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Immediate Release

Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on Secretary Hagel's Domestic Travel

Today, Secretary Hagel departed Washington for a five-day trip across the country to visit with the men and women of the Department of Defense. During his travels, he will see first-hand some of the critical training the force receives to maintain readiness across a range of challenges.

Today in Minot, North Dakota, Secretary Hagel will tour the 91st Missile Wing Operations Center and make remarks to Airmen from the intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM] and bomber legs of the nuclear triad about the comprehensive reform he has ordered for the nuclear enterprise.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Secretary Hagel will deliver the keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. He will also deliver remarks at the “Peace Through Strength” dinner to honor former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Senator John McCain.

On Sunday, Nov. 16, Secretary Hagel will observe the U.S. Army's "Decisive Action" readiness training at Ft. Irwin, California. The training includes approximately 4,700 soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, which is based at Fort Carson, Colorado. The decisive training tests the brigade’s ability to conduct large-scale, offensive and defensive operations against a near-peer enemy, support an embattled host nation government and fight an insurgency.

On Monday, Nov. 17, Secretary Hagel will visit Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to thank families of U.S. military service members deployed to Operation United Assistance in West Africa. He will deliver remarks at a troop event to thank members of the 101st Airborne Division who have recently returned from Afghanistan and others who are training to deploy to West Africa to help fight Ebola at its source.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Secretary Hagel will travel to Camp LeJeune where he will observe training conducted by the men and women of the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force. This training will help the Marine Corps facilitate “standards base assessments” of physical performance to help integrate female Marines into ground combat arms occupational specialties. He will also deliver remarks to II Marine Expeditionary
Forces who have recently returned from service in Afghanistan and are preparing to join a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force for Crisis Response.

Secretary Hagel will return to Washington Tuesday evening.