Acting Defense Secretary Holds Troop Event


Acting Defense Secretary Christopher C. Miller holds a troop event at the Special Operations Memorial Plaza, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, November 18, 2020.

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Transcript

Acting Secretary Miller and distinguished guests. We’re gathered today for a signing ceremony to implement the reforms outlined in Section 9 22 the fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. For nearly four years, the Department defense has planned and prepared to implement this important legislation. It not only strengthens the role of the assistant Secretary of Defense for special operations and low intensity conflict as the senior civilian for special operations within the department, but it also reinforces the partnership with the Commander of the United States Special Operations Command. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll have opening remarks from the acting Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Mr Ezra Cohen. Yeah. Thank you, Jim. Mr. Secretary, on behalf of the men and women of U. S. Special operations, especially Army Special Operations. Welcome home. We’re honored that you have returned to your roots on this historic day on hollowed ground Today to the Department of Defense has started the process of formalizing. But we have long known the fundamental role of U. S. Special operations in defense and foreign policy by elevating Special Operations forces to a level on par with military departments as authorized and directed by Congress. As we enact these reforms, we follow the vision of President John F. Kennedy, who predicted the rise of special operations nearly 60 years ago. He foresaw quote another type of war new in its intensity, ancient in its origin that would require a whole new kind of strategy. Ah, wholly different kind of force forces which are too unconventional to be called conventional forces, which are growing in number and importance and significance. President Kennedy gave these remarks at the opening of the nuclear age, when the Pentagon was primarily organized to plan and direct large conventional operations against superpowers, not special operations. Short of overt declared conflict. The global demands for Special Operations forces then and now has confirmed President Kennedy’s foresight. And now, under the leadership of President Trump, we’re fully really realizing President Kenny’s precedent view of special operations forces. It is fitting that were again entering an era of great power competition as we gather to infer affirm the importance of special special operations community, then is now I know Special operations forces will play a vital role, and by the historic reforms we have enacted today, we will ensure special operations forces has a civilian advocate commensurate to the secretaries of the other military departments. I am honored to serve as your service secretary. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, Acting Secretary Miller, You do things. You read them here. Jim, you take this. Got my big book. I’m going to speak for a couple hours. Good morning, everyone. Wow, What a week. That old cliche, if you want a friend in Washington, D. C get a dog may be true for many, but for May I know I can come to Fort Bragg, be with my brothers and sisters, and special operations forces will always have my back. It is an honor to be here on this holiday plaza where we are reminded of the enormous sacrifices and burdens shouldered by our nation’s special operators. These brave heroes refers to the enemy’s doorstep mark in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks in 2000 and one on Lee. Weeks after that dark day in our nation’s history, they plunged into danger to bring justice to the terrorists who took thousands of innocents American lives, and they will be the ones who continued to deny safe haven to violent extremists. and maintain unrelenting pressure on the road to stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan and Iraq. I know firsthand the caliber and character of these brave service members being served, having served as an Army Special Forces Company commander under then Colonel John Mulholland during Operation Enduring Freedom and with Mark. Of course, I also served two tours in Iraq, including during the 2000 and three invasion and later in 2000 and six is a Special Forces Battalion commander, secretary in the Special Forces Group, absolutely the best Special Forces Battalion in the history of the world. No offense. I spent the remainder of my career just as committed, defeating terrorists and those that would help harbor them. Today we are gathered before a monument that symbolizes the tremendous cost of these conflicts and our relentless vigilance. In light of the countless sacrifices made by hundreds of thousands of American service members on our enormous progress over North over nearly two decades, we’re now bringing these conflicts to their successful and responsible conclusion under the bold leadership of President Trump. Yesterday, the president ordered the downsizing of our force presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, 2500 troops in each country by 15 January 2021 in a manner that protects our fighting men and women and our hard earned gains. At the same time, you all know this. Should any malign actors underestimate our resolve or attempt to undermine our efforts, we will not hesitate to restore deterrence and defeat any and all threats as we implement the president’s