🎥 Press Conference Highlights: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addresses hundreds of generals, admirals, and senior enlisted personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, emphasizing meritocracy, leadership reforms, and accountability in the U.S. Department of War.
This video features official content from war.gov, published under U.S. law (17 U.S.C. § 105), public domain.
Key Highlights:
- Eliminating zero-defect culture and toxic leadership.
- Focus on merit-based promotions, awards, and retirements.
- Overhaul of Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Equal Opportunity processes.
- Stricter accountability for false or frivolous complaints.
- Restoration of tougher basic training and empowering drill sergeants.
🎥 Source: U.S. Department of War via war.gov
📖 Website: https://www.ghostmiraclenewsworld.site
🌐 All platforms: https://linktr.ee/GhostMiracleNews
➤ All content used for educational, historical, and journalistic purposes only.
🧭 Disclaimer:
Official public domain release. Unauthorized editing, misrepresentation, or implying Department endorsement is prohibited. For educational, historical, and journalistic purposes.
#USDepartmentOfWar #Meritocracy #MilitaryNews #OfficialRelease #WarGov #GhostMiracleNews #PentagonUpdates #MilitaryLeadership #PressBriefing
This video features official content from war.gov, published under U.S. law (17 U.S.C. § 105), public domain.
Key Highlights:
- Eliminating zero-defect culture and toxic leadership.
- Focus on merit-based promotions, awards, and retirements.
- Overhaul of Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Equal Opportunity processes.
- Stricter accountability for false or frivolous complaints.
- Restoration of tougher basic training and empowering drill sergeants.
🎥 Source: U.S. Department of War via war.gov
📖 Website: https://www.ghostmiraclenewsworld.site
🌐 All platforms: https://linktr.ee/GhostMiracleNews
➤ All content used for educational, historical, and journalistic purposes only.
🧭 Disclaimer:
Official public domain release. Unauthorized editing, misrepresentation, or implying Department endorsement is prohibited. For educational, historical, and journalistic purposes.
#USDepartmentOfWar #Meritocracy #MilitaryNews #OfficialRelease #WarGov #GhostMiracleNews #PentagonUpdates #MilitaryLeadership #PressBriefing
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Cain.
00:13All right. Generals, admirals, senior leaders, good morning. Wow. What a group here today.
00:24I will tell you that our enemies are terrified right now that we are all in the same room, and that is a true statement.
00:34Welcome, everyone, to Marine Corps Base Quantico and the first ever key leaders I'll call.
00:41To the Commandants and all of the Marines that have made this event possible, thank you.
00:47This was no small feat to put this event together in short order, and I'm glad there's pull-up bars just outside.
00:55The seals in the corner out there are very happy about that.
00:59I regret to inform you there will not be a PT test after this event because I know you all would crush it.
01:07Last night, I had the privilege of joining the Secretary and the Joint Chiefs in honoring 50 Gold Star families at the White House
01:18as the President, the First Lady, and our nation honored their loved ones' service and sacrifices.
01:26Teammates, it was a quiet and deeply meaningful event that reminded all of us that we're lucky enough to be there
01:34of the serious and unforgiving nature of the business that we are in, fighting and winning our nation's wars.
01:44Leaders, we are living in dynamic and potentially dangerous times.
01:49Global risk is on the rise.
01:52Our adversaries are no longer aligning.
01:55They are aligned.
01:56And we must align with equal resolve and unity.
02:01Even as we strive for and seek peace, we must be prepared for war.
02:08Now, more than ever, it is vital that we hear from our civilian leaders,
02:14understand where they're taking the department and the joint force,
02:18and today we have the unprecedented opportunity and honor to hear directly from the Secretary of the War,
02:27the Secretary of War and our Commander-in-Chief.
02:30Together, you and I and our civilian leaders have the honor of leading the finest military in the world,
02:37and we must seize every opportunity every day to prepare our joint force for the future.
02:45I am deeply humbled to serve with each and every one of you.
02:52And now it is my distinct honor to introduce our nation's Secretary of War,
02:58the Honorable Pete Hegseth.
03:04Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
03:10Please take your seats.
03:15Well, Mr. Chairman,
03:21the Joint Chiefs,
03:23generals, admirals, commanders, officers,
03:27senior enlisted, NCOs,
03:29enlisted, and every member
03:31of our American military.
03:34Good morning.
03:37Good morning
03:38and welcome
03:40to the War Department.
03:42Because the era
03:44of the Department of Defense
03:46is over.
03:48You see,
03:49the motto of my first platoon
03:51was those who long for peace
03:53must prepare for war.
03:55This is, of course,
03:56not a new idea.
03:57This crowd knows that.
03:59The origin dates to the 4th century Rome
04:01and has been repeated
04:02ever since,
04:03including by our first commander-in-chief,
04:06George Washington,
04:07the first leader
04:08of the War Department.
04:10It captures a simple
04:12yet profound truth.
04:15To ensure peace,
04:16we must prepare for war.
04:19From this moment forward,
04:21the only mission
04:22of the newly restored
04:23Department of War
04:24is this,
04:26war fighting.
04:28Preparing for war
04:29and preparing to win.
04:32Unrelenting
04:32and uncompromising
04:34in that pursuit.
04:36Not because we want war.
04:37No one here
04:38wants war.
04:40But it's because
04:41we love peace.
04:43We love peace
04:44for our fellow citizens.
04:46They deserve peace.
04:48And they rightfully
04:49expect us
04:50to deliver it.
04:52Our number one job,
04:54of course,
04:54is to be strong
04:55so that we can prevent
04:56war
04:57in the first place.
04:59The president
05:00talks about it
05:01all the time.
05:01It's called
05:02peace
05:02through strength.
05:03And as history
05:06teaches us,
05:06the only people
05:07who actually
05:08deserve peace
05:09are those
05:10who are willing
05:10to wage war
05:11to defend it.
05:13That's why
05:14pacifism
05:15is so naive
05:16and dangerous.
05:18It ignores
05:19human nature
05:19and it ignores
05:20human history.
05:23Either you protect
05:24your people
05:25and your sovereignty
05:26or you will be
05:28subservient
05:28to something
05:30or someone.
05:31it's a truth
05:32as old
05:33as time.
05:35And since
05:36waging war
05:36is so costly
05:37in blood
05:38and treasure,
05:39we owe our republic
05:40a military
05:41that will win
05:42any war we choose
05:43or any war
05:45that is thrust
05:45upon us.
05:46Should our enemies
05:48choose foolishly
05:50to challenge us,
05:51they will be crushed
05:52by the violence,
05:55precision,
05:56and ferocity
05:57of the War Department.
