[inaudible conversations] the subcommittee was knocking door to frequent objections that use authorized to declare a recess of the subcommittee at any time. The chair of recognize itself for an Opening Statement. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. Today the subcommittee on National Security will examine the department of defense and military Services Administration and oversight of the junior reserve officer Training Corps program, or jrotc. As a sales by congress the statutory purpose of the jrotc is to instill in our Nations High School students, quote, the valves of citizenship, service to the United States and personal responsibility as well as a sense of accomplishment. Close closed quote. In furtherance about objective jrotc officers dispute micco offers participating School Students or cadets in immersive military learning about that includes coursework in leadership, civics, ethics come history, health and stem as well as Service Specific classes in seamanship, land navigation, aviation history and aerospace science. The program also provides cadets an important opportunity to visit military installations offcampus. And participant and other Extracurricular Activities with fellow students. And as chairman on National Security i believe that Jrotc Program is instrumental in developing our young people who may be inspired to embark on a life dedicated to the military or civilian public service. That is precisely why the program must be subject to meaningful oversight and operate within maximum transparency and accountability. To benefit the health and safety of every cadet. Regrettably that is not the current case. In july 2022 an extensive New York Times investigation concluded that within the past five years jrotc instructors have been criminally charged with Sexual Misconduct involving students at a rate that is quote, far higher than the rate of civilian high school teachers. The investigation also found many other jrotc instructors a been accused of misconduct but never charged your own subcommittee investigation has further reveal that the extent of instructor misconduct within jrotc is even more disturbing than previously reported. In a moment with her testimony from dod and the military services about the actions they are taking to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of jrotc cadets is in place. I look forward to hearing more about how they are working to improve the bedding and certification of jrotc instructors, how allegations of instructor misconduct are reported and handled, and of the military Services Conduct oversight of their respective Jrotc Programs. I would like to conclude by framing todays hearing with broader strategy context. United States Military the finest volunteer fighting force in the world is currently grappling with an unprecedented recruitment and retention challenge. This is driven in part by lack of trust among our nations young men women and their families that the United States military will protect them from unnecessary physical and psychological harm, both at home during training and when they are deployed. Many of young men men womenn jrotc do so with the noblest aspirations of serving our country. Either military or civilian service. And so when they do, when they don their military uniforms, even as high School Students, they are entitled to such protections as we would wish for our own sons and daughters. As the department of defense and cant continue to address our current readiness and recruit the challenges it is vital that we restore and maintain the public faith in military service. We can begin by demonstrating to those who are eager to serve our country that we did not take their health and safety lightly. It is imperative that we honor the sacred commitment of our jrotc cadets by ensuring that they are being educated in the military culture, in an environment that prioritizes their wellbeing and is reflective of their serbs on behalf of of our nation. I want to thank our witnesses for the willingness to testify today, and i will now yield to the distinguished Ranking Member from wisconsin for his Opening Statement. Thank you, chairman lynch. Before i get started i would like to ask unanimous consent of mr. Fort lawn from texas wave onto the subcommittee for the purpose of, purposes of questions. Without objection, so ordered. Thank you. I would also like to thank the witnesses for all occurring today. This is a very important issue and its proper topic for oversight. We have the grid of military in the world primarily because of the many women who serve. These men and women often go up one serve the country and join junior reserve officer Training Corps in high school where the reserve officer Training Corps in college to prepare. These programs provide training Education Leadership skills necessary for the military. Jrotc operates in every state and has more than 3500 programs. Approximately 538690 cadets are enrolled. Thats pretty good for approximate. The programs are vital to the success for our military. Unfortunately recent reporting regarding sexual abuse in instructor misconduct is a concern. The New York Times found that 33 jrotc instructors in the past five years have been criminally charged with Sexual Misconduct involving students. This is shameful. Its at a far higher rate than civilian high school teachers. At least seven were flagged for allegations previously but allowed to keep teaching. In total over the past five years