c ait avuur wo icicas e mai report anu wo propust od

ion. The most disturbing think to me really has been ns of sustainability and readiness what we have found i ontrol and a loss of actual materiel that obviously ben -not the services, not the taxpayers, and it really I th med from a combination of inadequate accounting pr at least inadequate supervision, and things as basic asp rity of ammunition and of weapons.

what I am asking may seem to you to be a rhetorical q because so much of it does depend upon supervision, e that as I recall is the final EEE step, it is obvious ost all levels this problem really has not had adequate

ow the Army has been the focus of a great deal of conce by no means exclusive of the Army. All services have lem. But I would simply ask and express the hope that many other responsibilities and challenges that you ef of Staff, that you will be particularly cognizant of th and give it the kind of attention and the kind of priorit k it really requires.

he GAO admittedly is unwilling to try to quantify this p they have erred on the safe side, indicating that it is a lem resulting in huge losses that we really can ill affo when we are debating among ourselves the allocation

ce resources.

eneral VUONO. I share your concern on that, Senator, an d upon the safeguards that we have and are putting int enator WILSON. This is really a matter of some curiosity as been pursued already by others, if so, Mr. Chairman, bly so state and I will consult the record.

eneral, last year this committee was working on the rganization bill. During the course of hearings on that v we received testimony to the effect of changes to th efs of Staff structure, and particularly the creation of ced role for the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, w of the Service Chiefs, and in the words of some, scarcel ng.

O you agree with that assessment? And do you see the r will assume as having been diminished?

eneral VUONO. Obviously I do not think that they w cely worth having. I believe that the service Chiefs are

could you state briefly what you deem to be the priori of the Army, and second for our overall national securi General VUONO. Well, I think the responsibility and of the Army is to be an Army that knows how to fight trained, is modernized, and is properly led by the nonc officers and officers who can carry out the Army's res in providing forces to deter war. If deterrence fails, support the CINCs in joint and combined operations world. I think that is the role of the Army, to provide forces.

Senator WILSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, General.

Chairman NUNN. Are there any further questi member?

[No response.]

General, Senator Warner and I would like to conve in our office back here with our Intelligence Committe a few minutes. We have responsibilities on that con sometimes overlap into this committee. At this stag know of anything that overlaps directly into the Arr Committee, but we want to make sure of that. If there of information that this committee needs to have, we w the right to have another hearing.

Are there any other questions or observations by the [No response.]

If not, General, we appreciate you being here. It v hope that we can expedite this matter. General VUONO. Thank you, sir.

[Whereupon, at 10:50 a.m., the committee was adjou to the call of the Chair.]

[The nomination of Gen. Carl E. Vuono, USA was re] Senate by the Committee on Armed Services on June 1 the recommendation that the nomination be confirme nation was confirmed by the Senate on June 16, 1987.]

a.m., in room SR-222, Russell Senate Office Buildi (chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Nunn, Bingaman, Dixon, G Thurmond, Wilson, Gramm, Symms, and McCain.

Staff present: Arnold L. Punaro, staff directo Tucker, minority counsel; Andrew S. Effron, counse Dauth, chief clerk; George K. Johnson, Jr., Ronald Norman G. Mosher, professional staff members; Pan staff assistant.

Also present: Jeffrey B. Subko, assistant to Sena liam J. Lynn, assistant to Senator Kennedy; Edwar Jr., assistant to Senator Bingaman; Charles C. Smit Senator Dixon; Phillip P. Upschulte and Milton D. ants to Senator Glenn; Terrence Lynch, assista Shelby; William J. Wight, assistant to Senator W Gerry, assistant to Senator Cohen; Mark J. Albrech Senator Wilson; Alan Ptak, assistant to Senator Gra Routson, assistant to Senator Symms; Patrick A. Pu ant to Senator McCain.

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR SAM NUNN, Chairman NUNN. The committee will come to orde The committee meets this morning to consider the Lt. Gen. Alfred M. Gray, Jr., of the U.S. Marine Co Commandant of the Marine Corps.

On behalf of the committee, I extend a warm w General Gray.

The committee is conducting this short notice he enable the Senate to consider General Gray's nomi General Kelley's retirement, which occurs, I und week.

I am involved in the Iranian Committee hearing will be asking questions in a few minutes. So that wi from being here for very long this morning. I have Bingaman to preside in my absence.

I thank Senator Bingaman for being willing to do t

of skills from rising to the very top military posi Gray's selection certainly demonstrates that this i ily so.

al Gray, your long and impressive career has prepare the position of Commandant of the Marine Corps. You er as the top marine at the time when the Marine Co cing some difficulty, as you well know. I will not go s morning, but there are a number of problems that u are going to be tackling, and I know you will ad th your usual diligence and capability.

all my visit in 1980 to the 29 Palms Marine Base, w Gray introduced me to maneuver warfare and an im rine combined arms operation. His innovative implem he use of maneuver warfare in the Second Marine Div as his testimony before a hearing I chaired in the late now-fielded light armored vehicle, indicates that he ha to think down the road.

ll also, General Gray, your testimony on the light arm being a little ahead of the official Marine Corps positio ject.

your statements will soon represent the official Ma osition, I hope you will continue to challenge conventi and be receptive to those below you who also chall ional wisdom, which you have done on several occas your career.

ommittee looks forward to receiving your professional gments and your candid views throughout your tenur ndant.

or Warner is not here this morning.

or Thurmond, do you have any opening statement? or THURMOND. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

want to say that General Gray has an impressive reco e is well qualified and I will be very pleased and honore him for this position.

e a couple of questions and if he will answer them for it will save time.

you, Mr. Chairman.

man NUNN. Thank you.

going to have to depart, as I mentioned.

or Bingaman, when you complete the hearing this morn e will try to do, unless something comes up that we do