05:59In other words,
06:01to our enemies,
06:03F-A-F-O.
06:08If necessary,
06:09our troops
06:09can translate
06:10that for you.
06:12Another way
06:13to put it is
06:14peace through strength
06:16brought to you
06:18by the warrior ethos
06:19and we
06:20are restoring
06:21both.
06:23As President Trump
06:24has said
06:25and he's right,
06:25we have the strongest,
06:27most powerful,
06:28most lethal,
06:29and most prepared
06:30military on the planet.
06:31That is true
06:32full stop.
06:34Nobody can touch us.
06:36It's not even close.
06:37This is true
06:38largely because
06:39of the historic investments
06:40that he made
06:41in his first term
06:41and we will continue
06:43in this term.
06:45But it's also true
06:46because of the leaders
06:46in this room
06:47and the incredible troops
06:50that you all lead.
06:51But the world,
06:54and as the chairman
06:54mentioned,
06:55our enemies
06:56get a vote.
06:58You feel it,
06:59I feel it.
07:00This is a moment
07:01of urgency.
07:03Mounting urgency.
07:05Enemies gather,
07:07threats grow.
07:08There is no time
07:10for games.
07:11We must be prepared.
07:12If we're going to
07:13prevent
07:13and avoid war,
07:15we must prepare
07:16now.
07:17We are the strength
07:18part of peace
07:19through strength.
07:21And either
07:22we're ready to win
07:23or we are not.
07:25You see,
07:28this urgent moment,
07:28of course,
07:29requires more troops,
07:30more munitions,
07:31more drones,
07:31more patriots,
07:32more submarines,
07:33more B-21 bombers.
07:35It requires
07:36more innovation,
07:37more AI
07:37in everything
07:38and ahead of the curve.
07:39More cyber effects,
07:40more counter-UAS,
07:42more space,
07:42more speed.
07:43America is the strongest,
07:44but we need to get
07:45stronger and quickly.
07:47The time is now
07:49and the cause
07:50is urgent.
07:52The moment requires
07:53restoring and refocusing
07:54our defense industrial base,
07:56our shipbuilding industry,
07:57and on-shoring
07:58all critical components.
08:00It requires,
08:01as President Trump
08:02has done,
08:02getting our allies
08:03and partners
08:04to step up
08:05and share the burden.
08:07America cannot
08:08do everything.
08:09The free world
08:10requires allies
08:11with real hard power,
08:13real military leadership,
08:14and real military capabilities.
08:17The War Department
08:18is tackling
08:18and prioritizing
08:19all of these things.
08:21And I'll be giving
08:22a speech next month
08:23that will showcase
08:23the speed
08:24innovation
08:24and generational
08:26acquisition reforms
08:27we are undertaking
08:28urgently.
08:30Likewise,
08:31the nature
08:31of the threats
08:32we face
08:33in our hemisphere
08:33and in deterring China
08:35is another speech
08:37for another day
08:39coming soon.
08:42This speech
08:43today,
08:44as I drink my coffee,
08:47this speech
08:49today is about people.
08:51and it's about culture.
08:54The topic today
08:56is about the nature
08:57of ourselves.
09:00Because no plan,
09:01no program,
09:02no reform,
09:03no formation
09:03will ultimately succeed
09:05unless we have
09:05the right people
09:06and the right culture
09:08at the War Department.
09:11If I've learned
09:12one core lesson
09:13in my eight months
09:14in this job,
09:14it's that personnel
09:15personnel is policy.
09:17Personnel
09:18is policy.
09:20The best way
09:21to take care
09:21of troops
09:22is to give them
09:23good leaders
09:24committed to the
09:25warfighting culture
09:26of the department.
09:27Not perfect leaders,
09:29good leaders.
09:31Competent,
09:32qualified,
09:33professional,
09:34agile,
09:34aggressive,
09:35innovative,
09:36risk-taking,
09:37apolitical,
09:38faithful to their oath
09:39and to the Constitution.
09:43Eugene Sledge
09:44in his World War II
09:45memoir wrote,
09:46quote,
09:47war is brutish,
09:48inglorious,
09:49and a terrible waste.
09:51Combat leaves
09:52an indelible mark
09:53on those who are
09:53forced to endure it.
09:55The only redeeming
09:56factors are my
09:57comrades'
09:58incredible bravery
09:59and their devotion
10:00to each other.
10:02In combat,
10:04there are thousands
10:04of variables,
10:05as I learned
10:06in Iraq and Afghanistan,
10:07and as so many
10:08of you did
10:08in so many more places.
10:11Leaders can only
10:11control about
10:12three of them.
10:14You control
10:14how well you're trained,
10:16mostly how well
10:17you're equipped,
10:19and the last variable
10:20is how well
10:21you lead.
10:23After that,
10:23you're on your own.
10:25Our warfighters
10:26are entitled
10:27to be led
10:27by the best
10:28and most capable leaders.
10:30That is who
10:31we need
10:31you all
10:32to be.
10:34Even then,
10:34in combat,
10:35even if you do
10:36everything right,
10:36you may still
10:37lose people
10:37because the enemy
10:38always gets a vote.
10:40We have a sacred
10:40duty to ensure
10:41that our warriors
10:42are led by the most
10:43capable and qualified
10:44combat leaders.
10:45This is one thing
10:46you and I
10:47can control,
10:49and we owe it
10:50to the force
10:50to deliver it.
10:53For too long,
10:54we have simply
10:55not done that.
10:57The military
10:58has been forced
10:59by foolish
11:00and reckless politicians
11:01to focus
11:02on the wrong things.
11:04In many ways,
11:05this speech
11:06this speech
11:06is about
11:06fixing decades
11:07of decay.
11:09Some of it
11:09obvious,
11:11some of it
11:11hidden.
11:12Or,
11:13as the chairman
11:14has put it,
11:14we are clearing
11:15out the debris,
11:17removing the
11:18distractions,
11:20clearing the way
11:21for leaders
11:22to be leaders.
11:24You might say
11:25we're ending
11:27the war
11:27on warriors.
11:30I heard someone
11:30wrote a book
11:31about that.
11:33For too long,
11:34we've promoted
11:35too many
11:35uniform leaders
11:36for the wrong
11:37reasons.
11:38Based on their
11:39race,
11:41based on gender
11:41quotas,
11:43based on historic
11:43so-called firsts.
11:46We've pretended
11:46that combat arms
11:47and non-combat arms
11:48are the same thing.
