Required length of time. Is there a motion to favorably report these 3,196 military nominations . So moved. Second . Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. The motion carries. Xh tig the Committee Meets this morning to consider the nomination of general Joseph Dunford for reappointment as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. General ton ford, this Committee Thanks you for your decades of distongue wished service to our nation. We are grate to feel your wife, ellen, for the support she has always provided to you, and to all who serve our nation in uniform. Id also like to well yom couco son patrick. Patrick. Unfortunate fortunately, you look like your mother, patrick, who is joining us this morning. Joe and kathleen send their support from afar even as i bet they are a little relieved they do not have to sit through your interrogation. In order to exercise its legislative and oversight responsibilities its important this committee and other appropriate committees of the congress are able to receive testimony, briefings and other communications of information. Have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest . I have, chairman. Do you agree when asked to give your personal views even if those views differ from the administration in power . I do, chairman. Have you assumed any duties or undertaken any actions which would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process . I have not, chairman. Will you ensure your staff complies with deadlines established for requested communications including questions for the record and hearings . I will, chairman. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and briefers in response to congressional requests . Yes, chairman. Will those witnesses be protected from reprisal for their testimony or briefings . They will be, chairman. Do you agree if confirmed to appear and testify upon request before this committee . I do, chairman. Do you agree to provide documents including the copies of electronic forms of communication in a timely manner when requested by a duly constituted committee or to consult with a Committee Regarding the basis for any goodfaith delay or denial in providing such documents . I do, chairman. My colleagues and i are aware that that is a routine but given the political environment today especially and certainly not any reflection on you, general dunford, but those questions need to be asked. And i thank you for your responses. General dunford, my colleagues and i will have a lot of questions for you about the many pressing National Security challenges we face but this hearing also offers an opportunity to reflect on some broader topics that have historically and more recently been a major focus of this committees efforts. The unique role of the chairman and our National Security structure and the state of Civil Military relations. As quote principal military adviser to the president the National Security, the secretary of defense and the congress, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is the most important military duty in our nation. The chairman is the one military officer with the authority to present comprehensive analysis and advice to civilian policymakers informed by all the military services and combat and commands and spanning every global and functional issue of National Security. This responsibility is now more important than ever. Our country faces a multitude of National Security challenges all of which cut across the regional and functional organizations that divide up the department of defense. The chairman is the only military office we are a truly comprehensive perspective on the joint force out of all the threats we face worldwide and the interplay between them. That is why this committee acted last year to clarify the chairmans statutory responsibility to advise civilian leaders on a global strategic integration of our military efforts. The chairmans unique role lenlds extra gravity to the responsibility that you and every military officer propo sayses. The responsibility to provide best military advice to civilian leaders. This is not a luxury. It is a duty. It is a duty that military officers owe to the American People and to the men and women under their command. Policymakers in both the executive and legislative branches rely on our military professionals to better understand the military dimensions of the National Security challenges we face and the options a at our disposal for wielding military power effectively. But best military advice does not stop there. Military officers and especially the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff must tell their civilian superiors what action they believe are best and right to take and they must do so honestly, candidly, respectfully, but forcefully, whether civilians want to hear it or not. Best military advice may be disregarded, but it must always be given. Whats more, in my opinion, best military advice should not be narrowly limited to technical military matters. When the chairman offers his best military advice, hes not simply offering the best advice about the military but rather the best advice from the military. And that exe tnds to issues of National Security policy, strategy, and operations. For example, the decision to take our nation to war properly rests with civilians. Its a policy question, but military officers should not be prohibited from voicing their advice on such a matter. Inde indeed, it is their duty to do so. If you havent seen mr. Burns series on vietnam, i suggest that you Pay Attention to it and i suggest that you examine the tensions that existed between the civilian superiors and the military. And i believe that you will come to the conclusion that the military advice was not given the weight and effect that it should have, which was one of the factors in leading to 58,000 names on the wall in granite not too far from here. Just as we are clear about what constitutions best constitutes best military advice we must be equally clear about its limitation. Advice is just that advice. The chairman is the principal military adviser is not in the chain of command. Ours is not a general staff system. It rests with Combatant Commanders who report by law to the secretary of defense. The chairman must adviser civilian leaders on the strategy of operations and things. It is his right, indeed, his responsibility to provide competing advice to policymakers when he disagrees with Combatant Commanders. But the chairman is not an operational commander. Similarly, best military advice does not mean independent advice. It occurs in the context of Civil Military relations. I want to say a few words on this in closing. Elliott cohen has described Civil Military relations as an unequal dialogue. Civilian and military rules are not to be di cot mized and held apart. They must be brought together to refine military strategy operations and plans. A process in which civilian leaders must play an active role and make the major decisions. Best military advice is central to this dialogue, but it can never replace it. Unfortunately, i sense that the Civil Military dialogue has become strained. At times civilian officials have disrespected military leaders, disregarded their advice on Critical Military matters and shirked accountability for their decisions. More recently civilian oversight and control of the military has morphed into meddling and micromanagement of tactical details for political purposes which has harmed military effectiveness. The last administration distinguished itself in this regard. What we must guard against, general dunford, especially now when so many civilian leaders at the secretary of defense are either missing or are themselves recently retired military officers, is an overcorrection. We cannot afford to swing from civilian micromanagement to civilian marginalization. We need to restore balance in Civil Military relations where best military advice is always rendered and received but is done so as part of a dialogue with civilians who participate actively and have the last word on policy, strategy, operations and plans. This Committee Takes its obligations seriously in this regard. The Civil Military dialogue does not only occur within the department of defense. It occurs within the branches of government as well. Thats why the chairman also serves as a principal military adviser to the congress and thats why, as part of the