Mr. Chairman, first of all I do want to reiterate--and I think it's very important to understand this--that there have been significant investments in the coast guard over the last few years, including this particular year, when we have received some very significant funding to address what have been our chronic operating shortfalls.
While I certainly don't pretend that it deals with all our funding issues, I actually feel confident that we have really begun to turn a corner and that we're not operating in as tight a situation as we have been for the last few years. I think those investments are starting to show in a variety of areas with our assets and vessels.
In terms of the larger recruitment issue, our issue so far has not been recruitment. People are very attracted to the coast guard. They have a high interest in the coast guard. They want a career in the coast guard.
Our problem is matching up recruiting and training people before people leave, so that they can be ready. That is the one thing we are looking at concerning our options and flexibilities, because as I mentioned, it takes us quite a while to get people ready, and if we have to wait until people leave, it will be more difficult to manage.