11:50We've weeded out
11:51so-called toxic
11:52leaders under the
11:53guise of double-blind
11:54psychology assessments,
11:56promoting risk-averse
11:57go-along-to-get-along
11:58conformists instead.
12:01You name it,
12:02the department
12:03did it.
12:04Foolish and reckless
12:05political leaders
12:06set the wrong
12:07compass heading,
12:09and we lost our way.
12:11We became
12:12the woke department,
12:15but not anymore.
12:17Right now,
12:18I'm looking out
12:19at a sea of Americans
12:20who made a choice
12:21when they were
12:23young men
12:24and young women
12:25to do something
12:27most Americans
12:28will not,
12:28to serve something
12:30greater than yourselves,
12:31to fight for God
12:32and country,
12:32for freedom
12:33and the Constitution.
12:35You made a choice
12:35to serve
12:36when others did not,
12:38and I commend you.
12:40You are truly
12:41the best
12:42of America.
12:45But this does not mean,
12:46and this goes
12:46for all of us,
12:48that our path
12:49to this auditorium
12:50on this day
12:51was a straight line,
12:52or that the conditions
12:53of the formations
12:54we lead
12:55are where we want
12:56them to be.
12:57You love your country,
12:59and we love
13:00this uniform,
13:01which is why
13:02we must do better.
13:05We just have
13:06to be honest.
13:07We have to say
13:08with our mouths
13:09what we see
13:10with our eyes,
13:11to just tell it
13:12like it is
13:12in plain English,
13:13to point out
13:15the obvious things
13:17right in front of us.
13:19That's what leaders
13:21must do.
13:22We cannot go
13:23another day
13:24without directly
13:25addressing the plank
13:26in our own eye,
13:28without addressing
13:29the problems
13:30in our own commands
13:31and in our own formations.
13:36This administration
13:37has done a great deal
13:38from day one
13:39to remove
13:40the social justice,
13:42politically correct,
13:43and toxic ideological garbage
13:45that had infected
13:46our department,
13:47to rip out
13:48the politics,
13:50no more
13:51identity months,
13:53DEI offices,
13:55dudes in dresses,
13:57no more
13:59climate change worship,
14:00no more
14:01division,
14:01distraction,
14:02or gender delusions,
14:03no more
14:04debris.
14:05As I've said
14:06before,
14:07and will say
14:08again,
14:09we are done
14:10with that shit.
14:12I've made it
14:13my mission
14:13to uproot
14:14the obvious
14:15distractions
14:15that made us
14:16less capable
14:17and less lethal.
14:17That said,
14:20the War Department
14:22requires the next step.
14:25Underneath the woke garbage
14:27is a deeper problem
14:28and a more important problem
14:30that we are fixing
14:30and fixing fast.
14:32Common sense
14:33is back at the White House,
14:35so making the necessary changes
14:37is actually
14:38pretty straightforward.
14:40President Trump
14:41expects it.
14:43And the litmus test
14:44for these changes,
14:47it's pretty simple.
14:49Would I want
14:50my eldest son,
14:52who is 15 years old,
14:56eventually joining
14:56the types of formations
14:58that we are currently
14:58wielding?
15:00If in any way
15:01the answer to that
15:02is no,
15:02or even yes,
15:04but,
15:05then we're doing
15:05something wrong.
15:07Because my son
15:08is no more important
15:09than any other
15:10American citizen
15:10who dons the cloth
15:11of our nation.
15:12He is no more important
15:14than your son.
15:16All precious souls
15:18made in the image
15:18and likeness of God.
15:20Every parent
15:21deserves to know
15:22that their son
15:22or their daughter
15:23that joins our ranks
15:25is entering
15:26exactly the kind of unit
15:28that the Secretary of War
15:30would want his son
15:31to join.
15:33Think of it
15:34as the golden rule test.
15:37Jesus said,
15:38do unto others
15:39that's what you would
15:40have done unto yourself.
15:41It's the ultimate
15:42simplifying test
15:44of truth.
15:46The new
15:46War Department
15:47golden rule
15:48is this.
15:50Do unto your unit
15:52as you would have done
15:54unto your own
15:55child's unit.
15:57Would you want him
15:58serving with fat
15:59or unfit
16:00or undertrained troops?
16:02Or alongside people
16:03who can't meet
16:04basic standards?
16:05Or in a unit
16:06where standards
16:07were lowered
16:07so certain types
16:08of troops
16:09could make it in?
16:09in a unit
16:11where leaders
16:12were promoted
16:12for reasons
16:13other than merit,
16:14performance,
16:15and war fighting?
16:17The answer
16:17is not just no,
16:19it's hell no.
16:21This means
16:22at the War Department
16:23first and foremost,
16:24we must restore
16:25a ruthless,
16:27dispassionate,
16:29and common sense
16:30application
16:31of standards.
16:31I don't want
16:34my son
16:34serving alongside
16:36troops who are
16:36out of shape.
16:37Or in combat unit
16:38with females
16:39who can't meet
16:40the same combat arms
16:41physical standards
16:41as men.
16:42Or troops
16:43who are not
16:44fully proficient
16:44on their assigned
16:45weapons platform
16:46or task.
16:47Or under a leader
16:49who was
16:49the first
16:51but not the best.
16:54Standards
16:54must be uniform,
16:56gender neutral,
16:57and high.
16:59If not,
17:01they're not standards.
17:03They're just
17:04suggestions.
17:06Suggestions
17:06that get
17:07our sons
17:08and daughters
17:09killed.
17:11When it comes
17:12to combat arms units,
17:14and there are
17:14many different stripes
17:15across our joint force,
17:17the era of
17:19politically correct,
17:22overly sensitive,
17:23don't hurt
17:23anyone's feelings,
17:24leadership ends
17:25right now.
17:28At every level,
17:30either you can
17:30meet the standard,
17:31either you can
17:32do the job,
17:33either you are
17:33disciplined,
17:34fit,
17:35and trained,
17:36or you are out.
17:38And that's why
17:39today at my direction,
17:41and this is the
17:42first of ten
17:43Department of War
17:44directives
17:44that are arriving
17:46at your commands
17:47as we speak
17:48and in your inbox.
17:50Today at my direction,
17:52each service
17:52will ensure
17:53that every
17:54requirement
17:54for every
17:55combat MOS,
17:56for every
17:57designated
17:58combat arms
17:59position,
18:00returns to the
18:01highest male
18:02standard only.
18:04Because this job
18:06is life or death.
18:07Standards
18:08must be met.
