These three items are more than just sterile, budgetary talking points. If you turn the pages beneath each emphasis area, you'll reveal a story of how we are aggressively underwriting these priorities with a strong commitment to action. Our effectiveness today, as well as our relevance for the future, pivots squarely on these three priorities. Of these three, people come first, because we cannot have a ready force today or tomorrow unless we attract, train and retain the highest quality men and women to operate our 21st century technologies. Readiness and modernization are equally key to our present and future national security.
People are our most important resource.
Accordingly, enhancing the quality of life for all of our airmen must be our highest, enduring priority. We owe it to our people to ensure their faithful service is rewarded with pay, housing, medical and community support services that meet their needs. This year, as your Leave and Earning Statements will verify, we have funded the pay raise to 3.6 percent. In 2000, your raise will be 4.4 percent and 3.9 percent for several years thereafter. Moreover, our pay table reform plan will target mid-level enlisted and junior officer with additional raises above these new baselines.