WEBVTT 00:01.240 --> 00:03.351 Good morning , ladies and gentlemen . 00:03.609 --> 00:06.760 Today we celebrate the 249th birthday 00:06.769 --> 00:09.390 of our army and recognize the proud 00:09.399 --> 00:11.479 traditions of selfless and heroic 00:11.489 --> 00:13.545 service the army has provided to our 00:13.545 --> 00:16.850 nation . Please stand for the arrival 00:16.860 --> 00:19.030 of the official party and remain 00:19.040 --> 00:20.818 standing for the singing of our 00:20.818 --> 00:23.040 national anthem by Staff Sergeant Ethan 00:23.040 --> 00:25.207 Green from the United States Army band 00:25.207 --> 00:27.870 Pershing Zone . And the invocation 00:27.989 --> 00:29.878 delivered by chaplain , Brigadier 00:29.878 --> 00:32.169 general Jack Stumme . Army deputy chief 00:32.180 --> 00:34.360 of chaplain . The official party 00:34.369 --> 00:36.549 includes the Deputy Secretary of 00:36.560 --> 00:38.740 Defense , the honorable Kathleen H 00:38.750 --> 00:41.409 Hicks , the Secretary of the Army , the 00:41.419 --> 00:44.279 honorable Christine E Waru , the chief 00:44.290 --> 00:46.457 of staff of the army General Randy , a 00:46.457 --> 00:48.919 George and Sergeant major of the army , 00:48.930 --> 00:50.509 Michael R Weimer . 01:02.080 --> 01:05.500 Oh , say , can you see 01:06.309 --> 01:10.089 by the early light 01:10.290 --> 01:12.930 what so proudly ? We 01:14.440 --> 01:18.069 at the twilight's last gleaming 01:18.110 --> 01:22.059 whose broad stripes and bright stars 01:22.069 --> 01:25.459 through the perilous fight 01:25.750 --> 01:29.419 or the parts we watched 01:29.430 --> 01:33.220 were so gently gleaming 01:33.769 --> 01:36.050 and the rock at right . 01:37.660 --> 01:40.910 Problems per the 01:41.129 --> 01:44.720 day prove through the night 01:44.730 --> 01:48.489 that our flag was still there 01:48.739 --> 01:51.750 or say was that Star 01:51.790 --> 01:55.699 Spang all about ? Yeah , I had to wait 01:57.739 --> 02:00.610 or the land of our 02:02.569 --> 02:06.529 and the whole , do 02:08.320 --> 02:08.610 he ? 02:15.869 --> 02:17.425 Happy birthday . Army . And 02:17.425 --> 02:19.480 congratulations those to you who are 02:19.480 --> 02:21.720 reenlisting today . I invite you to 02:21.729 --> 02:24.240 pray with me almighty and wonderful God , 02:24.250 --> 02:27.050 our rock and our salvation . We gather 02:27.059 --> 02:29.281 today to celebrate the solid foundation 02:29.289 --> 02:31.860 for peace and liberty that our army has 02:31.869 --> 02:35.809 provided our nation for 249 years . And 02:35.820 --> 02:37.820 we remember with Thanksgiving , the 02:37.820 --> 02:39.931 faithful and heroic women and men who 02:39.931 --> 02:42.229 have served before us , grant courage 02:42.240 --> 02:44.073 and fortitude to those currently 02:44.073 --> 02:46.179 serving in harm's way , strengthen 02:46.190 --> 02:48.301 families awaiting the return and give 02:48.301 --> 02:50.570 comfort to our fellow Americans whose 02:50.580 --> 02:53.570 loved ones have given the last full 02:53.580 --> 02:56.570 measure of devotion . We ask you now to 02:56.580 --> 02:58.970 empower each of us here , Lord to live 02:58.979 --> 03:01.201 out the noble values exemplified in the 03:01.201 --> 03:03.479 lives of our soldiers past and present . 03:03.820 --> 03:05.987 Pour out a special blessing upon these 03:05.987 --> 03:08.169 fine soldiers here today who will 03:08.179 --> 03:10.940 reaffirm their commitment to serve and 03:10.949 --> 03:13.389 renew that commitment within each one 03:13.399 --> 03:16.250 of us so that our army will continue to 03:16.259 --> 03:19.029 be ready for all that is required of us 03:19.080 --> 03:21.279 by your strength . Oh Lord , we will 03:21.289 --> 03:23.511 keep the lamp of liberty burning in our 03:23.520 --> 03:26.210 nation and around the world in your 03:26.220 --> 03:29.339 most holy name . I pray . Amen . 03:31.639 --> 03:32.910 Please be seated . 03:37.820 --> 03:40.389 Ladies and gentlemen , General George . 03:50.710 --> 03:52.821 Good morning , everybody . How are we 03:52.821 --> 03:55.099 doing ? All right , we had a great run . 03:55.099 --> 03:57.210 So um good to see everybody in here . 