Hosted by Gen. Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Staff Annual Awards Ceremony is a formal event that allows the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) to address the entire Joint Staff and to publicly recognize individual Joint Staff members for their superior performance, accomplishments, and contributions.
Transcript
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The Joint Staff annual awards ceremony will begin shortly. Please silence any electronic devices and remove all badges. Welcome to the Joint Staff Annual awards presentation. Recognizing the enlisted Service member of the Year Civilian of the Year. An Action officer of the year, these programs were established to foster the highest standards of professional conduct, personal integrity and individual initiative, and highlight the sustained outstanding achievement of all enlisted service members, civilians and action officers assigned throughout the joint staff. We would like to extend a special welcome to those in attendance today and everyone watching the ceremony remotely. Our host for today’s ceremony is General Mark A Milli, 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the official party and remain standing for the singing of the national anthem which will be performed by Staff Sergeant Edmund Millie, United States Army. O say, can you see by the dawn’s air light What So proudly we held at the twilight’s last whose broad stripes and bright stars through the off five. What’s wrong, Pops? We watched were so God, please three on the rock. Okay, rule through the night. Live once. Way. Three a lot. Please be seated. The Joint Staff annual awards recognize those deemed to have contributed most significantly to the accomplishment of the mission of the United States Armed forces, as well as support to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his role of the principal military adviser to the President, the National Security Council and the Secretary of Defense. Ladies and gentlemen, General Milley. So the auditorium looks a little empty. Um, and obviously that’s because of ah, covered 19. We’re taking all the appropriate precautions. And so when folks from upper and speak to take the mascot but otherwise keep the mask on every isn’t appropriate distance. And I’m saying that for the record, because I know what being broadcast live. Um, So there are hundreds if not thousands of people watching this live right now. So for the awardees, which will introduce in just a moment, I know from all of us, even though the the audience here looks a bit then the tons of people watching this on live stream and I just want you to know from all of us how very very proud I am. And how very proud we, the joint staff and more broadly, the U. S military is of each of your accomplishments which are remarkable, which will find out in just a second. I also want to thank down here in the front row or partial front row some of our senior leaders of the joint staff and really of the United States military writ large. Uh and I think, and I know that I’m somewhat biased in my view. But I happen to think that we have the finest set of of senior leaders on the joint staff of any organization in the world with our vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, John Heighten, all our three star Jader czar director, the joint staff on all of the action officers and civilians and military that work on the joint step. It’s a remarkable group of people, from senior leader, down to the lowest ranking soldier, sailor, airman, Marine Coast guard. They’re working on the joint staff in all the civilians with us. It’s a tremendous organization on. I would tell you that the Joint staff Yeah, and I’ve got I don’t know how many years now 10 or 11 years or something like that in D. C. In about six or eight of them. I think you’re working on the joint staff in one capacity or another, and I would tell you that the Joint Staff is an incredibly competent, capable, efficient, effective and very powerful organization that does tremendous work for our nation on the authorities that we see today that will present here in a few minutes. They’re really representative of a much broader group of people that represent extraordinary talent for our country. So I want to thank all of you for coming in the senior leaders as well. And I also want to point out ah, particular senior leader if you’ll indulge me for a moment. And that’s the senior adviser to the chairman Senior listed, advised to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Chief Master sergeant Right column start. Major cause I’m in the Army Can’t break out of it. Cologne. Lopez. What he is is he is the nation’s senior ranking enlisted soldier sailor, airman, Marine Coast Guardsman. Ah, and he’s the senior non commissioned officer. Eso, roughly speaking, will put it a two point to 2.3 million of us or in uniforms somewhere in some capacity active guard reserve. And of that group, um, probably to the tune of 90% or so are unlisted. Ah, and see Zia’s We dearly know him. Hey, is an incredible, uh, example for 90% of our uniform service. So thanks easy for being who you are and representing all that you do and all the soldiers you do. Last night, Sesay had the distinguished Ah, honor. Really, uh, with me in the coming on, Marine Corps. And if I see, you know, and sexually the Navy and the DEP SEC, def of honoring the fallen Marines and