18:09And not just met,
18:10at every level,
18:11we should seek
18:11to exceed the standard,
18:13to push the envelope,
18:14to compete.
18:15It's common sense
18:16and core to who
18:18we are and what
18:18we do.
18:19It should be
18:19in our DNA.
18:22Today at my direction,
18:23we are also adding
18:24a combat field test
18:25for combat arms
18:27units that must
18:28be executable
18:29in any environment
18:30at any time
18:31and with combat
18:32equipment.
18:33These tests
18:34will look familiar.
18:35They'll resemble
18:36the Army Expert
18:37Physical Fitness
18:37Assessment
18:38or the Marine Corps
18:40Combat Fitness Test.
18:42I'm also directing
18:44that warfighters
18:44in combat jobs
18:46execute their
18:46service fitness test
18:48at a gender-neutral,
18:50age-normed,
18:50male standard
18:51scored above
18:5370%.
18:54It all starts
18:56with physical fitness
18:57and appearance.
18:58If the Secretary
18:59of War can do
19:00regular, hard PT,
19:02so can every member
19:04of our joint force.
19:06Frankly,
19:07it's tiring
19:08to look out
19:08at combat formations
19:09or really any formation
19:11and see fat troops.
19:14Likewise,
19:14it's completely
19:15unacceptable
19:15to see fat generals
19:17and admirals
19:17in the halls
19:17of the Pentagon
19:18and leading commands
19:20around the country
19:20and the world.
19:21It's a bad look.
19:22It is bad
19:23and it's not
19:23who we are.
19:25So whether you're
19:26an airborne ranger
19:27or a chair-borne ranger,
19:29a brand-new private
19:30or a four-star general,
19:31you need to meet
19:32the height and weight
19:33standards
19:33and pass your PT test.
19:35And as the chairman said,
19:37yes,
19:37there is no PT test.
19:39But today,
19:40at my direction,
19:41every member
19:41of the joint force
19:42at every rank
19:43is required
19:44to take a PT test
19:45twice a year
19:46as well as meet
19:48height and weight
19:49requirements
19:49twice a year.
19:51Every year
19:52of service.
19:55Also,
19:56today,
19:56at my direction,
19:57every warrior
19:58across our joint force
19:59is required
20:00to do PT
20:01every duty day.
20:03It should be common sense.
20:04I mean,
20:04most units do that already.
20:06But we're codifying it.
20:08And we're not talking
20:08like hot yoga
20:09and stretching.
20:11Real hard PT,
20:13either as a unit
20:14or as an individual.
20:16At every level,
20:17from the joint chiefs
20:18to everyone in this room
20:19to the youngest private
20:20leaders set the standard.
20:22And so many of you
20:23do this already.
20:24Active,
20:25guard,
20:26and reserve.
20:27This also means
20:28grooming standards.
20:30No more beards,
20:32long hair,
20:33superficial individual expression.
20:35We're going to cut our hair,
20:36shave our beards,
20:37and adhere to standards.
20:39Because it's like
20:40the broken windows
20:41theory of policing.
20:42It's like when you let
20:43the small stuff go,
20:44the big stuff eventually goes.
20:45So you have to address
20:47the small stuff.
20:48This is on duty,
20:49in the field,
20:50and in the rear.
20:51If you want a beard,
20:52you can join special forces.
20:54If not,
20:55then shave.
20:56We don't have a military
20:57full of Nordic pagans.
21:01But unfortunately,
21:01we have had leaders
21:02who either refused
21:03to call BS
21:04and enforce standards,
21:05or leaders who felt
21:07like they were not allowed
21:08to enforce standards.
21:11Both are unacceptable.
21:12And that's why today
21:14at My Direction,
21:15the era of unprofessional
21:16appearance is over.
21:18No more beardos.
21:21The era of rampant
21:22and ridiculous
21:23shaving profiles is done.
21:25Simply put,
21:26if you do not meet
21:27the male-level
21:28physical standards
21:29for combat positions,
21:30cannot pass a PT test,
21:32or don't want to shave
21:32and look professional,
21:34it's time for a new position.
21:36Or a new profession.
21:40I sincerely appreciate
21:41the proactive efforts
21:42the secretaries
21:43have already taken
21:44in some of those areas,
21:46service secretaries.
21:47And these directives
21:48are intended
21:49to simply accelerate
21:50those efforts.
21:52On the topic of standards,
21:54allow me a few words
21:55to talk about toxic leaders.
21:59Upholding and demanding
22:01high standards
22:02is not toxic.
22:05Enforcing high standards,
22:07not toxic leadership.
22:09Leading war fighters
22:10toward the goals
22:11toward the goals
22:11of high gender-neutral
22:13and uncompromising standards
22:15in order to forge
22:16a cohesive,
22:17formidable,
22:18and lethal
22:18department of war
22:20is not toxic.
22:22It is our duty
22:24consistent with
22:25our constitutional oath.
22:28Real toxic leadership
22:29is endangering subordinates
22:31with low standards.
22:32Real toxic leadership
22:33is promoting people
22:34based on immutable
22:35characteristics or quotas
22:37instead of based on merit.
22:39Real toxic leadership
22:40is promoting
22:41destructive ideologies
22:42that are an anathema
22:44to the Constitution
22:45and the laws of nature
22:46and nature's God,
22:47as Thomas Jefferson wrote
22:49in the Declaration
22:49of Independence.
22:52The definition of toxic
22:54has been turned upside down,
22:56and we're correcting that.
22:58That's why today
22:59at my direction,
23:00we're undertaking
23:00a full review
23:01of the department's definitions
23:03of so-called
23:04toxic leadership,
23:06bullying and hazing,
23:08to empower leaders
23:09to enforce standards
23:10without fear of retribution
23:11or second-guessing.
23:14Of course,
23:15you can't do, like,
23:16nasty bullying and hazing.
23:17We're talking about words
23:18like bullying and hazing
23:19and toxic.
23:19They've been weaponized
23:20and bastardized
23:21inside our formations,
23:23undercutting commanders
23:24and NCOs.
23:26No more.
23:28Setting, achieving,
23:29and maintaining
23:30high standards
23:31is what you all do.
23:33And if that makes me toxic,
23:35then so be it.
23:37Second,
23:38today at our direction,
23:39we're ensuring
23:40that every service,
23:41every unit,
23:42every schoolhouse,
23:43and every form
23:44of professional
23:45military education
23:46conduct an immediate review
23:48of their standards.
23:49Now, we've done this
23:50in many places already,
23:52but today,
23:53it goes across
23:53the entire Department of War.
