1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:04,000 Good afternoon everybody I am pleased 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,167 and honored to be joined at the podium 3 00:00:06,167 --> 00:00:07,889 today by dr Hicks , the Deputy 4 00:00:07,889 --> 00:00:10,400 Secretary of Defense , who is going to 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,740 talk to you at the outset of this 6 00:00:12,740 --> 00:00:14,880 briefing on the department's 7 00:00:14,890 --> 00:00:17,110 implementation roadmap on section on 8 00:00:17,110 --> 00:00:19,166 preventing sexual assault and sexual 9 00:00:19,166 --> 00:00:21,420 harassment . Uh And after the Deputy 10 00:00:21,420 --> 00:00:23,587 secretary has some opening comments to 11 00:00:23,587 --> 00:00:25,753 walk you through that romance , um she 12 00:00:25,753 --> 00:00:27,920 will be able to stick around for a few 13 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,031 questions as before . I will moderate 14 00:00:30,031 --> 00:00:32,198 the questions . We don't have time for 15 00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:34,253 very many . That deputy has a pretty 16 00:00:34,253 --> 00:00:36,476 packed agenda this afternoon , but I'll 17 00:00:36,476 --> 00:00:38,587 moderate a few questions after that . 18 00:00:38,587 --> 00:00:38,340 And then when that's over , I'll come 19 00:00:38,340 --> 00:00:40,173 back up to the podium for normal 20 00:00:40,173 --> 00:00:42,229 briefing stuff . So we bet , ma'am . 21 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:44,040 Mhm 22 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,290 mm . All right , Good afternoon 23 00:00:51,290 --> 00:00:53,950 everyone . As part of the department's 24 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,470 efforts to eliminate sexual assault and 25 00:00:56,470 --> 00:00:58,414 sexual harassment from the ranks . 26 00:00:58,414 --> 00:01:00,414 Today , I am providing an important 27 00:01:00,414 --> 00:01:02,860 update on our implementation roadmap . 28 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,473 This represents the department's 29 00:01:05,473 --> 00:01:07,529 strategic approach , has approved by 30 00:01:07,529 --> 00:01:09,696 the Secretary of Defense to act on the 31 00:01:09,696 --> 00:01:11,720 recommendations of the 90 day 32 00:01:11,730 --> 00:01:13,952 Independent Review Commission on sexual 33 00:01:13,952 --> 00:01:16,008 assault and sexual harassment in the 34 00:01:16,008 --> 00:01:18,250 military . We're going to make needed 35 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,710 foundational investments to support 36 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,609 sexual assault , accountability , 37 00:01:22,609 --> 00:01:25,130 prevention programs , healthy command 38 00:01:25,130 --> 00:01:28,930 climates and quality victim care to 39 00:01:28,930 --> 00:01:30,890 date sexual harassment and sexual 40 00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:33,057 assault remain serious problems in our 41 00:01:33,057 --> 00:01:35,320 force with lethal consequences for 42 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:37,590 service members and harmful effects on 43 00:01:37,590 --> 00:01:40,000 our combat readiness . This 44 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,611 administration has placed an 45 00:01:41,611 --> 00:01:43,860 unprecedentedly high priority on this 46 00:01:43,860 --> 00:01:46,560 challenge . Set in fact , in his first 47 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,950 day in office , Secretary Austin issued 48 00:01:48,950 --> 00:01:51,061 a memorandum to department leadership 49 00:01:51,061 --> 00:01:53,040 tasking them with reporting data 50 00:01:53,050 --> 00:01:55,272 pertaining to sexual assault and sexual 51 00:01:55,272 --> 00:01:58,400 harassment . On February 26 at the 52 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,122 direction of President Biden , 53 00:02:00,122 --> 00:02:02,530 Secretary Austin established the 90 Day 54 00:02:02,530 --> 00:02:04,860 Independent Review Commission or ICC . 55 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,560 On June 21 , the ICC provided its 56 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,338 findings and recommendations to 57 00:02:10,338 --> 00:02:11,850 secretary Austin and their 58 00:02:11,850 --> 00:02:13,950 comprehensive evidence based and 59 00:02:13,950 --> 00:02:16,900 stakeholder informed report , made 82 60 00:02:16,910 --> 00:02:19,350 recommendations that spanned four lines 61 00:02:19,350 --> 00:02:22,760 of effort , accountability , prevention , 62 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:25,060 climate and culture and victim care . 63 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:29,010 And on July 2 , 2021 , less than six 64 00:02:29,010 --> 00:02:31,350 months after stating his intent to lead 65 00:02:31,350 --> 00:02:33,294 the department encountering sexual 66 00:02:33,294 --> 00:02:35,072 assault and sexual harassment , 67 00:02:35,072 --> 00:02:37,170 secretary Austin directed this 68 00:02:37,170 --> 00:02:39,950 implementation way ahead . We have now 69 00:02:39,950 --> 00:02:41,890 created that way ahead called the 70 00:02:41,890 --> 00:02:43,990 implementation roadmap and Secretary 71 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,380 Austin has approved it in its entirety . 