sailors from tragic accident out in California. And that should serve as a reminder to all of us. Every single one of those that were killed was enlisted on. So Sesay, thank you for representing the vast, vast majority of the force. It’s in uniform, defending our great country today. I want to say congratulations, toe all the nominees. Today we’re going to start with certain first class Ashley Vega, who works for J five. Dave, Alvin Right up here. She has been an impact player for sure in J five for quite some time. Right now she is the enlisted executive assistant to General Alvin, but she’s also worked in many, many other capacities in Asia Pacific Division. Aziz well within the J five. She has an incredible ability. She’s a human resource specialist, and she is an incredible ability. Toe streamline processes and keep the entire J five section in terms of personnel management running on time on target every time. And she’s an exceptional example of a non commissioned officer. It’s a tough job being an executive assistant. It’s a tough job being executive assistance of General Alvin. I can tell you that on, but it’s a sorry, but it’s a It’s a tough job any A and she does it with exceptional skill. Uh, and I know from first hand my own executive assistance and hard they work on for all of us that a flag officers on the joint staff. Everyone has executive assistance, and they are the folks that make the Joint staff. Ron. They’re the ones who make the general officers and admirals very effective. Eso started first class Vega, thank you for what you do. Oh, and she’s also married to Sergeant First Class Vega. Ah, and the two of them. So to e 70 14? I guess so they might be out ranking use easy, but thank you for what you’re doing. He he too is a human rights or human rights. Human resource is specialist working in the Army on has done great work in his own. Right. So thanks to both of you, they’ve got three Children, great family, great Army Family s. Oh, thanks to you, both of you. And thanks, Ashleigh. Thanks. Sergeant started his quest, Vega for being a great example in a great NGO to all of us. So thank you. And I’d also like to take a minute. The highlight. Ah, a truly great American Mr Lee Tate. Leave is right over here, and we’ll have him up on stage in just a minute. He’s out of J four. Graduate of United States Military Academy. Born and raised in Virginia. Went to high school here. Family dates back several 100 years all the way to the beginnings of the American Republic. His, uh, is served multiple tours throughout his family. History on the revolution, civil war, all the way up to today on Mr Tate, Asai said. Graduate 2003 from the Isis Military Academy West Point, was commissioned as an armor officer only because he didn’t meet the standards of the infantry on and he had to go in armor as a tanker. He becomes a tank platoon leader, serves a combat tour in Iraq with the first Armored Division on, then gets out of the Army, does some great work in the commercial sector on, then came back to service, working in the department. Defense is a specialist in contracting when, in the J four he’s worked the interagency process. He’s helped some very significant accomplishments within the J four on glee. We want to thank you for everything that you’ve done on the joint staff, but also for not only your service but your family’s life service all the way back to the beginning of our country. Oh, and the final wardy that we’re gonna acknowledged today is ah, is Beef Winters. Hey, is, uh, I’ve known him for quite some time now. He happens to have been, uh, the book brief for the S da briefer that briefed the Secretary of Defense frequently on orders that we produce. He’s an exceptional Marine. Hey is done extraordinary work in J three for quite a long time on, and he’s done all of the critical task that you know of that we see in the headlines over and over again. So whether Syria ran over in Asia, Europe doesn’t matter where it is. Colonel Winters has been deeply involved in that. And I would tell you that the Marines have recognized his excellence because he has been designated to take command of the Marine Air Control Group 38 in Miramar, California So very shortly, he’ll be heading out to very shortly meeting next summer. He’ll be heading out to San Diego to take 06 command in the Marine court. Mermoz. So be thank you for what you’ve done and before we do the formal awards here in just a minute, I do want to say a couple of words about you. The joint staff. Awesome what we do. I think everyone knows on the joint staff that by law ah, the primary duty of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Eyes to be members of the Joint Chiefs and to render best military advice to the president, the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and, frankly, also to Congress. And it’s our job to do that every day, all the time, without fail. And it’s advice. Note, not command. What does the joint staff to the joint staff really does? That all the analytical processing, all the coordination, all the synchronization, all of the staffing to make sure that general heightened and I are capable of rendering that best military advice without any sort of emotion. It’s all analysis, fact based, and we can present options to the president, the secretary defense, on the employment of the military, no matter what the situation, whether it’s humanitarian assistance or