23:56Any place where
23:57tried-and-true
23:58physical standards
24:00were altered,
24:00especially since 2015
24:03when combat arms standards
24:05were changed
24:05to ensure females
24:06could qualify,
24:08must be returned
24:09to their original standard.
24:11Other standards
24:12have been manipulated
24:13to hit racial quotas
24:15as well,
24:15which is just as unacceptable.
24:17This, too,
24:17must end.
24:18Merit only.
24:20The president talks
24:20about it all the time.
24:21Merit-based.
24:23Here are two basic frameworks
24:24I urge you to pursue
24:26in this process.
24:28Standards I call,
24:29my staffs heard all about them.
24:31The 1990 test
24:32and the E6 test.
24:36The 1990s test
24:38is simple.
24:40What were the military standards
24:41in 1990?
24:43And if they have changed,
24:45tell me why.
24:48Was it a necessary change
24:50based on the evolving
24:51landscape of combat?
24:53Or was the change
24:54due to a softening,
24:55weakening,
24:56or gender-based pursuit
24:57of other priorities?
24:591990 seems to be
25:01as good a place
25:01to start as any.
25:04And the E6 test.
25:06Ask yourself,
25:07does what you're doing
25:08make the leadership,
25:10accountability,
25:11and lethality efforts
25:12of an E6,
25:13or frankly,
25:14an O3,
25:15does it make it easier
25:17or more complicated?
25:19Does the change
25:20empower staff sergeants,
25:21petty officers,
25:22and tech sergeants
25:23to get back to basics?
25:25The answer should be
25:26a resounding yes.
25:28The E6 test
25:29or O3 test
25:31clarifies a lot
25:33and it clarifies quickly.
25:36Because war does not care
25:37if you're a man
25:38or a woman.
25:39Neither does the enemy.
25:41Nor does the weight
25:42of your rucksack,
25:43the size of an artillery round,
25:45or the body weight
25:46of a casualty
25:46on the battlefield
25:47who must be carried.
25:48This,
25:50and I want to be
25:50very clear about this,
25:52this is not about
25:53preventing women
25:54from serving.
25:55We very much value
25:58the impact
25:58of female troops.
26:00Our female officers
26:01and NCOs
26:02are the absolute best
26:04in the world.
26:06But when it comes
26:07to any job
26:08that requires
26:09physical power
26:10to perform in combat,
26:11those physical standards
26:12must be high
26:13and gender neutral.
26:15If women can make it,
26:17excellent.
26:17If not,
26:19it is what it is.
26:21If that means
26:22no women qualify
26:22for some combat jobs,
26:24so be it.
26:25That is not the intent,
26:27but it could be the result.
26:29So be it.
26:31It will also mean
26:32that weak men
26:34won't qualify
26:34because we're not
26:35playing games.
26:36This is combat.
26:37This is life or death.
26:39As we all know,
26:40this is you
26:41versus an enemy
26:42hell-bent on killing you.
26:44To be an effective,
26:46lethal fighting force
26:47you must trust
26:48that the warrior
26:49alongside you
26:50in battle
26:50is capable,
26:53truly physically capable
26:55of doing what is
26:55necessary under fire.
26:57You know
26:58this is the only standard
27:00you would want
27:01for your kids
27:02and for your grandkids.
27:04Apply the War Department
27:05golden rule,
27:06the 1990 test,
27:08and the E6 test,
27:09and it's really hard
27:10to go wrong.
27:11Third,
27:14we are attacking
27:16and ending
27:17the walking on eggshells
27:18and zero defect
27:19command culture.
27:21A risk-averse culture
27:23means officers execute
27:25not to lose
27:26instead of to win.
27:29A risk-averse culture
27:30means NCOs
27:31are not empowered
27:32to enforce standards.
27:33Commanders and NCOs
27:35don't take necessary risks
27:36or make tough adjustments
27:38for fear of rocking
27:39the boat
27:40or making mistakes.
27:42A blemish-free record
27:44is what peacetime leaders
27:46covet the most,
27:48which is the worst
27:49of all incentives.
27:52You, we,
27:53as senior leaders,
27:54need to end
27:55the poisonous culture
27:57of risk aversion
27:58and empower our NCOs
28:00at all levels
28:01to enforce standards.
28:03Truth be told,
28:05for the most part,
28:06we don't need new standards.
28:08We just need to reestablish
28:09a culture where
28:10enforcing standards
28:10is possible.
28:13And that's why
28:13today at my direction,
28:15I'm issuing new policies
28:17that will overhaul
28:18the I-G, E-O,
28:19and M-E-O processes.
28:22I call it the
28:23no more walking
28:24on eggshells policy.
28:26We are liberating commanders
28:28and NCOs.
28:30We are liberating you.
28:33We are overhauling
28:34an inspector general process,
28:35the I-G that has been weaponized,
28:38putting complainers,
28:40ideologues,
28:41and poor performers
28:42in the driver's seat.
28:44We're doing the same
28:45with the equal opportunity
28:46and military equal opportunity
28:48policies,
28:49the E-O and M-E-O
28:51at our department.
28:53No more frivolous complaints,
28:55no more anonymous complaints,
28:57no more repeat complainants,
28:59no more smearing reputations,
29:01no more endless waiting,
29:02no more legal limbo,
29:03no more sidetracking careers,
29:06no more walking
29:07on eggshells.
29:10Of course,
29:11being a racist
29:13has been illegal
29:14in our formation
29:15since 1948.
29:17The same goes
29:18for sexual harassment.
29:20Both are wrong
29:21and illegal.
29:23Those kinds of infractions
29:24will be ruthlessly
29:25enforced.
29:25But telling someone
29:29to shave
29:29or get a haircut
29:30or to get in shape
29:31or to fix their uniform
29:31or to show up on time
29:32or to work hard,
29:33that's exactly the kind
29:34of discrimination we want.
29:37We are not civilians.
29:39You are not civilians.
29:41You are set apart
29:42for a distinct purpose.
29:44So we as a department
29:46need to stop acting
29:47and thinking like civilians
29:48and get back to basics
29:49and put the power
29:50back in the hands
29:51of commanders
29:52and NCOs.
29:53Commanders and NCOs
29:54who make life
29:55and death decisions.
29:58Commanders and NCOs
29:59who enforce standards
30:00and ensure readiness.
30:01Commanders and NCOs
30:03who in this
30:04war department
30:06have to look
30:07in the mirror
30:07and have to pass
30:09the golden rule test.
30:10My kids,
30:13your kids,
30:15America's sons
30:16and daughters.
