Mobile Courant

Senator Tommy Tuberville recently questioned top defense officials during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, focusing on the Department of Defense's strategy in Ukraine and addressing the military's recruiting crisis.

During the hearing, Senator Tuberville engaged with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Under Secretary of Defense Michael McCord, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, JR. Senator Tuberville started by welcoming Secretary Austin back, stating, "You look like you are in good playing shape. I know you’ve had a tough couple of months, but we are glad you’re back."

Regarding the outlook of the war in Ukraine, Senator Tuberville asked General Austin if Ukraine could win, to which Austin responded affirmatively, "Yes. Yes." Austin emphasized the importance of Ukraine remaining sovereign, independent, and democratic, capable of defending its territory and deterring aggression.

Shifting the focus to military recruitment, Senator Tuberville expressed concerns about dropping morale and recruiting levels within the military. He questioned General Brown on efforts to address this issue, highlighting the need for a strong and lethal military force. General Brown assured that honing war-fighting skills is a top priority and emphasized the importance of building a combat-credible force.

In response to Senator Tuberville's inquiry on retaining military personnel, General Brown stated, "Retention right now, across all the service branches, is really good." He also mentioned that recruiting trends are on the rise and highlighted the importance of discussing the value of service and the impact of wearing the military uniform.

Senator Tuberville concurred with General Brown's emphasis on the significance of people in the military, stating, "It’s not really about machines and all those things. It’s about people."

In conclusion, Senator Tommy Tuberville, representing Alabama in the United States Senate, remains actively engaged in addressing critical issues related to national defense and military readiness.