72 00:02:46,940 --> 00:02:49,400 We constructed our roadmap by creating 73 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:51,740 specialized teams comprising experts 74 00:02:51,750 --> 00:02:54,570 across the department . After reviewing 75 00:02:54,570 --> 00:02:57,220 the IRC s recommendations are experts 76 00:02:57,230 --> 00:03:00,160 identified sequencing issues eliminated , 77 00:03:00,170 --> 00:03:02,080 excuse me estimated resource 78 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,180 requirements and characterized the 79 00:03:04,180 --> 00:03:06,190 risks and benefits associated with 80 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,440 different implementation paths built in 81 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,273 consultation with the department 82 00:03:11,273 --> 00:03:13,496 civilian and uniformed leadership . The 83 00:03:13,496 --> 00:03:16,160 resulting road map represents a best in 84 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,827 practice , sexual assault and 85 00:03:17,827 --> 00:03:20,240 harassment prevention and response 86 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,090 program that ensures rapid action and 87 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:26,400 early and enduring results . In 88 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,344 accordance with Secretary Austin's 89 00:03:28,344 --> 00:03:30,450 guidance , our approach is holistic 90 00:03:30,460 --> 00:03:32,460 addressing all of the I . R . CES 91 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:34,640 recommendations across its four lines 92 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:37,540 of effort . We are implementing in four 93 00:03:37,540 --> 00:03:40,100 tiers of action . Our goal is to 94 00:03:40,110 --> 00:03:42,820 implement as rapidly as possible while 95 00:03:42,820 --> 00:03:45,280 ensuring we can deliver durable and 96 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,650 meaningful outcomes . The first tier 97 00:03:48,660 --> 00:03:50,216 which we have already begun 98 00:03:50,216 --> 00:03:52,390 implementing is our foundation . It 99 00:03:52,390 --> 00:03:54,690 consists of the most important elements 100 00:03:54,700 --> 00:03:56,922 in preventing sexual assault and sexual 101 00:03:56,922 --> 00:03:58,760 harassment and holding offenders 102 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,450 accountable . The preponderance of 103 00:04:01,450 --> 00:04:04,180 initiatives and resources are focused 104 00:04:04,190 --> 00:04:07,640 in our first tier for instance , it 105 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:09,807 contains three of our highest priority 106 00:04:09,807 --> 00:04:11,584 recommendations , including the 107 00:04:11,584 --> 00:04:13,418 establishment of the office is a 108 00:04:13,418 --> 00:04:15,270 special victim prosecutors , the 109 00:04:15,270 --> 00:04:18,170 creation of a full time and specialized 110 00:04:18,170 --> 00:04:20,320 prevention work force and the 111 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,740 implementation of full time Sexual 112 00:04:22,750 --> 00:04:25,050 assault Response Coordinator and Sexual 113 00:04:25,050 --> 00:04:27,217 assault Prevention and Response victim 114 00:04:27,220 --> 00:04:30,640 advocate positions follow on tears 115 00:04:30,650 --> 00:04:33,510 build on or expand beyond these 116 00:04:33,510 --> 00:04:36,230 foundations . That said our tiered 117 00:04:36,230 --> 00:04:39,340 approach is not rigidly constructed and 118 00:04:39,340 --> 00:04:41,650 we have done it in such a way that we 119 00:04:41,650 --> 00:04:44,450 are able to be dynamic and expect it to 120 00:04:44,450 --> 00:04:47,050 evolve over time where more expedient 121 00:04:47,050 --> 00:04:49,330 pathways or best practices are newly 122 00:04:49,330 --> 00:04:52,270 identified and make no mistake , the 123 00:04:52,270 --> 00:04:54,560 department is committed to completing 124 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,200 implementation on as fast a timeline as 125 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,680 possible while ensuring our efforts 126 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,260 take deep root throughout all levels of 127 00:05:02,260 --> 00:05:04,110 leadership down to the unit and 128 00:05:04,110 --> 00:05:07,020 individual level . To that end , we are 129 00:05:07,020 --> 00:05:08,687 taking necessary steps in the 130 00:05:08,687 --> 00:05:10,680 department to ensure expedient 131 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,070 implementation of recommendations that 132 00:05:13,070 --> 00:05:15,292 the administration has already proposed 133 00:05:15,292 --> 00:05:17,540 in legislation . Those recommendations 134 00:05:17,540 --> 00:05:19,373 such as the establishment of the 135 00:05:19,373 --> 00:05:21,484 offices of special victim prosecutors 136 00:05:21,484 --> 00:05:24,230 represent real cultural and structural 137 00:05:24,230 --> 00:05:28,150 shifts for the military departments in 138 00:05:28,150 --> 00:05:29,928 the memorandum Secretary Austin 139 00:05:29,930 --> 00:05:32,360 released today . He includes four 140 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,360 specific actions to ensure that the 141 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,193 department begins to swiftly and 142 00:05:36,193 --> 00:05:37,749 deliberately moved from the 143 00:05:37,749 --> 00:05:39,860 recommendations contained in the road 144 00:05:39,860 --> 00:05:42,320 map to implementation first . He has 145 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,560 directed the undersecretary of Defense 