The Hon. Ryan McCarthy addresses claims of sexual harassment in the U.S. Army as well as the SPC. Vanessa Guillen case at Fort Hood, Texas. After opening statements the Secretary takes questions from the national press.
Transcript
Ladies, Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to hear from me today. Fort Hood. It’s of great importance to and for the Army, but it is our pick people that are paramount. I wanted to come to Fort Hood so that I can listen to the force at every level, understand with soldiers, endure, talk to leaders within the communities and actively understand the culture here both on and off base. The musical heroes crisis part a model camp operas coach. Army Fort Hood is the Grand importancia. Probably have Cito. There really is no strike until, like ESP remotely in case of need, afford heard parabolas Kuchar locker Satel Naval is comforting. They’re looking Los Soldados parabola in black communities and for the last company that this he complained active, I meant a local Iraqi gentle intro. If we’re this year has been a challenging woman for the nation and because the army is representative of the country, we have many of the same issues within our formation. With the explosion of social unrest across the nation following the murder of George Floyd, the army is committed to taking a hard look at ourselves and in doing so there has been a reckoning. Yes, they’re on your CEO. NRA Top Carolina. Soon it’ll be the Achille Hip Settlers representative Model pace. The name was Montrose. The Los Mismos Problems. Then through the nostril Pharmacy connects plus under the studio sociologists in total pIease ls it not at the George Floyd? And has she thought her complaint kompromat either. I mean, I have no son. Also tells me is most Yella said low. We don’t want a host of the Quintus. We have to address the challenges and barriers that are soldiers endure. The murder of specialist Vanessa Guion has become a catalyst, highlighting sexual harassment and sexual assault within the military. The loss of Vanessa has been felt in our formations, particularly here and across the nation. I can personally attest to these conversations. Over the past three weeks, I have traveled to Poland and Italy, and in both visits, soldiers have asked about this. Vanessa story has served as a tipping point where survivors spoke out on social media and shared their own trauma. We must honor her memory by creating enduring change. Is one harassment in one Assault is one too many. The animals can friend battle of this appeals. Villas, Berettas, canister, salt also believe you haven seen a total, especially Stephanie again, said Comfort. Even in catalysis, get a stack alike Also. Six. Well, Ella Santos X welded dental Here settle. Really Vanessa Sachem Sentido Industries Pharmacy Anus Is this element Turkey in total price? To see what I says Commercial Souness person element to Angela. Salty master semanas. Every I have a Polonia a Dahlia you numbers visitors Little Dolls in Toronto. Graceful. My story of Vanessa said with a common name, Plexi on from the law. So brilliant is a blot on the alleged a socialist. You can part Iran’s appropriate drama. They’ve been most interested. Leg at the Crandall Canyon With Dorado. Yeah, Kellock also, you know Santa is the Messiah. The Army takes charges of sexual harassment and assault very Siri’s, and there is clearly more that must be done. I have directed an independent review of the command climate and once complete, will provide an update to the media in the Congress. Ultimately, the results, findings and recommendations will fuel on implementation Team, chaired by the Under secretary of the Army and the vice chief of staff of the army. Well, here she talked on my last car. Was there close to six? Well, yes, alto 1,000,000 Said you, Clara meant I must. But I said and really Hizzoner Revision Independiente The clay model Commando e when I was completa proportionally on actually says una los medios el Congreso in definitive a large resultados Ah yes, cozy recommended Souness impulse around only keep of the implementation. But I see the yellow peril soup, secretarial help Cito Visa Happy they lest Allah my your it’ll help people. In addition, we’re rolling out project inclusion to address behaviours that tear at the fabric of our force issues such as a lack of diversity, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault and suicide. Adama’s is somewhat implement tunnel project inclusion for imprint Carollo’s compartment Oh, skaters Garin In the heat of an extra person, they must Kamala Panta River. See that lady screaming asean heloc also six. Well, Ella Santo sex Well, is this Ito’s with that will be happy to take your questions. All right, first question about growth. Hi, sir. Thank you for taking the time to come down to Texas. Um, my question relates Teoh looking into the unit specifically I know from the outside looking, and there’s been some instances where it seems like leadership maybe was negligent or didn’t get the job down as far even as early back is when Vanessa first went missing all the way to specials, Robinson being able to escape from barracks confinement, some wondering what What does it look like? Aziz? You look into that unit, and could we see someone maybe get relieved or something like that? So we have a series of investigations. Obviously, the