orders. We also recognize that transitions in campaigns are fraught with risk and unexpected challenges and opportunities. That is why I am here today to announce this’d snowmen. Uh um, I’m here today to announce that I have directed the Special Operations civilian leadership to report directly to me instead of through the current bureaucratic channels. This historic step finalizes what Congress has authorized and directed and will put Special Operations Command on par with the military services for the first time. This reform will immediately improve agility to the department and the command and will enable us to streamline information flow, enhanced decision making and more adapt Lee and adeptly support our commanders and their superb soldiers. Sailors, airman, Marines changes often tectonic in the Department of Defense. This is this is by design and as our history shows has served the nation very well. Today’s reform is directly aligned with all three of my priorities, as outlined in my message to the force on Monday, first during the current war to an end in a responsible manner that guarantees the security of our citizens to continue implementing the national defense strategy with an emphasis on transforming the department great power competition and three accelerate the department’s activities to contribute to our whole of government effort. Combat transnational threats. I also want to highlight that this particular change has been analyzed, debated and refined over the course of the past 30 years since the creation of Special Operations Command and the assistant and the creation of the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Low intensity conflict by the non koan koan Excuse me Non Cohen amendment, The Goldwater Nichols Act of 1987. I have closely studied and been intimately involved in these efforts. I personally think soul it deserves to be an undersecretary of defense, but unfortunately that’s beyond my authority and purview at this time. But I know future generations will take that one on today as we chart a clear path forward for our special operators. We proudly stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before US Colonel Aaron Bank, founder of the U. S. Army Special Forces Major Richard Dick Meadows of the U S. Army Special Forces. His memorialized in the statue nearby. Major General Johnny Allison, founder U S. Air Force Special Operations Captain Phil Bucklew, whose name adorns the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California Brigadier General Evans Carlson, where the Devil Dogs bought an incredible commander, an influential commander, the earliest Marine Raiders Major General Jack Single ob. A Trailblazer among Special operations forces. Former acting I’m sorry. Former Army Secretary John Marsh, a vocal advocate for soft improvements in the wake of Operation Eagle Claw and, more recently, Colonel Retired Day Maxwell, United States Army Special Forces Lieutenant Generals John Mulholland and Charles Cleveland Charles Cleveland. Voice. Charlie Cleveland. That’s good to see it formalized their their now retired senior leaders in the Special Operations community. We also acknowledge the leaders in Congress who are a driving force behind the non Cohen reorganization. Reminded of the late Congressman Dan Daniel from Virginia early and influential proponent, a special operations reform in gym locker, who was instrumental in garnering bipartisan support for the reorganization and later became the assistant secretary defense for Special operations. Low intensity conflict We have to remember, though behind these titans stood enormous group dedicated patriots, many that have served in this building who did the heavy lifting to create what ultimately became U. S. Special Operations Command, a national treasure unparalleled in the world. These Patriots give us strength and remain our guiding lights today, with the strong support of President Trump, were forging the next chapter in the history of the United States Special Operations Forces and formalizing a watershed reform. Right now, we start the transition to provide greater civilian oversight of, and critically advocacy for our special operators. This couldn’t comment, um, or critical moment in time because we bring our nation’s longest conflict to responsible end and prepare special operations forces for this new era of great power competition. I can think of no better place than here at the original home of our Special Operations forces to enshrine stronger support the next generation of special operators hardened by combat and unrelenting deployments who understand the fundamental nature of war who remain committed to defeating every threat and who are undeterred by the high price of victory. Dia Pressel, A bear. God bless our women and men in uniforms. God bless our great nation. Thank you so much. You can You can, Ladies and gentlemen, joining Acting Secretary Miller for the signing. The document is Mr Mark Mitchell, the former acting assistant secretary of Defense for Special Operations. Low intensity conflict. Mr Cohen and Dr Joseph Tonin. Yeah, come on. How and Colonel retired. They’ve Max level. What? That Wow. Holy thistle is a great that. Okay, All right. I know that I green somebody times I would have I do want her with. Damn. Okay. All right, I’ll see double the national market. All right. First, you guys, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending today’s event. This concludes the ceremonies, All right? Yeah, yeah.

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