146 00:05:44,570 --> 00:05:47,070 for personnel and readiness to issue 147 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:48,860 enterprise wide guidance for 148 00:05:48,860 --> 00:05:50,971 implementing all recommendations this 149 00:05:50,971 --> 00:05:53,390 fall Beginning with Guidance on Tier 150 00:05:53,390 --> 00:05:56,490 one recommendations . by October 13 , 151 00:05:56,490 --> 00:05:59,910 2021 . Second each service and relevant 152 00:05:59,910 --> 00:06:01,980 component is directed to develop 153 00:06:01,990 --> 00:06:04,050 implementation plans and resource 154 00:06:04,050 --> 00:06:07,200 mapping by november 12 2021 for tier 155 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,550 one recommendations . And by the end of 156 00:06:09,550 --> 00:06:12,350 january 2022 for all actions 157 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:14,880 Third , the undersecretary for 158 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,102 personnel and readiness will develop an 159 00:06:17,102 --> 00:06:20,310 outcome metrics evaluation report by 160 00:06:20,310 --> 00:06:23,740 May one , This will be used to 161 00:06:23,740 --> 00:06:26,180 track the effectiveness and progress on 162 00:06:26,190 --> 00:06:29,400 implementation . And fourth , in 163 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,344 consultation with the services and 164 00:06:31,344 --> 00:06:32,870 relevant components . The 165 00:06:32,870 --> 00:06:34,703 undersecretary for personnel and 166 00:06:34,703 --> 00:06:36,648 readiness will formally assess the 167 00:06:36,648 --> 00:06:39,410 roadmap no fewer than twice per year 168 00:06:39,490 --> 00:06:41,657 and make recommendations to me through 169 00:06:41,657 --> 00:06:44,260 the deputies workforce council or DW C . 170 00:06:44,740 --> 00:06:47,660 The D W C in turn will meet quarterly 171 00:06:47,670 --> 00:06:50,080 to monitor implementation progress and 172 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,360 accelerate timelines wherever possible , 173 00:06:53,940 --> 00:06:55,996 countering sexual assault and sexual 174 00:06:55,996 --> 00:06:58,051 harassment in the military remains a 175 00:06:58,051 --> 00:06:59,990 priority for Secretary Austin for 176 00:06:59,990 --> 00:07:02,730 President biden . And for me , we 177 00:07:02,730 --> 00:07:04,410 continue to move quickly and 178 00:07:04,410 --> 00:07:06,521 deliberately and are committed to the 179 00:07:06,521 --> 00:07:08,780 path that I have outlined . Our changes 180 00:07:08,780 --> 00:07:10,891 are comprehensive and they provide us 181 00:07:10,891 --> 00:07:12,960 an opportunity to deal a fundamental 182 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,510 blow to this problem . As I've said 183 00:07:15,510 --> 00:07:17,570 previously , our service members 184 00:07:17,570 --> 00:07:19,890 deserve no less and our combat 185 00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:22,210 effectiveness depends on our success . 186 00:07:22,220 --> 00:07:24,276 Thank you And I'm happy to take some 187 00:07:24,276 --> 00:07:27,250 questions . Uh huh . Yeah , thank you . 188 00:07:27,260 --> 00:07:29,710 I'm Secretary bob burns for me . You 189 00:07:29,710 --> 00:07:31,599 made several references to moving 190 00:07:31,599 --> 00:07:34,280 quickly with this . So can you give us 191 00:07:34,290 --> 00:07:36,568 here ? You mentioned any year any date . 192 00:07:36,568 --> 00:07:38,568 So when will you have completed the 193 00:07:38,568 --> 00:07:40,846 implementation of tier one for example . 194 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,620 So uh including our reserve component 195 00:07:44,630 --> 00:07:46,852 elements , we think it could take up to 196 00:07:46,852 --> 00:07:49,730 2027 to do the full implementation 197 00:07:49,740 --> 00:07:52,100 primarily around these major hiring 198 00:07:52,100 --> 00:07:54,340 actions that we're putting forward . So 199 00:07:54,340 --> 00:07:57,030 this is the major prevention work force , 200 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,650 the focus of most of that work force as 201 00:08:00,650 --> 00:08:02,740 full time professionals on sexual 202 00:08:02,740 --> 00:08:04,907 assault and sexual harassment , making 203 00:08:04,907 --> 00:08:07,018 sure we get the right skills , um not 204 00:08:07,018 --> 00:08:09,240 just people in jobs but the right skill 205 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,462 sets and expertise into these positions 206 00:08:11,462 --> 00:08:14,090 that we think is the longest lead item 207 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:16,000 in Tier one and probably the most 208 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,056 important of our recommendations for 209 00:08:18,056 --> 00:08:20,278 the Active component . I think we'll be 210 00:08:20,278 --> 00:08:22,333 able to see progress much earlier in 211 00:08:22,333 --> 00:08:24,111 the first two years . So you're 212 00:08:24,111 --> 00:08:26,730 distinguishing between 2027 for reserve 213 00:08:26,740 --> 00:08:29,520 only that full implementation of tier 214 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:31,910 one is inclusive of all elements of the 215 00:08:31,910 --> 00:08:34,200 force and that reserve component moving 216 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,550 to full time professionals who are able 217 00:08:37,550 --> 00:08:39,328 to look after for example , the 218 00:08:39,328 --> 00:08:41,610 National Guard obviously across 54 219 00:08:41,610 --> 00:08:43,554 different National Guard component 220 00:08:43,554 --> 00:08:46,060 elements that will take much more time . 