03:57.509 --> 04:00.089 Um I first just want to thank everybody 04:00.100 --> 04:02.610 for especially from our joint team for , 04:02.619 --> 04:05.240 for joining us . Um Secretary Raven , 04:05.630 --> 04:08.669 um Vice of the Navy ship mates um that 04:08.679 --> 04:11.289 are here . Um and especially thank 04:11.300 --> 04:13.720 Secretary Hicks . Um I know from being 04:13.729 --> 04:16.170 up there what the schedule um looks 04:16.179 --> 04:18.346 like . So I appreciate you coming down 04:18.346 --> 04:20.401 here and helping us uh celebrate our 04:20.401 --> 04:22.457 birthday . Uh I think we look pretty 04:22.649 --> 04:25.609 good for 249 years old . So , 04:27.410 --> 04:31.010 um the secretary , secretary and I get 04:31.019 --> 04:33.309 the pleasure of getting out and seeing 04:33.320 --> 04:36.109 what our troops are doing um around the 04:36.119 --> 04:38.452 world and it's , it's really impressive . 04:38.452 --> 04:40.950 Just got back from Europe all up and 04:40.959 --> 04:43.649 down the eastern flank and was super 04:43.660 --> 04:45.604 impressed with what our troops are 04:45.604 --> 04:47.493 doing to build their war fighting 04:47.493 --> 04:49.216 prowess . Um Just the level of 04:49.216 --> 04:51.271 discipline that they're , you know , 04:51.271 --> 04:53.382 that they show um to our partners and 04:53.382 --> 04:55.160 allies and what they're doing . 04:55.160 --> 04:57.271 Innovating . We got troopers . I said 04:57.271 --> 04:59.271 this this morning , we got troopers 04:59.271 --> 05:01.327 right now laying in the jungle um in 05:01.327 --> 05:03.271 the Philippines and a lot of other 05:03.271 --> 05:05.271 places um out in the Indo Pacific , 05:05.271 --> 05:07.382 we've got troopers right now that are 05:07.382 --> 05:09.540 out at CT CS that are training and 05:09.549 --> 05:13.339 working hard . And uh we have 05:13.350 --> 05:15.579 folks in the Middle East and Cops and 05:15.589 --> 05:18.040 Bobs . We got our Seven Transportation 05:18.049 --> 05:20.540 Brigade that's out there um helping 05:20.549 --> 05:22.716 with humanitarian assistance . So just 05:22.716 --> 05:24.827 a lot of tough missions . Um I didn't 05:24.827 --> 05:27.339 get into S Fabs in Africa , S Fabs in 05:27.350 --> 05:29.461 South America . So the army is really 05:29.461 --> 05:31.470 busy and we're very proud of , of 05:31.480 --> 05:33.813 everything that they've been doing . Um , 05:33.813 --> 05:35.839 we also were blessed to just be in 05:35.850 --> 05:39.040 Normandy and , uh for the 80th and it 05:39.049 --> 05:42.380 was really amazing um to meet all the 05:42.390 --> 05:44.557 World War Two veterans . I think there 05:44.557 --> 05:46.779 was about 100 and 70 of them there . Um 05:46.779 --> 05:48.890 I'll recommend a book , um , that for 05:48.890 --> 05:51.600 everybody to read , uh D Day by Steven 05:51.609 --> 05:53.942 Ambrose . It's a really good , you know , 05:53.942 --> 05:56.179 stories . It's an excellent book . Um 05:56.190 --> 05:58.730 But Three Takeaways for me after , you 05:58.739 --> 06:00.628 know , that D day that I think is 06:00.628 --> 06:02.850 important for all of us here . And then 06:02.850 --> 06:06.019 talking to our World War Two vets . The 06:06.029 --> 06:09.429 first is , um that winning wars 06:09.440 --> 06:12.500 requires a strong army always has and I 06:12.510 --> 06:15.059 think it always will . And so we got to 06:15.070 --> 06:17.839 remember that the second is that the 06:17.850 --> 06:20.269 burden of combat and really the tough 06:20.279 --> 06:22.709 part of it is gonna be borne by our 06:22.720 --> 06:25.470 soldiers , our NC Os and our junior 06:25.480 --> 06:28.190 officers . And you'll , you'll see that 06:28.200 --> 06:30.422 or you'll read that when you , when you 06:30.422 --> 06:33.140 uh look at that book . And the third is 06:33.149 --> 06:35.619 that our duty back here at the higher 06:35.630 --> 06:37.741 headquarters is to do everything that 06:37.741 --> 06:40.750 we possibly can to make sure that our 06:40.760 --> 06:43.093 troopers have everything that they need , 06:43.093 --> 06:45.316 the resources that we fight through all 06:45.316 --> 06:48.089 the bureaucracy , all the challenges um 06:48.100 --> 06:50.322 that are necessary to make sure that we 06:50.322 --> 06:52.433 are putting them in the best possible 06:52.433 --> 06:54.859 position um to be successful on the 06:54.869 --> 06:56.980 battlefield . And I think we all need 06:56.980 --> 06:59.091 to remember that . And I think that's 06:59.091 --> 07:01.250 pretty consistent with the last 249 07:01.260 --> 07:04.420 years . And I just say that because , 07:05.160 --> 07:07.160 and I'm sure there are a lot of you 07:07.160 --> 07:09.216 will know this from what we're , you 07:09.216 --> 07:10.993 know , reading in the press and 07:10.993 --> 07:13.216 everything else . The world is probably 07:13.216 --> 07:15.160 as volatile as I've seen it . Um , 07:15.160 --> 07:17.920 certainly in my career . Um , And I 07:17.929 --> 07:20.096 wanna make sure that we're even better 07:20.096 --> 07:23.700 for our 250th birthday . Um coming up 07:23.709 --> 07:26.040 um next June and then last , I just 07:26.049 --> 07:28.271 wanna talk to our , you know , our most 07:28.271 --> 07:31.579 important uh asset in our army and we 07:31.589 --> 07:33.478 spend a lot of time talking about 07:33.478 --> 07:35.700 equipment , um are all of these and I 07:35.709 --> 07:37.820 would all these reenlist these . So I 07:37.820 --> 07:40.042 would ask you guys all just to stand up 07:40.042 --> 07:42.153 real quick , turn around so everybody 07:42.153 --> 07:44.320 can give you a big round of applause . 07:52.299 --> 07:55.970 Thank you . Thank you all . So we got 07:55.980 --> 07:59.470 to , we got to re we got to enlist 40 08:00.600 --> 08:02.822 the other night and things were looking 08:02.822 --> 08:04.989 pretty good on that front um as well . 08:04.989 --> 08:06.878 But again , we thank you for your 08:06.878 --> 08:09.100 commitment and we're all proud to serve 08:09.100 --> 08:11.211 with you . I'm glad you uh all agreed 08:11.211 --> 08:13.211 to sign up for 15 more years . So , 08:13.211 --> 08:15.378 thank you very much . Ok , I'm gonna , 08:15.378 --> 08:17.809 I'd like to now turn it over to uh to 08:17.820 --> 08:21.640 my um battle buddy . Um who's down here 08:21.649 --> 08:23.760 and I will tell you from working with 08:23.760 --> 08:26.038 her very close . No one loves the army . 08:26.038 --> 08:28.480 Um More than our secretary . So , 08:28.489 --> 08:29.545 Secretary Warmth , 08:40.718 --> 08:43.809 good morning , uh and Happy Birthday 08:43.818 --> 08:45.985 Army . This is great . You know , we a 08:45.985 --> 08:48.096 lot of us were out running and now we 08:48.096 --> 08:50.096 get to do this and we get to reward 08:50.096 --> 08:52.262 ourselves for running by eating cake , 08:52.262 --> 08:54.485 which is gonna be great . So it is such 08:54.485 --> 08:56.707 a pleasure to share this day with you . 08:56.707 --> 08:58.818 Um And I want to say , first of all , 08:58.818 --> 09:01.040 for those of you in uniform , thank you 09:01.040 --> 09:03.207 for continuing the army's tradition of 09:03.207 --> 09:05.318 professional , professionalism and uh 09:05.318 --> 09:07.630 warfighting excellence . And I also 09:07.640 --> 09:09.989 want to thank the 300,000 department of 09:10.000 --> 09:12.580 the army civilians who support our war 09:12.590 --> 09:15.520 fighters in uniform every day and keep 09:15.530 --> 09:17.869 the entire army institution running . 09:17.880 --> 09:20.047 Sometimes our civilians are the unsung 09:20.047 --> 09:22.213 heroes , but you all are an incredible 09:22.213 --> 09:24.789 part of the army team . And I also want 09:24.799 --> 09:26.632 to say thank you to everyone who 09:26.632 --> 09:28.750 supports our soldiers . Um Thank you 09:28.760 --> 09:30.927 for all you do . And I especially want 09:30.927 --> 09:33.299 to thank our army families uh who serve 09:33.309 --> 09:35.710 right alongside their loved ones in 09:35.719 --> 09:37.830 uniform . Couldn't do it without you 09:38.489 --> 09:42.390 even as we are um celebrating 249 years , 09:42.400 --> 09:44.559 which is pretty incredible . The army 09:44.570 --> 09:46.909 is also transforming for the future . 09:47.200 --> 09:48.867 We are , I like to say we are 09:48.867 --> 09:51.179 transforming our weapon systems . We 09:51.190 --> 09:53.023 are bringing on board the latest 09:53.023 --> 09:55.079 technologies to keep our soldiers at 09:55.079 --> 09:57.301 the cutting edge . We're providing them 09:57.301 --> 09:59.412 with the overmatch uh that we need to 09:59.412 --> 10:01.468 be able to defeat any adversary . We 10:01.468 --> 10:03.634 are transforming our force structure . 10:03.710 --> 10:06.289 We are restructuring our divisions into 10:06.299 --> 10:08.880 more lethal agile formations and we're 10:08.890 --> 10:11.770 building new units to increase our 10:11.780 --> 10:14.919 capacities for air defense counter UAs 10:14.929 --> 10:18.049 cyberspace just to name a few of the 10:18.059 --> 10:20.330 important capabilities we need for 10:20.340 --> 10:24.059 multi domain operations . And uh we are , 10:24.070 --> 10:26.292 as the chief said , transforming how we 10:26.299 --> 10:28.929 recruit our soldiers . We are literally 10:29.030 --> 10:31.500 restructuring from top to bottom our 10:31.510 --> 10:33.729 recruiting enterprise so that we're 10:33.739 --> 10:36.409 able to tap into the very best talent 10:36.419 --> 10:38.559 that America can offer to the army . 