30:18So I urge you all
30:19here today
30:20and those watching
30:21take this guidance
30:22and run with it.
30:24The core of this speech
30:25is the ten directives
30:26we're announcing today.
30:27They were written
30:28for you,
30:30for Army leadership,
30:32for Navy leadership,
30:33for Marine Corps leadership,
30:34for Air Force leadership,
30:36Space Force leadership.
30:37These directives
30:38are designed
30:39to take the monkey
30:40off your back
30:41and put you,
30:42the leadership,
30:43back in the driver's seat.
30:46Move out with urgency
30:47because we have your back.
30:49I have your back.
30:50And the commander-in-chief
30:52has your back.
30:55And when we give you
30:57this guidance,
30:57we know mistakes
30:58will be made.
30:59It's the nature
31:00of leadership.
31:01But you should not pay
31:02for earnest mistakes
31:03for your entire career.
31:05And that's why today
31:06at my direction,
31:08we're making changes
31:09to the retention
31:09of adverse information
31:11on personnel records
31:12that will allow leaders
31:13with forgivable,
31:15earnest,
31:15or minor infractions
31:16to not be encumbered
31:18by those infractions
31:19in perpetuity.
31:20People make honest mistakes,
31:23and our mistakes
31:23should not define
31:24an entire career.
31:26Otherwise,
31:27we only try not
31:28to make mistakes,
31:28and that's not
31:29the business we're in.
31:30We need risk-takers
31:31and aggressive leaders
31:33and a culture
31:34that supports you.
31:36fourth,
31:39at the War Department,
31:40promotions across
31:41the Joint Force
31:42will be based on one thing,
31:44merit.
31:45Colorblind,
31:46gender-neutral,
31:47merit-based.
31:48The entire promotion process,
31:50including evaluations
31:51of warfighting capabilities,
31:52is being thoroughly reexamined.
31:54We've already done a lot
31:56in this area,
31:56but more changes
31:57are coming soon.
31:59We'll promote
32:00top-performing officers
32:01and NCOs faster
32:02and get rid of
32:04poor performers
32:05more quickly.
32:07Evaluations,
32:08education,
32:09and field exercises
32:10will become
32:12real evaluations,
32:13not box checks,
32:14for every one of us
32:15at every level.
32:18These same reforms
32:19happened before
32:20World War II as well.
32:22General George Marshall
32:23and Secretary of War
32:24Henry Stimson
32:26did the same thing,
32:27and we won
32:28a world war
32:29because of it.
32:30As it happens,
32:32when he started
32:33the job,
32:34Chairman Cain
32:34gave me a frame
32:36and a photo
32:37to hang in my office.
32:39A matching frame
32:40and photo
32:41hangs in his.
32:43It's a photo
32:44of Marshall and Stimson
32:45preparing for
32:46World War II.
32:48Those two leaders
32:49famously kept
32:50the door open
32:50between their offices
32:52for the entirety
32:53of the war.
32:54They worked together,
32:56civilian and uniform,
32:58every single day.
33:00Chairman Cain
33:01and I do the same.
33:02There is no daylight
33:03between us.
33:04Our doors are always open.
33:06Our job together
33:07is to ensure
33:08our military
33:09is led by the very best,
33:12ready to answer
33:12the nation's call.
33:16Fifth,
33:17as you have seen
33:19and the media
33:21has obsessed over,
33:23I have fired
33:24a number of senior officers
33:25since taking over.
33:26the previous chairman,
33:29other members
33:29of the Joint Chiefs,
33:30combatant commanders
33:31and other commanders.
33:32The rationale,
33:33for me,
33:33has been straightforward.
33:35It's nearly impossible
33:36to change a culture
33:37with the same people
33:38who helped create
33:39or even benefited
33:40from that culture.
33:42Even if that culture
33:43was created
33:43by a previous president
33:44and previous secretary.
33:46My approach
33:47has been simple.
33:49When in doubt,
33:51assess the situation,
33:52follow your gut,
33:53and if it's the best
33:55for the military,
33:56make a change.
33:58We all serve
34:00at the pleasure
34:00of the president
34:01every single day.
34:05But in many ways,
34:07it's not their fault.
34:09It's not your fault.
34:11As foolish and reckless
34:13as the woke department was,
34:15those officers were following
34:16elected political leadership.
34:19An entire generation
34:21of generals and admirals
34:22were told
34:23that they must parrot
34:25the insane fallacy
34:26that, quote,
34:27our diversity
34:27is our strength.
34:30Of course,
34:31we know our unity
34:31is our strength.
34:33They had to put out
34:34dizzying DEI
34:35and LGBTQI plus
34:37statements.
34:39They were told
34:40females and males
34:41are the same thing.
34:43Or that males
34:44who think they're females
34:45is totally normal.
34:48They were told
34:49that we need
34:50a green fleet
34:50and electric tanks
34:52they were told
34:53to kick out
34:54Americans
34:54who refuse
34:55an emergency vaccine.
34:57They followed
34:57civilian policies
34:58set by foolish
34:59and reckless
35:00political leaders.
35:04Our job,
35:05my job,
35:06has been to determine
35:08which leaders
35:08simply did
35:09what they must
35:10to answer
35:11the prerogatives
35:12of civilian leadership
35:13and which leaders
35:14are truly invested
35:15in the woke department
35:16and therefore
35:17incapable of embracing
35:18the war department
35:20and executing
35:21new lawful orders.
35:23That's it.
35:24It's that simple.
35:26So for the past
35:27eight months,
35:27we've gotten a good look
35:28under the hood
35:29of our officer corps.
35:31We've done our best
35:32to thoroughly assess
35:33the human terrain.
35:35We've had to make
35:35trade-offs
35:36and some difficult decisions.
35:39It's more of an art
35:40than a science.
35:41We have been
35:43and will continue
35:43to be judicious
35:45but also expeditious.
35:49The new compass
35:50heading is clear.
35:53Out with the Chiarellis,
35:54the McKenzies,
35:55and the Millies
35:55and in with the Stockdales,
35:58the Schwarzkopf's,
35:59and the Patton's.
36:01More leadership changes
36:02will be made
36:03of that uncertain.
36:05Not because we want to
36:06but because we must.
36:07Once again,
36:08this is life and death.
36:09The sooner we have
36:11the right people,
36:12the sooner we can advance
36:13the right policies.
36:14Personnel is policy.
36:17But I look out
36:18at this group
36:18and I see great Americans.
36:21Leaders who have given
36:23decades
36:24to our great republic
36:25at great sacrifice
36:27to yourselves
36:28and to your families.