221 00:08:46,060 --> 00:08:48,282 But in the first two years you will see 222 00:08:48,282 --> 00:08:50,449 significant movement on that full time 223 00:08:50,449 --> 00:08:52,890 force for the active component . One 224 00:08:52,890 --> 00:08:54,834 quick follow up . Does that to any 225 00:08:54,834 --> 00:08:57,490 extent reflect the military services . 226 00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:00,000 Skepticism about moving too quickly 227 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,160 when I smile only because it does not . 228 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,382 The military services are eager to move 229 00:09:05,382 --> 00:09:07,493 as fast as possible . They would like 230 00:09:07,493 --> 00:09:09,660 to make sure that as much as we can is 231 00:09:09,660 --> 00:09:12,150 in this first wave , this first tier of 232 00:09:12,150 --> 00:09:14,260 activity . And I think what we're 233 00:09:14,260 --> 00:09:16,660 trying to balance is the expert advice 234 00:09:16,660 --> 00:09:18,660 we've been given to make sure we do 235 00:09:18,660 --> 00:09:21,210 this well that uh , you know , the 236 00:09:21,220 --> 00:09:23,387 routes have to be deep . We can't just 237 00:09:23,387 --> 00:09:26,000 move quickly but shallowly and have the 238 00:09:26,010 --> 00:09:28,310 figment of action without having really 239 00:09:28,310 --> 00:09:30,860 well thought through processes for how 240 00:09:30,860 --> 00:09:33,750 we do this . The D . O . D . Efforts in 241 00:09:33,750 --> 00:09:35,750 this space will be the largest ever 242 00:09:35,750 --> 00:09:38,350 attempted . No university , no major 243 00:09:38,350 --> 00:09:40,730 institution is at our scale . So 244 00:09:40,730 --> 00:09:42,786 building a workforce of prevention , 245 00:09:42,786 --> 00:09:45,008 workforce , building the accountability 246 00:09:45,008 --> 00:09:46,897 approach very specifically around 247 00:09:46,897 --> 00:09:49,063 sexual assault , sexual harassment and 248 00:09:49,063 --> 00:09:51,174 related crimes . This will be a first 249 00:09:51,174 --> 00:09:53,397 of its kind endeavour . We want to move 250 00:09:53,397 --> 00:09:55,452 fast , but we want to make sure that 251 00:09:55,452 --> 00:09:57,508 these changes last and we build back 252 00:09:57,508 --> 00:10:01,060 that trust in the force , David . Um , 253 00:10:01,740 --> 00:10:05,370 so I understand the the 254 00:10:05,380 --> 00:10:07,380 priorities that you laid out in the 255 00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:09,330 deadlines you gave , do they still 256 00:10:09,330 --> 00:10:13,240 require legislation Sure . 257 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,300 There most of the actions that I've 258 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:17,522 described . We can do ourselves . There 259 00:10:17,522 --> 00:10:19,522 are some key elements we have asked 260 00:10:19,522 --> 00:10:21,720 Congress to help us with the first and 261 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,720 most important is the change to the 262 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:26,190 uniform code of Military justice to 263 00:10:26,190 --> 00:10:29,840 expand a group of 264 00:10:29,850 --> 00:10:31,960 activities or offenses ? Excuse me , 265 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,682 around sexual assault , sexual 266 00:10:33,682 --> 00:10:36,200 harassment related , um , sexual 267 00:10:36,210 --> 00:10:39,000 offenses and put those outside of the 268 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,190 chain of command under these offices of 269 00:10:42,190 --> 00:10:44,880 special prosecutors , so that these 270 00:10:44,890 --> 00:10:47,550 offices also we are asking for 271 00:10:47,550 --> 00:10:50,340 legislative assistance to develop those 272 00:10:50,340 --> 00:10:52,396 offices . Those are probably the two 273 00:10:52,396 --> 00:10:54,451 most important elements for which we 274 00:10:54,451 --> 00:10:56,507 need legislative relief building out 275 00:10:56,507 --> 00:10:58,451 the prevention workforce . We need 276 00:10:58,451 --> 00:11:00,870 Congress's help on funding it , um , 277 00:11:00,870 --> 00:11:03,210 and make sure making sure we have the 278 00:11:03,220 --> 00:11:06,570 particularly civilian workforce ceiling 279 00:11:06,580 --> 00:11:09,340 to hire people . But mostly we can do 280 00:11:09,340 --> 00:11:11,451 that within our own authorities . And 281 00:11:11,451 --> 00:11:14,510 you mentioned coming up with metrics by 282 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,690 millions next year . Don't you already 283 00:11:17,690 --> 00:11:20,700 have metrics and the annual sexual 284 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:24,360 assault reports . Aren't you gonna know ? 