10:38.570 --> 10:40.792 And I think the chief and I in the S MA 10:40.919 --> 10:43.330 are feeling pretty good about how we're 10:43.340 --> 10:45.659 doing uh with recruiting this year . Uh 10:45.669 --> 10:48.289 looking forward to making our goal and 10:48.299 --> 10:50.659 also putting a great big deposit into 10:50.669 --> 10:53.090 our delayed entry pool . So uh I wanna 10:53.099 --> 10:55.210 thank everyone in the army associated 10:55.210 --> 10:57.739 with our recruiting enterprise . But as 10:57.750 --> 10:59.583 we transform , we've also got to 10:59.583 --> 11:01.583 continue to take care of our people 11:01.583 --> 11:04.330 because the heart and soul of the army 11:04.340 --> 11:07.530 is its people . Um And , and our 11:07.539 --> 11:09.761 soldiers , you know , again , the chief 11:09.761 --> 11:11.706 and I in the S MA , we were all in 11:11.706 --> 11:13.760 France to celebrate the 80th 11:13.770 --> 11:16.840 anniversary of D day . What I saw , uh 11:16.849 --> 11:18.905 there was the fact that , you know , 11:18.905 --> 11:21.071 our soldiers who are serving today are 11:21.071 --> 11:24.380 con are continuing to serve with honor 11:24.390 --> 11:27.119 with courage and determination , just 11:27.130 --> 11:29.409 like the veterans in our greatest uh 11:29.419 --> 11:32.630 generation . Um I met with a lot of the 11:32.640 --> 11:35.710 veterans who'd served uh in operation 11:35.719 --> 11:38.510 overlord . Uh And you know , whether 11:38.520 --> 11:41.099 they came ashore on the beaches , 11:41.109 --> 11:43.419 whether they parachuted into the hedge 11:43.429 --> 11:46.219 rows or , you know , even crash landed 11:46.229 --> 11:48.820 in some cases in gliders . Uh It was 11:48.830 --> 11:51.364 really incredible to hear their stories 11:51.375 --> 11:54.794 of bravery , valor and courage and it 11:54.804 --> 11:56.914 was incredible to see , you know how 11:56.924 --> 11:59.202 proud they were to wear their uniforms , 11:59.202 --> 12:01.724 to wear their medals . But I also had 12:01.734 --> 12:03.835 the opportunity to see hundreds of 12:03.844 --> 12:06.075 currently serving soldiers and leaders 12:06.085 --> 12:08.005 from across our army come out to 12:08.015 --> 12:10.348 participate in the anniversary of D day . 12:10.729 --> 12:13.030 Some of the soldiers uh were coming to 12:13.039 --> 12:15.099 honor their unit's history . Uh 12:15.130 --> 12:16.686 Obviously , there was great 12:16.686 --> 12:18.741 representation from the 82nd and the 12:18.741 --> 12:22.309 101st . Um but there were also others 12:22.320 --> 12:24.979 like soldiers in the 1 73rd Airborne 12:24.989 --> 12:27.080 Brigade and the 10th Army Air and 12:27.090 --> 12:29.312 Missile Defense Command . And they were 12:29.312 --> 12:31.479 joining us from their current missions 12:31.479 --> 12:33.479 where they are standing shoulder to 12:33.479 --> 12:35.630 shoulder with our NATO allies all 12:35.640 --> 12:38.289 across Europe . And in those soldiers 12:38.299 --> 12:40.919 serving today , I saw the same sense of 12:40.929 --> 12:43.229 duty , the same pride , the same 12:43.239 --> 12:45.700 courage , the same selfless service 12:45.770 --> 12:48.630 that I saw in the um veterans 12:48.640 --> 12:50.696 representing the greatest generation 12:50.696 --> 12:53.150 who had fought in years past . And I , 12:53.159 --> 12:55.048 and it gave me the opportunity to 12:55.048 --> 12:57.326 reflect on the fact that when I travel , 12:57.326 --> 12:59.603 whether it's here in the United States , 12:59.603 --> 13:01.548 to our installations or around the 13:01.548 --> 13:03.659 world . I see those same qualities in 13:03.659 --> 13:05.881 all of the men and women serving in our 13:05.881 --> 13:08.969 army , whether they are uh training 13:08.979 --> 13:11.349 Ukrainian troops in Germany , whether 13:11.359 --> 13:13.239 they are defending our bases and 13:13.250 --> 13:15.250 interests alongside with our sister 13:15.250 --> 13:17.630 Services in Centcom , or whether 13:17.640 --> 13:20.159 they're building um partnerships and 13:20.169 --> 13:22.225 relationships with our allies in the 13:22.225 --> 13:25.349 Indo Pacific to deter pr c aggression . 