combat operations, that’s a critical role. You all of you are unique in that you’re the only one. The only staff that is wholly dedicated to doing that, to provide the analysis, the coordination, the synchronization, the integration, etcetera of all of the U. S. Military for two individuals to render that best military advice to the decision makers, the secretary, defense and the president. And I would tell you that is so key not only today in today’s environment, but it’s been key since the Joint staff in the chairman’s position was first formed. And you do it all of you to a remarkable degree of excellence. That’s that is the key, the course you ari job of what we do, and that’s not well understood by a lot of people. But that is, in fact, what we do. The other thing that we do that’s really key, I think, is to be an advocate for an honest broker with the combatant commands to represent the combatant commands commanders in in the in the world of Washington, D. C. So in so many ways, we’re their advocate in so many ways. We represent them and what they do. And then, in turn, we represent to them what the civilian leadership’s instructions and orders and guidance and intent is. So we have a conduit of information between the combatant commanders Oh, and the civilian leadership in the principle of civilian control of the military. So we transmit the orders, the intent, and we transmit information back and forth and make sure that the military information from the combatant commands eyes appropriately represented here to the civilian leadership and that the civilian information, the civilian intent is appropriately represented to the combatant commanders. And the last thing we do that is critically important in my mind is we represent that two point to 2.3 million troops that are out there in uniform. This staff, the joint staff, is the senior military staff. It is called the Joint Staff. It’s not our joint staff, it is the joint staff. And you are. We are the senior military staff in the greatest and most powerful and most effective military in human history on and we are representing not only the combatant commands were representing everybody from ah brand new training and recruit all the way up to the senior. Most officers out there that Aaron uniform on those air heavy responsibilities. So what have you done over the course of call it the last year or so? Well, first, you’ve almost been in continuous prices action mode, really? From the day that General Dunford Ah and I handed off to each other a few days later, Turkey came across the border into Syria and we stood up a crisis action team Ah, and primarily led by J two j three. But everybody in the in the joint staff contributed to that. You’ve coordinated and synchronized operations to take out a horrendous terrorist leader named Baghdadi. You had a significant strategic impact on the elimination of another leader of terror. General Solo. Many you have handled with extraordinary skill in my mind some very, very tense situations with Iran, and you’re presented information that was rational and courses of action on options, most of which can not be said here on an open mic. But you’ve done that with extraordinary skill. Same thing on handling multiple situations with China and Russia, North Korea and in many others you are managing with great skill. Ah, the end of a war in Afghanistan, a responsible end of a war in Afghanistan that meets U. S national security interests and provides for the future of that region. You have dealt with and have managed the drawdown of forces in Syria and are managing the drawdown of forces in Iraq without either one turning into an absolute catastrophe. Here at home, you have made a significant difference in my mind in the lives of American citizens, and leading the effort. The military effort, ah, to coordinate and synchronize and deliver humanitarian response to response to covert 19 and the pandemic and the key guy for us that’s been doing that is the vice chairman, John Eso a remarkable set of accomplishments. And then I would say that each of you have conducted yourselves extraordinarily professionally in rendering for appropriate advice on the use of military force and or the or the use of the National Guard or any other forces for domestic civil unrest. Eso that and much, much more is everything you’ve done. If you look at the J five allies and partners around the world and advancing the strategic interests of the United States, you look at the J six and all the work. The J six has done everything from who wait options to llegado options to all sorts of modernization efforts in the I T world. If you look at what the J seven has done, force management and design and development for a future force that won’t exist, perhaps for 10 or 15 years the development of a joint warfighting concept and for the first time in our history of J C s vision and guidance for the PM E J one world. All the talent management that we’ve done the J eight legislative affairs, the nurturing and working through some really complex issues for the budget. In short, it is a lot more that you’ve all done. In short, I am unbelievably proud and very, very humbled to be the chairman of a staff that is far. In a way, it’s not even a close call. The most effective and efficient incompetent staff have any military stuff of any Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine in the world. The joint staff