285 00:11:24,940 --> 00:11:27,060 Uh , the next time our report comes 286 00:11:27,060 --> 00:11:29,410 around whether or not you're having any 287 00:11:29,410 --> 00:11:31,870 impact those kind of metrics . You're 288 00:11:31,870 --> 00:11:34,092 right . We do have metrics that help us 289 00:11:34,092 --> 00:11:36,960 understand the rate of reporting , for 290 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,849 instance , on sexual harassment , 291 00:11:38,849 --> 00:11:41,071 sexual assault . What we're looking for 292 00:11:41,071 --> 00:11:43,182 is how to measure the quality of this 293 00:11:43,182 --> 00:11:46,330 workforce . Um , the particular , um , 294 00:11:46,340 --> 00:11:48,820 you know , the steps in the process , I 295 00:11:48,820 --> 00:11:51,380 think is how I would put it for , how 296 00:11:51,380 --> 00:11:53,658 we understand has scaled the challenge , 297 00:11:53,658 --> 00:11:55,720 for instance , the size of the unit 298 00:11:55,730 --> 00:11:57,674 level at which we need a dedicated 299 00:11:57,674 --> 00:11:59,786 professional , how we think about the 300 00:11:59,786 --> 00:12:02,090 offices of special prosecutors in each 301 00:12:02,090 --> 00:12:04,257 military department . That's the level 302 00:12:04,257 --> 00:12:06,423 of metrics we're talking about . Would 303 00:12:06,423 --> 00:12:08,423 you expect to see any change in the 304 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,260 annual sexual assault harassment report 305 00:12:11,260 --> 00:12:13,510 when it comes out next spring as a 306 00:12:13,510 --> 00:12:17,100 result of this ? Well , I don't expect 307 00:12:17,110 --> 00:12:19,332 as a result of this , we will see it as 308 00:12:19,332 --> 00:12:21,520 soon as the spring . Uh we also have 309 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,700 not had the change of the chain of 310 00:12:23,700 --> 00:12:27,000 command yet through congress . So uh we 311 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,222 certainly are looking to make change as 312 00:12:29,222 --> 00:12:31,340 fast as possible and see change in 313 00:12:31,340 --> 00:12:33,507 those statistics as fast as possible . 314 00:12:33,507 --> 00:12:35,260 Where I think we will see more 315 00:12:35,260 --> 00:12:38,900 immediate effect to that point is more 316 00:12:38,900 --> 00:12:41,011 along the lines of what the secretary 317 00:12:41,011 --> 00:12:43,233 has already put into action beyond what 318 00:12:43,233 --> 00:12:44,622 was from the I . R . C . 319 00:12:44,622 --> 00:12:46,678 Recommendations . He had a series of 320 00:12:46,678 --> 00:12:48,789 actions right away . So you can think 321 00:12:48,789 --> 00:12:50,900 of the fort Hood report for example , 322 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:53,067 in the follow on actions taken there . 323 00:12:53,067 --> 00:12:55,289 So for example , we are already looking 324 00:12:55,289 --> 00:12:57,456 hard at installations across the force 325 00:12:57,456 --> 00:12:59,122 to understand where there are 326 00:12:59,122 --> 00:13:00,733 installations that are doing 327 00:13:00,733 --> 00:13:02,900 particularly well . Uh and where there 328 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,122 are some installations where we need to 329 00:13:05,122 --> 00:13:07,178 send focused help . So where we take 330 00:13:07,178 --> 00:13:08,844 that prevention sexual sexual 331 00:13:08,844 --> 00:13:11,067 harassment prevention workforce that we 332 00:13:11,067 --> 00:13:13,289 have today and send them out . Think of 333 00:13:13,289 --> 00:13:14,956 fly away teams to help at the 334 00:13:14,956 --> 00:13:16,956 installation level . Those sorts of 335 00:13:16,956 --> 00:13:19,178 actions are already underway . And I do 336 00:13:19,178 --> 00:13:21,400 hope in fact that they will have effect 337 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,440 on the statistics . We next see the 338 00:13:23,450 --> 00:13:24,450 last one will be 339 00:13:27,630 --> 00:13:29,870 spoken to a few military investigators 340 00:13:29,870 --> 00:13:31,926 and one of the issues that they have 341 00:13:31,926 --> 00:13:33,870 brought up was the fact that if an 342 00:13:33,870 --> 00:13:36,037 offender is kicked out of the military 343 00:13:36,037 --> 00:13:38,092 for other than honorable discharge . 344 00:13:38,092 --> 00:13:40,259 Once they're out they can apply to get 345 00:13:40,259 --> 00:13:42,259 that change to honorable which will 346 00:13:42,259 --> 00:13:44,370 impact wherever they apply for jobs . 347 00:13:44,370 --> 00:13:45,981 Is that one of the issues or 348 00:13:45,981 --> 00:13:47,926 recommendations that's going to be 349 00:13:47,926 --> 00:13:49,981 worked on through this new program ? 350 00:13:49,981 --> 00:13:52,203 Are they going to try to adjust that or 351 00:13:52,203 --> 00:13:54,259 fix that or has it been discussed at 352 00:13:54,259 --> 00:13:54,020 all ? I would have to look into that . 353 00:13:54,020 --> 00:13:56,131 That was not one of the I . R . C . S 354 00:13:56,131 --> 00:13:58,353 recommendations to change that policy . 355 00:13:58,353 --> 00:14:01,500 It has not come up to my level thus far 356 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:03,611 in our look at our re look at how the 357 00:14:03,611 --> 00:14:05,833 department addresses this issue but I'm 358 00:14:05,833 --> 00:14:08,080 happy to look at that . Thank you . 359 00:14:08,090 --> 00:14:10,540 Thank you . Thank you all . Yeah . 360 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:13,440 Mhm . 361 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,480 Okay . Just a couple of others things 362 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,660 to get through this afternoon . Yeah . 363 00:14:34,140 --> 00:14:36,307 Uh This morning as I think some of you 364 00:14:36,307 --> 00:14:38,529 know Secretary Aston welcome Australian 365 00:14:38,529 --> 00:14:40,862 prime Minister Morrison to the pentagon . 