there have been 60 allegations of Sexual Misconduct against jrotc with 58 of the 60 substantiated. Will the city received an initial suspension for certification, more must be done to protect our young men and women. Who wish to serve in uniform. Im interested in asking each of you not only what your plans are to protect your cadets of the future but also if there any identifiable patterns across these allegations. Patterns of location, demographics, age and gender would help inform whether reforms could be most tailored to provide the largest return and protect the most cadets but i hope thisll be a productive hearing and result in substantial change from each of you here again, mr. Chairman, i thank you for holding the steering and i yield back. I thank the gentleman. Again, with several members who are not on the Oversight Committee but who are done remarkable work in this area in addition to mr. Fallon who is already been on. Without objections a member from texas congresswoman Sylvia Garcia is recognized for the purpose of participating in questioning the witnesses, and without objection the member from pennsylvania congressman houlihan is recognizable for the purpose of participating in questioning of the witnesses. Thank you. I will now introduce of witnesses. First well hear from mr. Thomas constable okay. We are also, i did not realize, we also are graced with the presence of a full committee chairwoman, ms. Maloney. Ms. Maloney is recognized for an Opening Statement. Welcome. All of our witnesses and to you, mr. Chairman, [inaudible] and Ranking Member for holding this important hearing and for your many years of leadership advocating for the health and safety of everyone who proudly and bravely wears our nations uniform. The junior reserve officer Training Corps program, or jrotc, provides high School Students with an important opportunity to strengthen their leadership and interpersonal skills, improve their physical fitness and pursue their education all while immersing themselves in military culture. And every year thousands of yg cadets graduate from jrotc. Many of them going to pursue a career of military service. This program is crucial for the future of our military, so i was deeply disturbed by the report in the New York Times this summer, finding that dozens of jrotc instructors have sexually assaulted their students. Abuse of them and harassed them. That is why chairman lynch and i wrote to the department of defense and the military services in august seeking information about how the military Services Conduct oversight of their Jrotc Programs, and what changes are needed to protect, to protect cadets from predatory instructors. We have learned what we learned from the department is truly alarming. The New York Times identified 33 jrotc 33 jrotc instructors who have been accused of sexually assaulting their students in the last five years, but our investigation as the chairman noted shows that the problem is far worse than what was reported. We found that the Defense Department has received at least 60 allegations of sexual abuse, harassment or other misconduct in the past five years. 58 of which were substantiated following a Law Enforcement or investigation. The Department Also told us that the military service did not always conduct annual in person in evaluations of their programs for jrotc, while the army conducts socalled assist visits on a yearly basis for individual programs in need of additional attention. It otherwise only inspects onethird of its units each year. Meanwhile, the air force completes inperson assessments every three years, while the army and marines perform such examinations every other year. I want to be clear, the vast majority of jrotc instructors are decent and trustworthy members of, or former members of our Armed Services, and they continued to serve our country honorably by teaching and mentoring our next generation of leaders for the military. But our investigation has exposed a lack of pentagon oversight appears to have enabled the predatory behavior of some of the jrotc instructors. Any allegation of Sexual Assault, abuse or harassment in this program is one too many and needs to be addressed. These are our future leaders in our military. We need to respect them and treat them in ways that they are protected. I hope that todays hearing will illuminate some of the lapses that have contributed to sexual abuse by jrotc instructors, and im confident that the Oversight Committee, led by this subcommittee, will continue to work in a bipartisan way with mr. Grothman and others to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our nations young cadets. I think the chairman for holding this hearing, and i look forward very much forward to the testimony and to your ideas of how to make sure this never happens again and how distinguished military goes forward in a way that protects our young cadets. I yield back. The gentlelady yields back him adages want to say that i know this is one of the and i just want to say that under this is one of the final phase will have during this current session ended you know what to miss the opportunity to say thank you to chairwoman maloney. I have served with you for over 20 years on this committee, and i can think of no one who has been more productive or persistent under the rubric of oversight in investigating and correcting some of the wrongs that we have seen during our time in this congress. And i just want to thank you for your