Rogers Statement at Hearing on Report Recommendations of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service
Washington, DC,
May 19, 2021
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing to review the final report recommendations of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Rep. Rogers remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Joe, welcome back. It's great to have you and your fellow Commissioners here with us today. Thank you for all the hard work that went into this report. You've put forward significant recommendations on how to increase national and public service. Encouraging Americans, especially young Americans, to share their talents and improve their communities is incredibly important. Thank you for your work on these issues. As for our discussion this morning, I'm interested in your recommendations on how to improve military recruitment and retention. I have always been a big believer in the All Volunteer Force. I think our military should be made up of men and women who want to serve. But we need to think of new ways to bring talented individuals into our Armed Forces. In this age of rapid technological innovation, we need a professional corps of servicemembers with advance skill sets. Building and retaining that corps will enable us to stay ahead of our adversaries, especially China. I know one of the Commission's recommendations focuses on the need for competitive compensation for critical skills areas like cyber, IT, and mathematics. Another highlights the need for the military to provide additional support to students pursuing certain technical degrees and certificates. I look forward to hearing more about these recommendations. Another important topic we charged the Commission with reviewing was the Selective Service System. We haven't had to rely on the Selective Service System for conscription since 1973. And it hasn't undergone any significant review or reform since 1980. While some of the recommendations may be controversial, I appreciate the time the Commission spent looking at ways to modernize the system. I thank our witnesses for being here today and I yield back.
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