is incredible. You are, in fact, the best. You represent the top talent of all the services. Goldwater Nichols made sure of that. Back in the day you didn’t get to the joint staff by accident. You’re hand selected, handpicked and nominated by each of the services. You are the creme de la creme of the services, and you have a lot to be proud of. Every single issue you deal with is strategic in nature. In every single issue you deal with has incredible consequence for those for the safety of the American people and the protection of that thing that we hold so dear, the U. S. Constitution. Let me close by just saying that every single day were here, I would just ask a couple of things. One is that we always respect each other’s dignity. We always treat each other with respect. We always create conditions by which every single one of us, no matter who you are, with their a man or a woman, or or whether gay or straight or a black or white or Catholic, Protestant, Asian Indian. Whether you’re Muslim, Jew, rich, poor doesn’t matter whether you’re with your private or sergeant or their four star general. You treat everybody with equal respect and dignity, and we provide an environment that creates opportunity for every single one of us to advance to the maximum level of our talents and our merit. And I would just ask you do that by doing that every single day. What do you doing? You are fulfilling the spirit and the idea of your oath, which is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, which is an idea that says every one of us is born free and equal, and that’s the core idea that it is to be an American, and each one of us has sworn that oath and we’re willing to die for it. Sorry. Just ask that. You always remember that. Remember your oath remembered every day, Live it every day. And we can do that. Living it every day by dignity, respect to each other and creating an environment of equal opportunity so you can rise to the level of your merit. And you look at people’s character, not just their physical characteristics, in terminating their wealth, their merit, their talent. Eso thanks for what you’re doing. You’re an incredible staff, and I’m proud of every one of you and we’ll go ahead and do these awardees. Each of these awardees was hand hand picked and selected and nominated by the Jaegers. But and although there about to get a certificate of metal in a little trophy, each and every person on the joint staff could easily be standing here getting the same thing because every single one of you is extraordinarily talented. So thanks for what you’re doing. And we’ll go ahead and get started and get these guys up here and getting their award. You are making Thank you. General Milley. Ladies and gentlemen, General Milley will now recognize personnel representing each Joint Staff Directorate for all three categories. Director, representatives, receiver, Certificate of commendation from the chairman on those selected as the enlisted member civilian, An Action officer of the year will receive a joint staff trophy and shared the stage with General Milley for the remarks. We ask that the audience please remain seated for all presentations. We begin the presentations with joint staff Enlisted Member nominees, the first quarter nominee from Directorate of Operations, First Class Petty Officer Catherine S. Caldwell, United States Navy unable to attend today The third quarter nominee from the Directorate of Management Technical Sergeant Matthew Burns, United States Air Force Ladies and Gentlemen from Directorate for Strategy Plans and Policy that 2019 Joint Staff Enlisted Service Member of the Year Sergeant first Class Ashley J. Vega, United States Army Citation to accompany the award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal Toe. Actually, J. Vega, Staff Sergeant Ashley J. Vega, United States Army distinguished herself by by meritorious achievement as the 2019 Joint staff Enlisted Service member of the year from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. During this period, Staff Sergeant Vega served as the Human Resource is sergeant for deputy Directorate for Politico Military Affairs. Asia enlisted executive assistant to the Director for Political Military Affairs Asia and enlisted executive assistant to the director for strategy plans and policy director at J five. The joint staff. Upon her arrival to the position vacant for more than 12 months and without the benefit of having a turnover, staff sergeant Vega quickly identified areas that needed improvement and took charge. She created human resource processes and systems that he’ll imitated redundancies and ensured timely processing. She quickly familiarized herself with the joint worldwide intelligence Communications system account processes to ensure all service members had accounts within days of their arrival to the directorate, thereby adding efficiency staff. Sergeant Vega’s initiatives led to her selection to serve as the executive enlisted assistant to director for strategy plans and policy, where she flawlessly assumed duties while she continued to provide essential administrative support to deputy director for political Military affairs Asia. Furthermore, staff Sergeant Vegas contributions to the J five director, its mission without a doubt makes her deserving of the 2019 Joint Staff Enlisted Service Member of the year The distinctive accomplishments with Staff Sergeant Vega reflect great credit upon herself. The United States Army on the joint staff. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend today’s ceremony. Chairman, Sir and SEAQ, thank you for selecting me as the joint stuff enlisted member of the year. I really appreciate it. Im extremely humbled by this recognition and truly honored to serve on the joint staff with the finest service members and civilians of the Joint Force. I owe this achievement to my husband and Children for their support. So the tension or Allvine for his mentorship and the dedicated professionals of the J five team for their guidance. Also, I want to congratulate Colonel Will Winters and Mr Take on their recognition. Congratulations, gentlemen. Once again, thank you, everyone, for the enthusiastic support and mentorship that led to this accomplishment. Thank you, Sergeant. First class Vega, ladies and gentlemen, we will now continue presentations with the Directorate nominees for the 2019 Joint Staff Civilian of the Year from Manpower and Personnel Directorate Miss Debra Lee from the Directorate for Intelligence. Mr John Kittle from the Operations Directorate, Miss Christina Kelly from the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Mr Nicholas Darfuri from the Command, Control, Communications and Computer Cyber Directorate Mr Robert Colombe from the Joint Force Development Directorate. Mr. James Dirt, all from the Force structure Resource is an Assessment Directorate Dr Margaret McCown from the director and Management This Denise G and from the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Miss Christianne Marie Fault Lory Witten. Ladies and gentlemen, the 2019 Joint Staff Civilian of the Year from the Directorate of Logistics Mr Lee are Tate Citation to accompany the award of the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award to Mr Lee Tate. Mr. Lee Arteta distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious achievement and actions that led to his selection as the Joint Staff Civilian of the Year while serving as an operational contract support analyst, Joint Staff Logistics Directorate, the Joint Staff for a period of 1 January 2019 through 31 December 2019. As the chairman subject matter expert on commercial support toe operations, he increased the Defense Department’s ability to implement the national defense strategy on multiple fronts. His efforts with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization directly resulted in improving processes and networks to prioritize combat support. Strengthening the alliance on supporting partnerships across both militaries and civilian agencies. His expertise in the field ensured the training of over 900 personnel on operational contract support. Lost enhancing lethality of our forces by increasing the ability to integrate mission critical support. His professionalism and persuasiveness assured receipt of $1.65 million in additional funding critical to fulfillment of Title 10 Operational contract support responsibilities. His ability to work across the Defense Department, military services combatant commands, federal agencies and congressional staffs resulted in Senate approval of the Vendor Threat Mitigation Legislative change proposal for the National Defense Authorization Act. This initiative as authorities for the government to avoid specific foreign contracting and preserve over $1 billion in contract and cooperated agreements. The distinctive accomplishments of Mr Tate reflect great credit upon himself and the joint staff. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, Chairman SEAQ. It’s a true honor and privilege to be selected as a civilian of the year for the Joint Staff. I love the joint staff and sir thank you for Ah, explaining what the joint staff does have been on for 11 years, and it’s ah, really special mission. Um, at the risk of using a dated movie reference if the bobs from office space came and asked me. So what is it exactly you would say that you do here? I would tell them that, uh, the joint force in any given operation is over 50% contractors. And so, uh, my team and I work every day to try and incorporate that reality into our training, education exercises, doctrine, policy planning and risk assessments. And, um, it’s a fun mission. And my team and my colleagues are why I’m up here. I wouldn’t be up here without them. And ah, while I love my mission, they’re my favorite part of this job. So thank you to my team and my colleagues. Thank you, Mr Tate. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now continue presentations with the Directorate nominees for the 2019 Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year from the Directorate of Manpower and Personnel Commander Christopher G. Brianna’s United States Navy from the Directorate for Intelligence Major Aaron J. Danielli, United States Army from the Joint Force Development Directorate Majorly See Humphrey, United States Army from the Directorate for Four Structure Resource is an assessment Lieutenant Colonel Eric Emma Reagan United States Air Force and Unable to attend today from the Logistics Directorate Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey P. Anderson, United States Air Force from the Directorate of Plans and Policy from the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate Lieutenant Colonel Walter A. Read United States Army from the Command, Control, Communications and Computer