leadership, not only on this issue, but on so many issues over the past 20 years. I knew that you have been a prolific lawmaker. I can think of few members in this congress that are produced as much legislation as you have, madam chair, and you have been both energetic and heroic on championing issues on behalf of people who are powerless. And in this case, our high School Students who may feel that they are overmatched and at a power disadvantage. So i just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for your wonderful work on behalf of the people of new yorks 12th district in congress. I want to congratulate you on an illustrious and highly productive career. You have been an example for all of us, so thank you very, very much. I thank you for your leadership, and mr. Grothman and ms. Nuland an echo in here who is working on this issue. Yet shown great dedication, effective leadership and im honored to be supporting your efforts today. Thank you. Now i will introduce eyewitnesses. First well hear from mr. Thomas constable who is the acting assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs at the department of defense. Mr. Constable position directs the Department Overall manpower policies including force training and education. Mr. Constable previously served for more than 20 years with the United States army as an activeduty soldier before retiring from service in 2008. Next well hear from ms. Yvette bourcicot who is the acting assistant secretary of the army for manpower and reserve affairs. In this role ms. Bourcicot manages Manpower Personnel and reserve Component Affairs of the United States army and provides advice to the secretary of the oversight of Human Resources training and force structure. As well as other important readiness matters. Ms. Bourcicot privacy served as an officer in the United States air force from 20002010, and has held several other ofn the department of defense. We will have been here from mr. Roberts hogue who is the acting assistant secretary of the navy for manpower and reserve affairs. In this role mr. Hogue is responsible for the overall supervision and oversight of the navys manpower and reserve Component Affairs, including the development of programs and policy related to military personnel and naval education. Mr. Hogue has a distinct career as a of the Senior Executive service with the navy and the marine corps, including previously serving as the senior Legal Adviser to the commandant of the marine corps. Finally well hear from mr. Alex wagner who was the assistant secretary for the United States air force for manpower and reserve affairs. In this role he provides overall supervision for matters related to the air force manpower, military and civilian personnel and reserve components. Mr. Wagner has also previously served in multiple civilian roles of Defense Department including as former chief of staff to the secretary of the army. Mr. Constable, ms. Bourcicot, mr. Hogue and mr. Wagner, could you please rise so that we can swear you in. And could you please all raise your right hand. [witnesses were sworn in] let the record show that the widgets at each answered in the affirmative. You may be seated. Without objection your written statements will be made part of the record. With that mr. Constable ui now recognize for an oral summation of your testimony you are now speak good morning chairman lynch, Ranking Member grothman. Madam chairwoman come by surprise and establishment of the subcommittee thank for the opportunity testify today to discuss the junior reserve officer Training Program betterments jrotc. We might call it jrotc as a giggling throughout the morning. Every officer holds a special position of moral trust and responsibility. Officer will violate that trust or avoid responsibility for any of their actions. Those are not my words. Those are the opening to the evs creed. Its required learning for all new officers and the decreet all try to live by and all we did in the department of defense. Sometimes we fail. When we do it our moral obligation to take stock of our processes to ensure were doing all we can to set conditions for the success of our members. Today that includes the retirees were honored to continue to wear the uniform as instructors and that includes the high School Students who have heard the call early in life and joined the junior rotc program. There is no place, no justification for misconduct that is taken place within the Jrotc Program. These incidents are directly opposed to our corps values and in no way reflect the military training and education that jrotc instructors receive one serving in uniform. The department of defense has an unwavering commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all jrotc participants and holding personnel accountable for any misconduct. We do this in coordination with the schools, the military departments and the department of education. To that end my office has been coordinating closely with the military departments to conduct a complete review of governing policies. We have found eric is what we can improve and standardized policy and procedures across the services in order to prevent Sexual Harassment and assaults to hold herself appropriate accountable when there is misconduct or abuse. We intend to have some updated policies but in of this year. We are also working closely with the department of education given its role in regulating and enforcing compliance with title ix and the resources be able