criminal investigation related to the specific individuals that conduct it conspired for the murder were helped cover up the murder eso that’s being handled by assistant U. S. Attorney Here in Texas, we have a 15 6 investigation into the unit, as well as an independent review that will be coming down to Fort Hood at the end of this month. So we’ll have to do a lot of coordination on the findings related to these reviews on then, once that information comes back, make determinations of appropriate levels of accountability, okay, and I just want to confirm in my follow up the 15 6 is that looking just it sexual harassment within third CR or is that also looking into, um, sort of negligence is letting something like this continue or happen in the unit. Believed the 56 is specifically into the issue for Vanessa for for murder on, then so they’ll find out specifics related to her that the Kliment command climate review that I referenced that I instructed the independent review will come down and look also at the command climate installation. So is there a sexual harassment type of toxic environment that exists that can help us better understand? More broadly, Thurday, CR’s a larger Is it the entire installation? Okay. Thank you. If you want vaginal off. Passenger 15 6 investigation, sexual reports of harassment that were discovered as part of the investigation specials. Okay, I think that clears it up. Okay, Have is McCarthy. My name is Jasmine called William from Casey in which is the NBC affiliate here. Locally, on the question I want to ask is last week. Oven is against family, met with Donald, President Donald Trump, and I was wondering, have you reached out to the family? If you have? What did you talk to them about? If you have not, um, why haven’t you reached out. So we have. I have also spoken publicly, but we have offered We sent condolences to the family. Obviously, General McConnell participated in a memorial service here. You actually met with the family for over an hour as well? I’ve said publicly be very open to meeting with the family. We have not been contacted directly about whether the family wouldn’t want to meet with me directly. Thank you. Second her McCarthy. How are you? Brennan? Hamilton at KGB, TX news tend to CBS affiliate here. My question for you is being the secretary of the Army. Not only Vanessa’s case, there have been other cases involving for his soldiers and sadly, being found murdered or dead, surrounding the base to the Americans that were watching. And your leadership. What do you tell them to know that change is really going to happen. So I meant over the last 24 hours with soldiers at every echelon private first class is all the way to the general officers on told them that we’re sending down an independent group of investigators toe. Understand? The root cause is associated with the rise of felonies violent acts to but better understand why this is happening at this installation. The numbers are high here. They’re the highest since in most cases for sexual assault and harassment murders for our entire formation, U S Army. So we’re getting announced. I look to help us to get to those root causes and understand that so that we can make those changes. But the point of emphasis being that we’re going to put every resource and all of the energy we can, this entire institution behind fixing these problems and a follow up in terms of, ah, Vanessa’s case, how do you change a culture that, as we’ve learned to know, she was allegedly murdered on base and what transpired? How do you change that culture? Markedly disappointed and sad said by that one of our own killing a teammate. And, uh, you know, it takes a shot at the system, and it rattles the system of the trust that you have to have in this profession because just how hard it is, what we do around the world. So you know, it has hit us hard, and the only thing we can do is come together and have very hard conversations and invest in each other and learn about each other so that we know who our teammates are. I mean, I didn’t nine sessions in the last 24 hours just for hours talking to soldiers from Chicago. This is where I grew up, my family just doing more of that. And I think for us knowing each other better and improving upon the type of teammates that we are for the climate that we want, who we need to be the’s air. Very difficult things. At times, there are people from where the Army were a reflection of the country. And that time some people infiltrate our ranks. We gotta find them. We got a root him out. Thank you. Yes, thank you, Mr Secretary. I’m Steve Wilson with the Killeen Daily Herald here in town. I just wanted to clarify a little bit about, um, the Minnesota Gilling. What we’ve been talking about here, there has been a bill that has been introduced or is about in the process of being prepared to be introduced. I am Vanessa. Gillian. Bill and I just wondered you support that bill specifically. Have you been in touch with? Members Were in constant communication with the committees of jurisdiction and as they go through the National Defense Authorization Act, which we do every year which lays out the authorities for the department fence. So when they bring up amendments like this to add to the bill, we communicate with the committee to best understand the intent of that language and