36:31But if the words
36:33I'm speaking today
36:34are making your heart sink,
36:37then you should do
36:38the honorable thing
36:39and resign.
36:41We would thank you
36:42for your service.
36:45But I suspect,
36:47I know,
36:48the overwhelming majority
36:50of you feel the opposite.
36:52These words make
36:53your hearts full.
36:55You love the War Department
36:57because you love
36:57what you do,
36:58the profession of arms.
37:00You are hereby liberated
37:02to be an apolitical,
37:05hard-charging,
37:06no-nonsense,
37:07constitutional leader
37:09that you joined
37:10the military to be.
37:14We need you locked in
37:15on the M.
37:18Not the D,
37:19the E,
37:20or the I.
37:20Not the D-E-I
37:21or the D-I-E
37:22of Dime.
37:23By that,
37:24I mean the M.
37:25Military
37:26of the instruments
37:27of national power.
37:30We have entire departments
37:31across the government
37:32dedicated to diplomatic,
37:33informational,
37:33and economic lines
37:34of effort.
37:35We do the M.
37:37Nobody else does.
37:38And our GOFOs
37:39need to master it
37:40in every domain
37:41and every scenario.
37:42No more distractions,
37:43no more political ideologies,
37:45no more debris.
37:48Now, of course,
37:48we're going to disagree
37:49at times.
37:51We would not be Americans
37:52if we didn't.
37:54Being a leader
37:54in a large organization
37:55like ours
37:56means having
37:57frank conversations
37:58and differences
38:00of opinion.
38:02You will win
38:02some arguments
38:03and you will lose
38:04some arguments.
38:05But when civilian leaders
38:07issue lawful orders,
38:08we execute.
38:10We are professionals
38:11in the profession
38:12of arms.
38:14Our entire
38:15constitutional system
38:16is predicated
38:18upon this
38:19understanding.
38:21Now,
38:22it seems like
38:23a small thing,
38:24but it's not.
38:25This includes,
38:25as well,
38:26the behavior
38:26of our troops online.
38:28To that end,
38:29I want to thank
38:30and recognize
38:31the services
38:32for their new
38:32proactive
38:33social media policies.
38:35Use them.
38:37Anonymous,
38:38online,
38:39or keyboard
38:39complaining
38:40is not worthy
38:41of a warrior.
38:42It's cowardice
38:43masquerading
38:45as conscience.
38:46Anonymous,
38:47unit-level
38:47social media pages
38:48that trash commanders,
38:50demoralize troops,
38:51and undermine
38:52unit cohesion
38:52must not
38:53be tolerated.
38:56Again,
38:57O3s,
38:58E6s.
39:00Sixth,
39:02we must train
39:03and we must maintain.
39:05Any moment
39:06that we are not
39:07training on our mission
39:08or maintaining
39:09our equipment
39:10is a moment
39:11we are less prepared
39:12for preventing
39:12or winning
39:13the next war.
39:14That is why
39:16today at my direction
39:17we are drastically
39:18reducing
39:19the ridiculous
39:20amount of
39:21mandatory training
39:22that individuals
39:23and units
39:24must execute.
39:26We've already
39:27ended the most
39:27egregious.
39:28Now we're giving
39:29you back real time.
39:30Less PowerPoint
39:31briefings
39:32and fewer
39:32online courses,
39:33more time in the
39:34motor pool,
39:35and more time
39:35on the range.
39:37Our job
39:38is to make sure
39:38you have the money,
39:39equipment,
39:40weapons,
39:40and parts
39:40to train
39:41and maintain
39:41and then you
39:42take it from there.
39:44You all know this
39:46because it's
39:46common sense.
39:47The tougher
39:48and the higher
39:49the standards
39:50in our units,
39:52the higher
39:52the retention rates
39:53in those units.
39:55Warriors want
39:56to be challenged.
39:57Troops want
39:57to be tested.
39:58When you don't train
39:59and you don't
40:00maintain,
40:00you demoralize.
40:02And that's when
40:03our best people
40:04decide to take
40:05their talents
40:05to the civilian world.
40:08The leaders
40:09who created
40:09the woke department
40:10have already
40:10driven out
40:11too many hard
40:12chargers.
40:12We reverse
40:13that trend
40:14right now.
40:16There is no world
40:17in which high
40:18intensity war
40:19exists without
40:19pain,
40:21agony,
40:21and human
40:22tragedy.
40:23We are in a
40:24dangerous line
40:25of work.
40:26You are in a
40:27dangerous line
40:28of work.
40:30We may lose
40:31good people,
40:33but let no
40:34warrior cry out
40:35from the grave
40:35if only I had
40:37been properly
40:37trained.
40:38We will not
40:40lose war
40:41fighters because
40:42we fail to
40:43train or
40:43equip them
40:44or resource
40:45them.
40:45Shame on us
40:46if we do.
40:47Train like
40:48your warriors'
40:49lives depend
40:49on it.
40:50Because they
40:51do.
40:51To that point,
40:54basic training
40:55is being restored
40:56to what it
40:56should be.
40:58Scary,
40:59tough,
40:59and disciplined.
41:00We're empowering
41:01drill sergeants to
41:02instill healthy
41:03fear in new
41:04recruits,
41:04ensuring that
41:06future war
41:07fighters are
41:08forged.
41:09Yes, they can
41:10shark attack,
41:11they can toss
41:11bunks,
41:12they can swear,
41:14and yes, they
41:14can put their
41:15hands on
41:15recruits.
41:16This does not
41:17mean they can
41:17be reckless
41:18or violate the
41:20law, but they
41:21can use tried
41:22and true methods
41:22to motivate
41:24new recruits
41:25to make them
41:27the warriors
41:27they need to
41:28be.
41:29Back to
41:30basics at
41:31basic as well.
41:32Of course,
41:34and you know
41:35this basic
41:35training is not
41:36where mission
41:36readiness should
41:37end.
41:38The nature of
41:38the evolving
41:38threat environment
41:39demands that
41:40everyone in
41:42every job must
41:44be ready to
41:44join the fight
41:45if needed.
41:46A core
41:47credo of the
41:47Marine Corps
41:48is every
41:49Marine a
41:50rifleman.
41:52It means that
41:52everyone,
41:53regardless of
41:54MOS, is
41:54proficient enough
41:55to engage an
41:56enemy threat at
41:57sea, in the
41:57air, or in a
41:59so-called rear
41:59area.