13:25.950 --> 13:28.330 And I've also seen it countless times 13:28.340 --> 13:30.960 uh closer to home with , for example , 13:30.969 --> 13:33.080 our soldiers who have helped with the 13:33.080 --> 13:35.247 recovery efforts from the wildfires in 13:35.247 --> 13:38.210 Hawaii or who have done typhoon relief 13:38.219 --> 13:41.400 efforts in Guam or , you know , helping 13:41.409 --> 13:43.353 to open up the Port of Baltimore , 13:43.353 --> 13:45.520 which we did just this week . I mean , 13:45.520 --> 13:47.969 it is incredible how quickly that 13:48.250 --> 13:50.830 incredibly complicated uh recovery 13:50.840 --> 13:52.951 operation was completed . And I think 13:52.951 --> 13:55.409 the army and the entire joint 13:55.419 --> 13:57.641 interagency team who did that should be 13:57.641 --> 13:59.863 very , very proud of the work that they 13:59.863 --> 14:02.869 did . And I see it here today in the 14:02.880 --> 14:05.599 rows of all of you who are going to be 14:05.729 --> 14:08.429 reenlisting . Um And for all of you who 14:08.440 --> 14:10.273 are reenlisting , I just want to 14:10.273 --> 14:13.039 commend you for making the decision to 14:13.049 --> 14:16.289 continue serving our great nation . You 14:16.299 --> 14:18.590 carry forward the spirit of the 14:18.599 --> 14:20.710 generations of American soldiers that 14:20.710 --> 14:23.820 have gone before you and we are looking 14:23.830 --> 14:26.309 forward to and counting on you all to 14:26.320 --> 14:29.440 lead our army into the future . I'm so 14:29.450 --> 14:31.320 proud of all of our soldiers and 14:31.330 --> 14:33.330 everything they're doing around the 14:33.330 --> 14:35.441 world today . And I am confident that 14:35.441 --> 14:37.719 the army will continue to be the 14:37.729 --> 14:39.840 greatest land fighting force that the 14:39.840 --> 14:42.409 world has ever seen . So it is an honor 14:42.460 --> 14:45.669 to wish the entire US army a very happy 14:45.679 --> 14:47.359 249th birthday . 14:56.659 --> 14:59.369 Ok . It is now my pleasure to introduce 14:59.380 --> 15:02.130 our , uh , next and final speaker , the 15:02.140 --> 15:04.251 honorable Kathleen Hicks , our deputy 15:04.251 --> 15:06.630 Secretary of Defense . And although the 15:06.640 --> 15:08.849 deputy grew up in a navy family 15:08.859 --> 15:11.530 couldn't not say that she fully 15:11.539 --> 15:13.706 understands the importance of the army 15:13.706 --> 15:16.330 to the joint force . Uh whether she is 15:16.340 --> 15:18.849 advancing army weapon systems , uh 15:18.859 --> 15:20.859 making sure that we develop drones 15:20.955 --> 15:23.315 technology or whether she is advocating 15:23.325 --> 15:25.158 for our soldiers , civilians and 15:25.158 --> 15:27.614 families and service members across the 15:27.625 --> 15:31.575 entire joint force . You uh deputy have 15:31.585 --> 15:33.955 been at the forefront of strengthening 15:33.965 --> 15:35.743 our national defense in so many 15:35.743 --> 15:37.909 different ways for the last 30 years . 15:37.909 --> 15:39.909 So it is an honor and a pleasure to 15:39.909 --> 15:42.455 have you here today . Please join me in 15:42.465 --> 15:44.565 welcoming Deputy Secretary Kathleen 15:44.575 --> 15:45.205 Hicks 15:55.369 --> 15:58.609 the green . Well , first of all , thank 15:58.619 --> 16:00.786 you to General George for figuring out 16:00.786 --> 16:02.841 that I did . In fact , intentionally 16:02.841 --> 16:05.309 wear army green today . Good mor Yes , 16:05.320 --> 16:06.630 you can clap at that . 16:09.859 --> 16:12.359 It's really such a pleasure to join you 16:12.369 --> 16:15.000 here to celebrate the army's 249th 16:15.010 --> 16:17.260 birthday . Look , crossing , this 16:17.270 --> 16:20.950 milestone was not inevitable since the 16:20.960 --> 16:23.140 very founding of this nation during 16:23.150 --> 16:26.340 times of conflict and peace . We've had 16:26.349 --> 16:28.127 forces that have threatened our 16:28.127 --> 16:30.169 national security , undermined our 16:30.179 --> 16:32.780 unity and tested our collective 16:32.789 --> 16:34.622 commitment to our constitutional 16:34.622 --> 16:38.179 principles . The United States Army has 16:38.190 --> 16:41.039 been there all along the way protecting 16:41.049 --> 16:43.500 a fledgling nation from tyranny and 16:43.510 --> 16:45.669 fighting to ensure our republic could 16:45.679 --> 16:48.979 grow and thrive . And the army's proud 16:48.989 --> 16:52.119 legacy continues today . Indeed , the 16:52.130 --> 16:54.349 army's resilience as a fighting force 16:54.359 --> 16:57.059 and as an institution is a model for 16:57.070 --> 16:58.959 militaries all around the world . 