for Mr. Garrett's confirmation. I am hopeful that we will be able to complete this hearing today unless something comes up unanticipated, and perhaps get this through the Senate before we go out on recess. Mr. Garrett, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the committee. I know that all of us have worked with you on numerous matters in your position as general counsel of the Department of Defense. |