Mark Kelly Questions JCS Nominee on Oath, Constitution, and Defense Modernization

Oath of Loyalty and Constitutional Duty

• 🇺🇸 Senator Mark Kelly questioned General John D. Caine, nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about his oath of loyalty.
• 🎯 Caine affirmed that his oath is to the Constitution of the United States, a commitment he has upheld for 34 years.
• ⚖️ When asked if he would choose the harder, right option over an easier wrong one, Caine stated he has always strived to do the right thing and would be willing to be fired for following the Constitution.

Indo-Pacific Force Projection and Shipping

• 🚢 Kelly discussed the importance of the commercial shipping base for force projection in the Indo-Pacific and introduced the bipartisan Ships for America Act.
• ⚓ This act aims to strengthen the commercial shipping base, providing combatant commanders with additional sealift capability for rapid response.
• ❓ Caine, if confirmed, expressed willingness to study the logistical challenges of resupplying forces in the Western Pacific, acknowledging the distance disparity with China.

Modernizing Defense Acquisition

• 🚀 Kelly highlighted the need to modernize the defense acquisition process to match China's pace of innovation, emphasizing the slowness and unwieldiness of the current system.
• 💡 He stressed fostering an ecosystem that encourages risk-taking from small businesses and bridges the gap between testing and production for new technologies.
• 🤝 Caine expressed passion for making it easier for new companies and startups to bring advanced technologies into the joint force, indicating it would be an area of focus if confirmed.