366 00:14:40,862 --> 00:14:43,084 Secretary thanked our Australian allies 367 00:14:43,084 --> 00:14:44,973 for more than a century of shared 368 00:14:44,973 --> 00:14:47,084 sacrifice and for their contributions 369 00:14:47,084 --> 00:14:49,029 in Afghanistan Secretary and Prime 370 00:14:49,029 --> 00:14:51,084 Minister discussed the future of the 371 00:14:51,084 --> 00:14:53,251 alliance and how this august agreement 372 00:14:53,251 --> 00:14:54,918 will contribute to integrated 373 00:14:54,918 --> 00:14:57,084 deterrence that's working closely with 374 00:14:57,084 --> 00:14:57,020 our allies and friends in defense of 375 00:14:57,020 --> 00:14:58,853 our shared security and to deter 376 00:14:58,853 --> 00:15:01,740 threats uh to a free and open indo 377 00:15:01,740 --> 00:15:04,770 pacific . I do have one other thing 378 00:15:04,770 --> 00:15:07,890 that I wanted to mention 379 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,700 have seen the news that 380 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:16,460 bob Raisman who worked for 381 00:15:16,930 --> 00:15:18,930 stars and stripes for a very , very 382 00:15:18,930 --> 00:15:21,460 long time , just passed away this week 383 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,200 uh , due to complications from cancer . 384 00:15:25,210 --> 00:15:27,520 Um , if any of you and I know many of 385 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,360 you , I've served in uh , reported out 386 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,710 of Iraq and Afghanistan , you can thank 387 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,887 Mr Reisman for the fact that you could 388 00:15:35,887 --> 00:15:38,109 pick up a copy of stars and stripes and 389 00:15:38,109 --> 00:15:40,164 read it and so could the troops uh , 390 00:15:40,164 --> 00:15:42,220 because that was one of his key jobs 391 00:15:42,220 --> 00:15:44,442 was to , I think that I think the title 392 00:15:44,442 --> 00:15:46,276 was expeditionary distribution , 393 00:15:46,276 --> 00:15:49,160 getting , getting those copies of the 394 00:15:49,170 --> 00:15:52,460 newspapers to as many missiles and , 395 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,220 And uh , and work facilities across 396 00:15:56,220 --> 00:15:58,331 Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 20 397 00:15:58,331 --> 00:16:00,553 years , pretty incredible work and uh , 398 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,430 stars and stripes as you know , uh , is 399 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,050 a publication subsidized by the 400 00:16:07,050 --> 00:16:09,217 Department of Defense but has complete 401 00:16:09,217 --> 00:16:11,161 editorial independence and I think 402 00:16:11,161 --> 00:16:13,383 that's pretty remarkable . I don't know 403 00:16:13,383 --> 00:16:15,383 too many other places where you can 404 00:16:15,383 --> 00:16:17,494 find something like that . And having 405 00:16:17,494 --> 00:16:19,830 been a veteran myself , like I just 406 00:16:19,830 --> 00:16:21,997 can't speak enough about how important 407 00:16:21,997 --> 00:16:24,250 stripes is to helping inform 408 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,440 our men and women and their families 409 00:16:27,450 --> 00:16:29,820 all over the world , even in war zones . 410 00:16:29,820 --> 00:16:31,987 And so our thoughts and prayers go out 411 00:16:31,987 --> 00:16:33,960 to the Reisman family uh , and our 412 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,071 thanks and our gratitude for his many 413 00:16:36,071 --> 00:16:38,560 long years of service uh , to such a 414 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,400 noble task . And so we're , we're all 415 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,400 heartbroken here to get this , this 416 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,220 word and again we we stand by to 417 00:16:46,220 --> 00:16:48,331 support the family in any way that we 418 00:16:48,331 --> 00:16:51,750 can with that bob . Hey john thanks a 419 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,390 question for you on , there was a line 420 00:16:54,390 --> 00:16:56,430 in the joint statement put out by 421 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,670 President Biden and uh because Macron 422 00:16:59,670 --> 00:17:03,200 regarding their their 423 00:17:03,210 --> 00:17:05,377 conversation in which it said that the 424 00:17:05,377 --> 00:17:07,321 U . S . Commits to reinforcing its 425 00:17:07,321 --> 00:17:09,930 support to counter terrorism operations 426 00:17:09,930 --> 00:17:12,152 in the saddle and I'm wondering if that 427 00:17:12,152 --> 00:17:14,740 has any actual real world implications 428 00:17:14,740 --> 00:17:17,040 for military operations ? Well , it 429 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,207 absolutely has real world implications 430 00:17:19,207 --> 00:17:22,380 and we are uh continue to provide a 431 00:17:22,380 --> 00:17:25,300 measure of support uh to french 432 00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:27,244 operations in the saddle . And and 433 00:17:27,244 --> 00:17:29,356 that's what this a line was referring 434 00:17:29,356 --> 00:17:31,940 to was the long standing support that 435 00:17:31,940 --> 00:17:35,670 we continue to provide the french . Um 436 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,620 and uh and I you can 437 00:17:39,620 --> 00:17:41,731 certainly surmise from that that that 438 00:17:41,731 --> 00:17:43,842 that support will continue . And I'll 439 00:17:43,842 --> 00:17:47,440 tell you , the secretary spoke to uh 440 00:17:47,450 --> 00:17:50,430 Minister parley on monday and in fact 441 