17:00.229 --> 17:02.451 History . Of course , has shown us that 17:02.451 --> 17:04.770 freedom has a cost and our soldiers 17:04.780 --> 17:06.930 have bravely born it time and again , 17:07.640 --> 17:10.020 last week alongside our allies . Of 17:10.030 --> 17:11.919 course , we commemorated the 80th 17:11.919 --> 17:14.619 anniversary of D day . A stark reminder 17:14.630 --> 17:16.540 of how the US military has been a 17:16.550 --> 17:18.939 beacon of hope and liberty around the 17:18.949 --> 17:21.718 world . The prior week , we observed 17:21.729 --> 17:24.058 Memorial Day paying homage and 17:24.068 --> 17:25.846 solemnity to those who made the 17:25.846 --> 17:27.846 ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms 17:27.846 --> 17:30.519 each of us enjoy today . And last 17:30.529 --> 17:32.548 Friday , I had the opportunity to 17:32.558 --> 17:34.780 deliver the commencement address to the 17:34.780 --> 17:36.836 2024 residential graduating class of 17:36.838 --> 17:39.829 the army war college . Many of those 17:39.839 --> 17:42.630 graduates commissioned about 20 years 17:42.640 --> 17:44.584 ago knowing that they would likely 17:44.584 --> 17:47.189 deploy to or in support of war zones , 17:47.199 --> 17:48.930 active war zones in Iraq and 17:48.939 --> 17:52.589 Afghanistan for each generation of 17:52.599 --> 17:54.543 soldiers that have served . And to 17:54.543 --> 17:56.599 those of you who carry the torch and 17:56.599 --> 17:59.189 serve today , we owe you a debt of 17:59.199 --> 18:02.239 gratitude . There is no army without 18:02.250 --> 18:04.880 its soldiers you are the reason we are 18:04.890 --> 18:07.300 even able to celebrate this birthday . 18:08.069 --> 18:09.880 I can think of no better way to 18:09.890 --> 18:11.890 commemorate this anniversary than a 18:11.890 --> 18:14.619 realness reenlistment ceremony . So I 18:14.630 --> 18:16.852 would like to join uh the leadership of 18:16.852 --> 18:18.819 the army in acknowledging these 31 18:18.829 --> 18:20.829 soldiers in front of us who will be 18:20.829 --> 18:24.369 reenlisting today . The army may be big , 18:24.380 --> 18:27.010 the largest military service after all . 18:27.020 --> 18:29.780 But each and every one of you is a 18:29.790 --> 18:32.660 critical contributor to that whole . 18:32.670 --> 18:36.449 Your service personally matters to our 18:36.459 --> 18:38.640 national security and it matters for 18:38.650 --> 18:41.829 our democracy . In a few moments , each 18:41.839 --> 18:44.006 of you will raise your right hand once 18:44.006 --> 18:46.228 again and pledge an oath to support and 18:46.228 --> 18:49.310 defend the constitution . It is my hope 18:49.319 --> 18:52.060 that you feel to your core , the weight 18:52.069 --> 18:54.430 of that oath , the significance of the 18:54.439 --> 18:56.661 principles and values you're committing 18:56.661 --> 19:00.170 to uphold each day that you serve the 19:00.180 --> 19:02.560 army . You are dedicating yourselves to 19:02.569 --> 19:05.130 a cause and mission bigger than any one 19:05.140 --> 19:08.030 of us . Some of you join the army for 19:08.040 --> 19:10.530 that very reason . Others of you might 19:10.540 --> 19:12.429 have longed for the adventure and 19:12.429 --> 19:14.689 camaraderie it has to offer or you 19:14.699 --> 19:16.755 might have joined because you have a 19:16.755 --> 19:18.977 family history or a personal connection 19:18.977 --> 19:21.255 with the military , which inspired you . 19:21.255 --> 19:23.477 I recently heard one such story that of 19:23.477 --> 19:25.699 army major Jack Gibson , which I'd like 19:25.699 --> 19:29.060 to share in the summer of 1944 Major 19:29.069 --> 19:31.459 Gibson's grandfather , private Jim 19:31.869 --> 19:34.060 Shalala was an army ranger who fought 19:34.069 --> 19:36.489 with units through France and into 19:36.500 --> 19:38.819 Germany as the allies advanced in 19:38.829 --> 19:42.650 Europe . Shortly after D day , decades 19:42.660 --> 19:44.882 later , Major Gibson joined the army as 19:44.882 --> 19:46.882 a medical service corps officer and 19:46.882 --> 19:49.500 then as a judge advocate , but deeply 19:49.510 --> 19:51.677 motivated by his grandfather's service 19:51.677 --> 19:53.788 as an army ranger , he was determined 19:53.788 --> 19:57.329 to become one and he did this year as 19:57.339 --> 19:59.770 part of the D day commemoration . Major 19:59.780 --> 20:02.170 Gibson was one of thousands of service 20:02.180 --> 20:04.124 members who made the pilgrimage to 20:04.124 --> 20:06.589 Germany where he reenacted the allies 20:06.599 --> 20:09.689 airborne landing . Just as those World 20:09.699 --> 20:12.050 War Two paratroopers inspired Major 20:12.060 --> 20:15.229 Gibson . Know that through your show of 20:15.239 --> 20:17.239 commitment and your donning of this 20:17.239 --> 20:19.959 uniform , you have the power to inspire 20:19.969 --> 20:22.229 service and others . Just the same , 20:22.410 --> 20:24.299 whether it be through familial or 20:24.299 --> 20:26.819 community ties and whether to become 20:26.829 --> 20:29.260 nurses , teachers , police officers or 20:29.270 --> 20:30.829 soldiers like yourselves . 