42:00We need to
42:02ensure that
42:03every member
42:03of our
42:04uniformed
42:04military
42:05maintains
42:06baseline
42:06proficiency
42:07and basic
42:07combat skills,
42:08especially
42:10because the
42:10next war,
42:11like the
42:11last, will
42:12likely not
42:13have a
42:14rear area.
42:17Finally,
42:18as President
42:19Trump rightly
42:20pointed out
42:21when he
42:21changed the
42:22department name,
42:24the United
42:24States has
42:25not won a
42:25major theater
42:26war since
42:27the name was
42:27changed to
42:29the Department
42:29of Defense,
42:30in 1947.
42:33One conflict
42:34stands out in
42:34stark contrast.
42:37The Gulf
42:38War.
42:39Why?
42:40Well, there's a
42:41number of
42:41reasons, but it
42:42was a limited
42:42mission with
42:43overwhelming
42:44force and a
42:44clear end
42:45state.
42:45But why did
42:46we execute
42:46and win the
42:47Gulf War the
42:48way we did
42:48in 1991?
42:50There's two
42:50overwhelming
42:51reasons.
42:53One was
42:53President Ronald
42:54Reagan's military
42:55buildup gave an
42:56overwhelming
42:56advantage.
42:58And two,
42:58military and
42:59Pentagon
43:00leadership had
43:01previous
43:02formative
43:03battlefield
43:03experiences.
43:05The men who
43:06led this
43:07department during
43:08the Gulf War
43:08were mostly
43:10combat veterans
43:11of the
43:12Vietnam War.
43:13They said
43:14never again to
43:15mission creep
43:16or nebulous
43:17end states.
43:19The same
43:19holds true
43:20today.
43:21Our civilian
43:22and military
43:22leadership is
43:23chock full of
43:24veterans from
43:25Iraq and
43:26Afghanistan who
43:28say never
43:28again to
43:29nation-building
43:29and nebulous
43:30end states.
43:31This clear-eyed
43:33view all the way
43:34in the White
43:34House, combined
43:36with President
43:36Trump's military
43:37buildup, postures
43:39us for future
43:40victories if, and
43:41we will, and
43:43when, we embrace
43:45the War
43:45Department.
43:46And we must.
43:49We are preparing
43:50every day.
43:51We have to be
43:52prepared for war,
43:53not for defense.
43:53We're training
43:54warriors, not
43:55defenders.
43:56We fight wars
43:57to win, not
43:57to defend.
43:59Defense is
44:00something you do
44:00all the time.
44:01It's inherently
44:01reactionary and
44:02can lead to
44:03overuse, overreach,
44:04and mission
44:05creep.
44:06War is
44:07something you do
44:07sparingly, on
44:09our own terms, and
44:10with clear aims.
44:12We fight to win.
44:14We unleash
44:15overwhelming and
44:17punishing violence
44:18on the enemy.
44:20We also don't
44:21fight with stupid
44:22rules of engagement.
44:23We untie the
44:24hands of our
44:25warfighters to
44:26intimidate, demoralize,
44:28hunt, and kill the
44:29enemies of our
44:30country.
44:31No more politically
44:32correct and overbearing
44:33rules of engagement.
44:35Just common sense,
44:37maximum lethality, and
44:39authority for warfighters.
44:41That's all I ever
44:42wanted as a
44:43platoon leader.
44:45And it's all my
44:46E6 squad leaders ever
44:47wanted, back to that
44:48E6 rule.
44:49We let our leaders
44:51fight their
44:51formations.
44:52And then we have
44:53their back.
44:55It's very simple,
44:56yet incredibly
44:57powerful.
45:00A few months ago, I
45:01was at the White
45:02House when President
45:02Trump announced his
45:03Liberation Day for
45:04America's trade policy.
45:06It was a landmark
45:07day.
45:09Well, today is another
45:10Liberation Day.
45:11The liberation of
45:12America's warriors, in
45:13name, in deed, and in
45:15authorities.
45:16You kill people and
45:19break things for a
45:20living.
45:21You are not
45:22politically correct
45:23and don't necessarily
45:25belong always in
45:27polite society.
45:29We are not an army of
45:30one.
45:31We are a joint force of
45:33millions of selfless
45:34Americans.
45:36We are warriors.
45:38We are purpose-built.
45:39not for fair weather,
45:42blue skies, or calm
45:43seas.
45:44We were built to load
45:45up in the back of
45:46helicopters, five
45:47tons, or zodiacs, in
45:49the dead of night, in
45:51fair weather or foul, to
45:54go to dangerous places,
45:56to find those who would
45:57do our nation harm, and
45:59deliver justice on
46:02behalf of the American
46:02people in close and
46:04brutal combat, if
46:05necessary.
46:06You are different.
46:12We fight not because
46:13we hate what's in
46:14front of us.
46:16We fight because we
46:17love what's behind us.
46:18You see, the Ivy League
46:20faculty loungers will
46:20never understand us, and
46:21that's okay, because
46:24they could never do what
46:25you do.
46:27The media will
46:28mischaracterize us, and
46:30that's okay, because
46:31deep down they know the
46:32reason they can do what
46:33they do is you.
46:36In this profession, you
46:37feel comfortable inside
46:38the violence so that our
46:39citizens can live
46:40peacefully.
46:43Lethality is our
46:44calling card, and
46:45victory our only
46:47acceptable end state.
46:50In closing, a few
46:52weeks ago, at our
46:54monthly Pentagon
46:55Christian prayer service,
46:57I recited a
46:58commander's prayer.
46:59prayer, it's a
47:00simple yet
47:01meaningful prayer for
47:02wisdom for
47:03commanders and
47:03leaders.
47:04I encourage you to
47:05look it up if you've
47:06never seen it.
47:07But the prayer, it
47:09ends like this.
47:11And most of all,
47:12Lord, please keep my
47:15soldiers safe.
47:17Lead them, guide
47:18them, protect
47:19them, watch over
47:21them.
47:21And as you gave all
47:24of yourself for
47:25me, help me give
47:27all of myself for
47:29them.
47:30And amen.
47:32I have prayed this
47:33prayer many times since
47:34I've had the privilege of
47:35being your secretary.
47:36And I will continue to
47:38pray this prayer for each
47:39of you as you command
47:40and lead our nation's
47:43finest.
47:45Go forth and do good
47:48things, hard things.
47:51President Trump has
47:52your back and so do
47:54I.
47:56And you'll hear from
47:57him shortly.
47:59Move out and draw
48:01fire because we are
48:05the War Department.
48:07Godspeed.
48:08Crew, attention.
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