00:17:50,430 --> 00:17:52,486 this was one of the things that they 442 00:17:52,486 --> 00:17:55,790 talked about was uh was ongoing , us 443 00:17:55,790 --> 00:17:59,300 french uh collaboration . This is 444 00:17:59,300 --> 00:18:01,300 reinforcing . I just wonder if that 445 00:18:01,300 --> 00:18:03,411 means increasing or expanding in some 446 00:18:03,411 --> 00:18:05,920 way . I won't speak to specifics about 447 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,790 increases or decreases . What I can 448 00:18:08,790 --> 00:18:12,440 tell you is that uh we have 449 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,040 supported some of their operations in 450 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,262 that part of the world . We're going to 451 00:18:17,262 --> 00:18:19,484 continue to do that . And clearly we're 452 00:18:19,484 --> 00:18:21,960 gonna look for ways to make it as 453 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,182 effective as possible going forward And 454 00:18:24,182 --> 00:18:26,010 I can't rule in or rule out any 455 00:18:26,010 --> 00:18:29,950 particular , uh , element of that 456 00:18:29,950 --> 00:18:32,610 support bob in terms of whether it's 457 00:18:32,610 --> 00:18:35,470 going to increase as a result of , uh , 458 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,060 of this conversation today . But , um , 459 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,450 when I , when I saw the verb reinforced 460 00:18:41,450 --> 00:18:43,394 what I , what I took away was that 461 00:18:43,394 --> 00:18:45,728 we're gonna stay committed to that task . 462 00:18:45,728 --> 00:18:48,550 Yeah , john there were thousands of 463 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,504 afghan refugees at at Fort McCoy , 464 00:18:50,504 --> 00:18:53,090 Wisconsin and army facility and 465 00:18:53,090 --> 00:18:55,360 apparently there are problems with lack 466 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:57,930 of food , clothing . Um , some of the 467 00:18:57,930 --> 00:18:59,874 women are being harassed by former 468 00:18:59,874 --> 00:19:01,920 afghan soldiers . Uh , members of 469 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,380 Congress are asking Secretary Austin to 470 00:19:04,380 --> 00:19:06,491 investigate what's going on . Can you 471 00:19:06,491 --> 00:19:08,550 say if he's received that letter , 472 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,560 asking for the investigation in any 473 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,910 sense of the way ahead ? Uh , we're 474 00:19:13,910 --> 00:19:17,160 certainly aware of these reports 475 00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:19,830 tom and and we take it very , very 476 00:19:19,830 --> 00:19:23,530 seriously . Um , there are 477 00:19:23,540 --> 00:19:26,670 the , especially in a place like Fort 478 00:19:26,670 --> 00:19:29,180 McCoy with winter coming on and so 479 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:33,160 North com is very mindful of of 480 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:34,993 the needs of the weather and the 481 00:19:34,993 --> 00:19:36,827 climate and making sure that the 482 00:19:36,827 --> 00:19:39,770 evacuees have a safe , clean , warm , 483 00:19:39,780 --> 00:19:41,920 um living environment while they 484 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,760 continue this processing . But we're 485 00:19:45,140 --> 00:19:48,400 we're mindful about this at all Eight 486 00:19:48,410 --> 00:19:50,688 installations here domestically , that , 487 00:19:50,688 --> 00:19:52,799 um , that we have a responsibility to 488 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:55,132 provide that kind of an environment for , 489 00:19:55,132 --> 00:19:56,910 for these individuals and their 490 00:19:56,910 --> 00:19:59,021 families , uh , to be able to subsist 491 00:19:59,021 --> 00:20:01,021 while they , while they continue to 492 00:20:01,021 --> 00:20:03,260 work through the immigration process . 493 00:20:03,260 --> 00:20:05,482 And again , we're taking it seriously . 494 00:20:05,482 --> 00:20:09,220 I I know of no specific request 495 00:20:09,230 --> 00:20:12,260 today too conduct an investigation . 496 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,647 But the secretary is certainly mindful 497 00:20:14,647 --> 00:20:17,980 of the reports and he's comfortable 498 00:20:18,190 --> 00:20:20,730 that the General Van Herck , the 499 00:20:20,740 --> 00:20:23,370 Northern Command commander , also is 500 00:20:23,370 --> 00:20:26,550 mindful of these issues and will 501 00:20:26,550 --> 00:20:28,439 continue to work closely with our 502 00:20:28,439 --> 00:20:30,494 interagency partners uh to alleviate 503 00:20:30,494 --> 00:20:32,606 any concerns , there might be a sense 504 00:20:32,606 --> 00:20:34,606 who's in charge of the facility . I 505 00:20:34,606 --> 00:20:36,439 know it's an army facility who's 506 00:20:36,439 --> 00:20:38,217 running it ? Is it the Homeland 507 00:20:38,217 --> 00:20:40,272 Security is at ST is it all of you ? 508 00:20:40,272 --> 00:20:42,383 All of the agencies , it seems like , 509 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,490 well , still access to reporters 510 00:20:45,490 --> 00:20:47,546 getting in to find what's going on . 