20:32.479 --> 20:34.750 Geopolitics have certainly evolved over 20:34.760 --> 20:37.189 the past 2.5 centuries as have our 20:37.199 --> 20:39.979 institutions and those evolutions have 20:39.989 --> 20:42.660 yielded many advances for our soldiers . 20:42.670 --> 20:44.449 For instance , I'm sure today's 20:44.459 --> 20:46.626 uniforms are far more comfortable than 20:46.626 --> 20:48.792 those we are displaying here uh dawned 20:48.792 --> 20:52.099 during the revolutionary war . But even 20:52.109 --> 20:54.859 as time has marched on land , power 20:54.869 --> 20:56.979 remains as important today as it has 20:56.989 --> 21:00.339 ever been . That's because land power 21:00.349 --> 21:02.750 is staying power , building 21:02.760 --> 21:04.449 relationships , strengthening 21:04.459 --> 21:06.630 deterrence and promoting stability . 21:06.719 --> 21:08.939 Those are all keys to promoting peace 21:08.949 --> 21:11.219 and security around the world . And if 21:11.229 --> 21:13.118 deterrence were to fail , and our 21:13.118 --> 21:15.285 military were called upon to fight and 21:15.285 --> 21:17.396 win the army would be integral to the 21:17.396 --> 21:21.010 joint force that secures victory as we 21:21.020 --> 21:24.369 approach the army's 250th anniversary . 21:24.589 --> 21:27.290 Let's all take courage in the enduring 21:27.300 --> 21:29.949 strength and relevance of the US army . 21:30.369 --> 21:32.630 It is and will continue to be the 21:32.640 --> 21:36.510 world's greatest land fighting force . 21:36.520 --> 21:39.709 So happy birthday Army . Thank you for 21:39.719 --> 21:42.079 all you do and will continue to do in 21:42.089 --> 21:43.422 defense of our nation . 21:52.469 --> 21:54.691 Thank you , Deputy Secretary of Defense 21:54.691 --> 21:55.199 Hicks . 22:05.000 --> 22:08.900 I am John Wardell and I was a member 22:08.910 --> 22:11.510 of the second range of battalion in 22:11.520 --> 22:14.000 World War . I , I hi , my name is 22:14.010 --> 22:16.066 Special swag F Hello , I'm Brigadier 22:16.066 --> 22:17.899 General Mastro and I'm a command 22:17.900 --> 22:19.900 sergeant major K patrol . I'm staff 22:20.199 --> 22:22.609 Sargeant Inez Hammond . I am Beni Lte 22:23.520 --> 22:25.459 and I was a member of the 603rd 22:25.469 --> 22:28.250 Engineers Camouflage Battalion . Happy 22:28.260 --> 22:31.420 249th birthday . Army . Happy 249th 22:31.430 --> 22:33.619 birthday to our nation's army and a 22:33.630 --> 22:35.949 very happy birthday to the United 22:35.959 --> 22:38.140 States Army . I would like to wish the 22:38.150 --> 22:41.069 army a happy 249th birthday and I 22:41.079 --> 22:43.246 wanted to wish a happy birthday to the 22:43.246 --> 22:46.660 entire US army . Happy 249th birthday . 22:46.670 --> 22:48.781 Army . I'd like to wish the army that 22:48.781 --> 22:51.660 249th birthday , happy 249th birthday 22:51.670 --> 22:53.837 to the United States army . And I want 22:53.837 --> 22:56.319 to wish the army a happy 249th birthday . 22:56.329 --> 22:56.939 Who are 23:00.250 --> 23:02.361 ladies and gentlemen , General George 23:02.361 --> 23:04.361 will now reenlist soldiers from all 23:04.361 --> 23:06.194 components of the army . Joining 23:06.194 --> 23:08.361 General George today are soldiers from 23:08.361 --> 23:10.583 the national capital region . For those 23:10.583 --> 23:12.639 in attendance . Please remain seated 23:12.639 --> 23:14.806 during the oath of enlistment . Ladies 23:14.806 --> 23:16.917 and gentlemen , General George . Ok . 23:16.917 --> 23:19.250 Raise your right hand . Repeat after me . 23:19.280 --> 23:22.660 Mhm . I state your name . 23:24.250 --> 23:27.000 Do solemnly swear , do solemnly swear 23:27.180 --> 23:30.390 that I will support and defend the 23:30.400 --> 23:33.089 constitution of the United States of 23:33.150 --> 23:35.372 the United States against all enemies , 23:36.079 --> 23:38.329 foreign and domestic enemies . And I'll 23:38.339 --> 23:40.290 bear true faith and I'll bear true 23:40.459 --> 23:42.515 faith and allegiance to the same and 23:42.515 --> 23:44.570 all to the same and that I will obey 23:44.910 --> 23:47.260 the orders of the president of the 23:47.270 --> 23:50.579 United States and the orders . The 23:50.589 --> 23:53.900 orders of the officers pointed over me 23:54.869 --> 23:57.329 according to regulation , regulation 23:57.339 --> 23:59.172 and the uniform code of military 23:59.172 --> 24:03.079 justice . So help me God . So help me 24:03.170 --> 24:04.979 God . Congratulations . 