confirmation process, we ask current and future chairman like all military officers, to provide their best personal advice to this committee if asked. It is to ensure that the members of this committee and the full congress are able to meet our independent Constitutional Responsibilities to the americans we serve. At present, this committee, and the congress more broadly, is not receiving the information and respect it deserve as a coequal branch of government. We do not work for the president or the executive branch. We have distinct and equal responsibilities under the constitution, and the Administration Needs to understand its obligation to the congress in this regard. Too often, members of this committee are learning in the media for the first time about major National Security and military activities that we, as the committee of oversight, should be told about and consulted on in advance. Even now, nearly ten months into this year, we are told we have a new strategy for afghanistan, but members of this committee have far more questions than answers. The Administration Must do better, and until it does, the congress and this committee will be forced to use what levers we have to show the administration that we are not and will not be a rubber stamp. We will have many questions for you, general. We look forward to your candid, forthright and best military advice. Senator reed. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I want to welcome general dunford this morning and thank him for his Outstanding Service to this nation. He is joined by his wife ellen and son patrick. Thank you. Also like to acknowledge the generals other children, joe and kathleen, who were not able to join us today. On behalf of our committee, we thank the entire dunford family for their continued sacrifice and support. It means a great deal to us, but more particularly to the men and women of the armed forces. This committee has maintained a robust hearing schedule. Our committee has heard from the most senior political leaders in the department, highest echelons of the military and distinguished outside experts. Time and again the hearings have underscored the United States is faced with a myriad of challenges offering no quick or easy solutions and require adroit military leadership. During general dunfords tenure as chairman he has provided southbound counsel and demonstrated a deep understanding of the National Security threats our nation must address. As chairman he has made it a priority to keep this committee well informed on the departments policy decisions, impacting armed forces and changes to military strategy to counter the risks posed by our adversaries. While the committee may not always agree with general dunfords views he has been honest and conducted himself with integrity. I believe he should be reappointed to serve as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. As appointed to consider the state of the world today, his professionalism and commitment to duty served him well. This is not the first time in our history that weve had to confront multiple threats from abroad but its an incredibly dangerous and uncertain time. North Koreas NuclearMissile Program poses an immediate and grave National Security threat and heightens tensions on the peninsula are a source of deep concern. The global order established by the United States following world war ii is under siege by russia determined to reassert its influence around the world. China continues its sabre ratting by using economic coercion. Iran continues their aggressive Weapons Development activities. Finally, our military has been consumed by two prolonged wars against violent extremist groups like isis that has sapped readiness and precluded our personnel from training. As we grapple with these threats, it had been my sincere hope that the magnitude of the office coupled with the enormous challenges we face would have encouraged the president to be more judicious with his comments and thoughtful with his actions. Unfortunately thats not been the case. Today our Foreign Policy has been predicated on alienating longtime allies. Discounting the value of International Organizations and global commitments and retreating from our leadership role in the world while at the same time decisions on our defense posture and complicated military personnel issues are promulgated by president ial tweet. Such trends lend more uncertainty to already dangerous times, and i believe the risk of miscalculation and unintended consequences has never been higher. Resolute leadership at the highest echelons of our military is a necessity now more than ever. I commend general dunford for the steady hand he has had in guiding the joint chiefs of staff as chairman and for the sterling example he has set for all those who wear the uniform. Thank you for your willingness to serve. General dunford, welcome. Thank you, chairman. Chair mccain, Ranking Member reed, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be renominated as the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. I would like to begin by thanking the committee for your support of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. This Years NationalDefense Authorization act is a reflection of your commitment to ensure they remain the most well trained, well equipped and Capable Military force in the world. Today we have a competitive advantage over any adversary and our armed forces are ready to protect the homeland and meet alliance commitments. However the advantage has eroded in recent years. I look forward to working together with the committee to ensure that the chairman testifying in 2025 have the same agree of confidence in our ability to provide for the common defense. This committee is keenly aware of todays complex security environment. Both the chairman and Ranking Member have mentioned it and i dont expect the strategic landscape to improve in the near future. Russia continues to invest in a full range of capabilities designed to limit our power projection. Erode u. S. Influence and undermine the credibility of the Nato Alliance. Similarly china is focused on limiting our ability to project power and weakening our alliances in the pacific. Iron is projecting malign influence across the middle east, threatening freedom of navigation and supporting terrorist organizations. While were focused on north korea and kim jong uns relentless pursuit of a nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that can threaten the United States we are confronted also by isis and other transregional terrorist organizations. Weve made progress but we are not complacent and much work remains to be done. In afghanistan we are beginning to deploy additional u. S. And Coalition Forces in support of the president s broader south asia strategy. In the context of these and other challenges we need a renewed focus to restore joint readiness and develop the warfighting capabilities well need to defend the nation in the future. As this committee has highlighted in hearings we face real and significant Readiness Challenges today and have failed to adequately invest in the future. I cant state it any clearer. If we dont address this dynamic with sustained, sufficient and predictable funding over the course of several years well lose our qualitative and quantitative competitive advantage. In the end it will have a profound effect on our ability to deter conflict and respond effectively if deterrence fails. Ill commit to working with the congress to address these challenges. Chairman, i listened carefully to your opening statement. I fully understand my responsibilities to provide candid best military advice to the president , secretary of defense and the National Security council and i will be forth right when asked to appear before this committee and other congressional venues. With that i am prepared to answer your questions. Thank you very much, general. In june you testified. I assessed that within five years well lose our ability to project power, as you testified. We still dont have sustained, sufficient and predictable funding. As you mentioned, i am not sure we will for the foreseeable future unless Congress Steps up to do its job. Well start fiscal year 2018 on a continuing resolution with no insight into what the final funding levels will be for the year. What what is the effect of the average First Lieutenant who is out there, captain is it as a Company Command .