also how the implements that we’re in conversations right now. Okay, so you do support at least the intent of the bill. We have to really understand the clarity behind the language so that we know that we can implement it, that it’ll work in our formations. Okay. All right. Thanks very much. Debbie Strauss with NBC News, you announced project inclusion, which looks at things like lack of diversity and sexual harassment. But before this, there was Sharps created, you know, multiple years ago. And so why, after all these years, are we still talking about sexual harassment and the content of a toxic culture? So, um, the sharp program, The project inclusion encompasses a lot of other things as well with sexual harassment and sexual assault. It has been a challenge for the whole country as well as the U. S. Army and a lot of that is just the consistency of meeting and having the conversations, like the ones we’ve had over the last 24 hours. There hard. They’re uncomfortable that it’s a way for us to continue to learn about each other and realize that an act like that is like committing a fracture side within your own formation, hurting a teammate. And so, uh, it’s that consistency is sustaining these conversations. At times they ebb and flow, so we have to have the discipline to do that every day. So where do you go from here? After having these conversations? The conversations don’t end. We have to keep doing them with the types of consistency making that investment of time. That the independent review will also help us at root causes specifically to this installation related to that issue. So we have to continue to learn, but we have to continue to make the investment of our time to sit across from teammates and have very hard conversations. Would you consider rooting out members of this installation? Could you be more specific if you find that there are systemic issues here after these conversations? If if the you know the conclusions are such that point Teoh leaders or individuals in particular? Of course, we will take the appropriate accountability. Thank you. Thank sir. How are you today? And this is Brandi Kruse and I’m the news editor for the Fort It Sentinel. I’m working in the three core public affairs office. I was wondering, after reading the affidavit released by Bell County, it didn’t really seem like but this is death. Had anything to do with sexual harassment? I was wondering, did you? Has there actually been findings that that say that she was this sexual harassment played a part in this case? Eso investigations are on going to the point general effluent stated. What would I want? My comments? Just specifically, that it has ignited that issue within our ranks to be very clear. That was when my remarks were related to. And that has how many women have come out on social media. I am Vanessa too. Eso That’s what I was referencing. We are investigating to ensure that there was no sexual harassment associated that with the investigations ongoing. Thank you, Secretary Newly Mendoza with Fox 44. A lot of people are heartbroken calling for justice and demanding Fort Hood be shut down. How do you respond to those calls? So you know the anger and frustration it is. In a case like Venice, it’s necessary. I’m angry. I’m frustrated, disappointed, and you were heartbreak. But they’re still amazing contributions by men and women from this installation. These leaders that we’ve met over the last 24 hours are incredibly disappointed, too. This was our team. Me and we let her down. We let her family down. It hurts. And, uh, But the amazing contributions and people that are on this installation have to continue to endure. We rely on these units to protect our way of life. We’re going to do everything we can to prevent these types of things that happen again. To learn from this and to move on, we will do everything we can to protect her legacy by making enduring changes. Thank you, Secretary Adam Schindler. And with XXVI 25 or the ABC affiliate here, there is a lot of other soldiers who have been reported missing and found dead. Um, is there a change that you’re thinking about possibly making when it comes to reporting that a wall instead of actually investigating the missing when they’re found dead later. So this has been a topic of debate at the highest levels of the army for less over weeks of just our reporting policies. Associate with a soldier. They there, they a wall or they dust one or they What are they? When do you make these determinations on? I think we do have to take a very hard look at that. General McConnell, our chief of staff, and I have talked about this at length of just how we do then how we continue to look for our soldiers when they end up missing. And so we’re gonna take a look at that. And we may make a change related to that downstream and just follow up on your with your review. If it comes down to that, there is leadership at certain levels and there is leadership change. How would you change leadership? I don’t put the base of this size. It all depends on, you know, with the root causes point to what echelon? Was it an individual? Was it a systemic problem? Eso You know what we tried to do? These some world class investigators that we’ve got to help us with this. We told them, you know, it gave them broad intent, but we don’t want to try to bracket their investigation. We