- To the greatest Sailors, Marines,
and civilian teammates in the world,
thank you for all your dedicated professionalism
in the face of this global pandemic.
You've heard me say that the most predictable thing
that we can say about the future
is that it will be unpredictable.
The last few months have proven that to be true.
As I wrote to you on Friday, we must be ready at all times,
not just as an organization, but as individuals,
to exhibit the personal qualities
of speed, transparency, adaptability, collaboration,
humility, trust and a healthy dose of skepticism.
And that's exactly what you've done
in fulfilling our many missions.
From getting the Mercy and the Comfort
prepared in record time, to the quarantine efforts
at Miramar and elsewhere,
to the logistics and security efforts
underway around the world, to the personal responsibility
you've all taken to prevent the spread
of this disease on our bases and ships.
And through it all you've kept the watch
on our primary security mission,
executing the National Defense Strategy,
no matter what curve ball history may throw our way.
Every one of you stands ready, willing
and more than capable to protect
the American people and defend this nation.
It is what we all signed up for,
to serve a cause greater than ourselves,
to protect our democracy and our very way of life.
And I'm proud of the military families
who have faced additional burdens
through travel restrictions and other challenges.
I am keenly aware that for your families
social distance is not a new concept
but a daily reality during deployments.
The new realities we face have only added to that burden.
Please know that your families are at the top of my mind
and we are committed to doing everything we can
to keep them healthy and safe
as we minimize the disruptions to their daily lives.
We remain ever grateful for their service as well as yours.
The Navy and Marine Corps have always stepped forward
to protect the United States of America
in its greatest time of need.
And I'm inspired and honored
to join you in that cause today.
Together we will get through this
and emerge on the other side as a stronger
and more agile Navy and Marine Corps team.
And as a result of that, a far more resilient nation.
Thank you so much for all you do every day.
Don't give up the ship.