Cyber Directorate Lieutenant Colonel Makita are Brown United States Air Force from the Directorate of Management Colonel Christine A. Millard, United States Air Force Ladies and Gentlemen, The 2019 Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year from the Operations Directorate Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy S. Winters, United States Marine Corps Citation to accompany the award off the Joint Service Commendation Medal to Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy S. Winters, United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Winters, United States Marine Corps distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious achievement in actions that led to his selection at the Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year for 2019 while serving as the deputy division chief, joint operations division, European Command and Secretary of Defense orders Book Briefer Joint Operations Division Global Force Management deputy director, It for Regional Operations Enforced Management Operations Directorate, The Joint Staff from 01 January to 31 December 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Winters exhibited extraordinary leadership and subject matter expertise in spearheading crisis management teams and operational reviews in support of several national level issues of specifics and significance. He presented a comprehensive Russian problem. Set a coordinated summary of joint national and international review of plans and operations. This action set the standard for operational summaries and generated three additional reviews with direct impact on the national defense strategy. Additionally, he was key operations Directorate leader in the critical Crisis management team for the national plans and operations executed in response to the Turkish incursions into Syria. His briefs in both major areas reviewed at the highest levels of the United States government and had a direct impact on national policy. The distinctive accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel Winters reflect great credit upon himself. The United States Marine Corps on the joint Staff. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I’m honored to accept this recognition and to join certain Vega and my friendly Tate on the stage. I was going to give a shout out to my J three folks wine one, Caldwell and Christina. Thank you so much for the teamwork down in the J three. These types of events aren’t about the person on this stage there about the teams that did all those things that you heard in my citation. So I’d like to recognize those at first. Like to thank both Chairman’s Dunford and Millie, both of whom mentored me directly during this period of time on the joint staff Chairman Millie, sir. Especially as the est ob team. Those quiet moments in your office where you thought out loud and you actually asked the opinion of Napoleon’s Lance Lance Colonel. I really appreciate that, sir. The opportunity to serve alongside you is a privileged I’ll take with me forever. Seaq Thank you so much for everything that you do, whether it’s mentoring young officers looking after the force. It’s tough to get out and about with the covert going on, but we appreciate you and all the senior elicited of either’s taking care of our service members and their families out there. Thank you so much to the jaegers. All of you. Uh, I appreciate the advice and the guidance and the mentorship I got from you whether I wanted it or not, or needed it or not. Specifically to Admiral Gil Day and Lieutenant General Pappas because of two phenomenal leaders I had the privilege to work for. And every single day, I’ll take lessons from them. And Lieutenant General Alvin, sir, it was a privilege to work with you. Good luck in your next assignment, sir. Um, T J for 35. And now Major General De A. Sims, who tomorrow takes takes command of the Big Red one. I hope to see that officer again in my career. I would I know all of us in the J 35 would take on the Chinese army with a strategic disadvantage of D a. Sims. Where our boss. So, sir, good luck. We’re watching tomorrow. And to the J 35 team, the engine of the joint staff, everything that was read up on this stage, it came out in an order. It came out in a G f M task. It came out in an info paper that somebody downstairs indeed. Er oh wrote Thank you so much for what you do every single day. I love you guys. You’re my family. And finally to my family. My wife, Holly, has been dealing with breast cancer for my last year on the joint staff, and she’s my rock. And without her, I would not have been able to do any of these things. She’s cared for two to my precious Children, Samantha and Lucy, during this time on, She’s my real hero. Today’s a day where we talk about heroes, those Marines and that one sailor that we will bury those air heroes and the families that take care of all the people who wear a uniform who go forth and give everything they’ve got every single day and leave it all on the field. Those are true heroes. Also, some very appreciative to them as well. Uh, I believe I’ve been given the duty of dismissing the formation. Only a Marine would be given that with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this stage. So, ladies and gentlemen, this this concludes our presentation. I would ask that you please rise for the departure of the official party for released Marines. Lead the way