want them to come back with what they learn with fresh eyes in order to help us understand our challenges. Thank you, sir. Chris Kilmer from ABC News. I was just wondering if you have any details about how Specialist Robinson was able to leave the post and obtain a firearm in the hours before his death. Do you have any specifics on there or they? I mean, this is under investigation, but way have no case will be able to, um, would be able, Teoh Relais those facts once the investigation concludes, okay? And then I’m similarly, if there was any information about whether he was under a suicide watch or any other kind of formal observation before he absconded from the post, you mean medical supervision? Well, just if if I know, he was confined to his barracks from what I understand, but I don’t know if there was any additional level of observation to, you know, but make sure he was being where issues issues related to the lead up to his death will be able to report that at once. The investigations are complete. Thank you for clarity is not under arrest. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Which of us from Univision. So the family one hour ago. They say what you say that they didn’t receive any call or message from from you. You have a special message for Gideon’s family. S o. I send written condolences to the families. Way said, Written condolences. I sent a letter to the family. It’s way. Usually send them hard copy with respect to their family. My deepest sense in serious condolences to the G and family that were incredibly disappointed that we let Vanessa Donna we let their family down and that we valve for the rest of our time in service in our life to prevent these types of accent to find out how we could prevent them in the future so that it never happens again. Actually, the families say tomorrow is gonna be here in front of four hood at 4 p.m. Every every fighting. So you’re gonna be here for No. I was fighting back this evening to the Pentagon toe excite meeting. some more with secretary defense, but I can look at my schedule to see if we could accommodate that. Thank you. No, thank you. Secretary Eric Franklin’s Kato GTX. As a veteran myself, I know that speaking with officers sometimes is hard. Did you get the desired result from speaking of the PFC. As you said earlier that you wanted or was it there where they’re trying to tell you what you wanted to hear? No. I think the conversations were incredibly candid. A Z often are with soldiers and talking about issues that we have. And how do we address them together? How do we perform better? So I always learn. Whenever have these opportunities Excuse me? And so it’s just it’s a great opportunity. Any time I get out of the Pentagon on, get down to units and have these types of discussions. Thank you. Thank you. Sergio Lopez, a 25 news ABC affiliate here. A lot of soldiers, families feel retaliation, especially during times like these. How is it you’ve been able to the people you’ve communicated with on on base on post? Um how do you know that they’re actually giving you the genuine answer and not just maybe, people who are giving you kind of what you want to know. How do you How are you reaching out to the people who do fear retaliation and getting their genuine concerns? So, you know, I meet with them and I’ll be in there by myself or I’ll have somebody from my staff that’s like a wreck meal. Requisite grade. So that’s how it kind of shape reframe the meetings. Um, we make sure that they understand none of these things will be attributed to them directly by name on. I just talked to him about who I am, where I grew up, and I tried to emphasize to him I’m a person, a human being just like you. And if you don’t tell me about the challenges you face, there’s no way to fix them in a way to address them, to try to make them better. Eso did just try to make them feel comfortable in the discussion is not formal. We just kind of sit around the table and have a conversation. Usually try to do it over a meal because people relax a little bit and they opened themselves up and try to trust each other. We don’t want the fear of retaliation. It’s horrible. We don’t want that. But in order to do that, you just have to be willing to invest the time, hours and hours of your day to day. But how are you finding these people? Is that do you have a list of that? You kind of go down or you on your own, walking around. And so my staff will tell the kind of grades that we’re looking for the skill sets and try to go between various units. So way just try to be as random as we can and the way we find the men and women to have these discussions because we don’t want some prepared kind of event. We just wanna have what’s on your mind. Thank you. Yes. I’m Rocky Bridges with Casey and news. Um, we’d like to know if the president has spoken with you after he’s spoken with the family. No, I got feedback from the me from secretary defense. My boss, Dr Mark Esper, on that directly directly related to the discussion. You know, he had offered his condolences and he vowed to put every resource is disposal to help address these types challenges, whether that’s law enforcement or within the department defense. And I think I believe you offered even pay for the funeral himself. Eso no, but he about a 15 minute discussion with the game family. Thank you, sir.