24:13.589 --> 24:15.619 Congratulations reenlist . 25:59.109 --> 26:01.220 Ladies and gentlemen . At this time , 26:01.220 --> 26:03.442 soldiers from the army executive dining 26:03.442 --> 26:05.800 facility are moving the army birthday 26:05.810 --> 26:08.339 cake into position . The cake was 26:08.349 --> 26:10.182 prepared by the non commissioned 26:10.182 --> 26:12.293 officers and soldiers assigned to the 26:12.293 --> 26:14.140 army executive dining facility . 26:41.859 --> 26:43.859 Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks , 26:43.859 --> 26:46.000 Secretary Warmuth General George and 26:46.010 --> 26:48.010 Sergeant Major Weimer . Please take 26:48.010 --> 26:50.829 your positions for the cake cutting to 26:50.839 --> 26:53.290 commemorate 249 years of service to the 26:53.300 --> 26:55.411 nation . Joining them is the youngest 26:55.411 --> 26:57.709 soldier sergeant Eric Carrasco from the 26:57.719 --> 26:59.880 Pentagon tour office and the oldest 26:59.890 --> 27:02.140 soldier Chief Warrant Officer five 27:02.150 --> 27:04.209 Scott Slider from the office of the 27:04.219 --> 27:07.150 Deputy Chief of staff G 357 . 27:11.260 --> 27:13.469 Ladies and gentlemen , please join 27:13.479 --> 27:15.368 Sergeant Green in singing . Happy 27:15.369 --> 27:17.425 birthday to the United States Army . 27:22.609 --> 27:25.689 Happy birthday to 27:25.699 --> 27:29.260 you . Happy birthday 27:29.270 --> 27:32.589 to happy birth . 27:33.410 --> 27:36.849 A US army . 27:37.229 --> 27:40.689 Happy A to 27:41.369 --> 27:43.270 you . Mhm . 27:52.910 --> 27:55.132 At this time , a soldier from the third 27:55.140 --> 27:57.251 United States infantry regiment , the 27:57.260 --> 27:59.482 old guard will present the saber to the 27:59.482 --> 28:01.109 sergeant major of the army . 28:23.800 --> 28:27.540 Good . Yeah , ladies and gentlemen , 28:27.550 --> 28:29.606 the official party will cut the army 28:29.606 --> 28:32.229 birthday cake to commemorate 249 years 28:32.239 --> 28:34.979 of service to the nation . Participants . 28:34.989 --> 28:36.119 Are you ready ? 28:37.079 --> 28:41.030 321 , cut the cake . 28:43.400 --> 28:45.459 Yeah . Yeah , 28:47.739 --> 28:49.572 that was almost too many hands . 28:51.550 --> 28:54.000 Yeah . All pulling probably in a 28:54.010 --> 28:56.849 slightly different direction . Come on , 28:56.859 --> 29:00.339 jump in . Yeah , usually don't touch 29:00.349 --> 29:01.460 the like kick lit . 29:06.040 --> 29:08.318 All right , chief said this thing zero . 29:08.318 --> 29:11.989 Calories chief said that . 29:13.369 --> 29:15.589 All right . Thank you . Cake cutting 29:15.599 --> 29:16.640 participants 29:45.290 --> 29:46.957 came with something perfect . 29:52.170 --> 29:54.790 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand and 29:54.800 --> 29:57.469 join in the singing of the army song . 29:57.780 --> 30:00.310 The words can be found in your program . 30:08.520 --> 30:11.780 March along . Sing us all 30:12.540 --> 30:15.579 along with the army of the 30:15.589 --> 30:19.560 free count . The brave 30:19.569 --> 30:23.439 count the truth who have fought to 30:23.449 --> 30:26.650 victory . We're the 30:26.660 --> 30:30.290 army and proud of our name 30:30.420 --> 30:33.109 with the army and proudly 30:33.119 --> 30:36.869 proclaim first to fight for the 30:36.880 --> 30:39.589 right and to build the nation's might . 30:39.599 --> 30:42.170 And the army goes rolling 30:42.180 --> 30:45.810 along . Proud of all we have 30:45.819 --> 30:49.010 done fighting till the battles won and 30:49.020 --> 30:52.849 the army goes rolling along . 30:52.920 --> 30:56.670 Then it's high , high Hey , the army is 30:56.680 --> 31:00.000 on its way . Count off the ca and 31:00.010 --> 31:03.420 slough and straw long for where 31:03.430 --> 31:07.089 we go . You will always know 31:07.099 --> 31:09.939 that the army goes rolling 31:09.949 --> 31:11.920 along . 31:21.410 --> 31:24.189 This concludes today's ceremony , the 31:24.199 --> 31:26.459 army executive dining facility will 31:26.469 --> 31:28.636 hand out pieces of cake outside of the 31:28.636 --> 31:31.060 auditorium in the hallway . Thank you 31:31.069 --> 31:32.790 and happy birthday Army .