511 00:20:47,546 --> 00:20:49,601 Some lawmakers they've gone in , but 512 00:20:49,601 --> 00:20:51,768 it's confusing about who's actually in 513 00:20:51,768 --> 00:20:53,879 charge out there . Obviously , we own 514 00:20:53,879 --> 00:20:55,879 the facility tom these are military 515 00:20:55,879 --> 00:20:58,340 bases . And so the military commanders 516 00:20:58,350 --> 00:21:02,140 are responsible for the facilities on 517 00:21:02,140 --> 00:21:04,251 their installations and their bases . 518 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,150 We are also responsible for the 519 00:21:07,150 --> 00:21:09,428 environment , the physical environment , 520 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,760 the housing , um and uh and making sure 521 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,150 that the food and water is provided 522 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,710 appropriate medical care if it's needed 523 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,340 recreation facilities and access to 524 00:21:22,350 --> 00:21:24,406 uh that kind of thing , particularly 525 00:21:24,406 --> 00:21:26,350 for the Children . And of course , 526 00:21:26,350 --> 00:21:28,517 appropriate religious accommodations . 527 00:21:28,517 --> 00:21:30,683 That's what we're responsible for . Um 528 00:21:30,683 --> 00:21:34,400 the actual health of the individuals as 529 00:21:34,410 --> 00:21:37,870 HHS and DHS isn't responsible for the 530 00:21:37,870 --> 00:21:39,870 immigration process . And of course 531 00:21:39,870 --> 00:21:42,037 they're lashed up with state . So it's 532 00:21:42,037 --> 00:21:44,480 truly an interagency team effort . Uh 533 00:21:44,490 --> 00:21:47,810 no one of us alone can or should 534 00:21:47,820 --> 00:21:50,650 uh be responsible for the totality of 535 00:21:50,650 --> 00:21:53,090 the mission . But our job is the is the 536 00:21:53,090 --> 00:21:55,510 housing um and and making sure that 537 00:21:55,510 --> 00:21:57,600 there's a safe environment safe and 538 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,822 secure environment for them to complete 539 00:21:59,822 --> 00:22:01,933 the processing and then to your point 540 00:22:01,933 --> 00:22:05,640 on on access we there's no 541 00:22:05,650 --> 00:22:08,860 concerted effort to keep the press away . 542 00:22:08,870 --> 00:22:11,140 In fact just a week or so ago there was 543 00:22:11,140 --> 00:22:13,251 a media day that we did at Fort Bliss 544 00:22:13,251 --> 00:22:15,680 and we fully anticipated and hoped to 545 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,700 conduct follow on media days at the 546 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:20,840 other installations . And then uh we 547 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,550 got word of the measles outbreak uh and 548 00:22:24,550 --> 00:22:28,000 as you know we have frozen at the 549 00:22:28,010 --> 00:22:30,232 request of the C . D . C . We've frozen 550 00:22:30,232 --> 00:22:32,960 uh all other transportation out of 551 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,862 overseas locations to the United States 552 00:22:35,862 --> 00:22:37,918 because of that out of due caution . 553 00:22:37,918 --> 00:22:40,890 And once we get past that whenever that 554 00:22:40,890 --> 00:22:44,460 is um I fully expect that we will be 555 00:22:44,460 --> 00:22:46,610 able to restart media access to the 556 00:22:46,610 --> 00:22:48,610 facilities . There was there was no 557 00:22:48,610 --> 00:22:50,930 desire to to keep the press out for any 558 00:22:50,930 --> 00:22:53,400 reason . Um I think in the early weeks 559 00:22:53,410 --> 00:22:55,354 we just wanted to make sure we had 560 00:22:55,740 --> 00:22:58,350 things in order that that we were 561 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,062 prepared to receive the numbers that we 562 00:23:01,062 --> 00:23:03,580 received but we absolutely fully expect 563 00:23:03,580 --> 00:23:05,960 to be able to um to provide access 564 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,071 going forward . And that includes for 565 00:23:08,071 --> 00:23:10,293 members of Congress . Clearly they have 566 00:23:10,293 --> 00:23:12,293 a responsibility and a right to see 567 00:23:12,293 --> 00:23:14,293 these facilities to . But right now 568 00:23:14,293 --> 00:23:16,238 visits are are being postponed for 569 00:23:16,238 --> 00:23:18,238 health reasons . Seems to be of the 570 00:23:18,238 --> 00:23:20,349 eight facilities this one place where 571 00:23:20,349 --> 00:23:22,571 there are reports of serious problems I 572 00:23:22,571 --> 00:23:24,900 don't hear or see any problems . And 573 00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:27,067 the other facilities particularly Fort 574 00:23:27,067 --> 00:23:29,289 McCoy . Yeah no I understand that . And 575 00:23:29,289 --> 00:23:31,456 I said we're aware of these reports to 576 00:23:31,456 --> 00:23:31,340 we're taking them all seriously . 577 00:23:31,340 --> 00:23:33,950 General Van Herck uh is very much 578 00:23:33,950 --> 00:23:37,000 mindful of uh what our responsibilities 579 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,000 are in terms of the safe and secure 580 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,000 environment . Um And we take it all 581 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,722 seriously . I can't speak with 582 00:23:42,722 --> 00:23:45,150 specificity to to each and every one of 583 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,830 these of these reports but we're 584 00:23:48,830 --> 00:23:50,608 obviously taking them seriously 585 00:23:50,608 --> 00:23:53,430 jennifer john at fort McCoy it's our 586 00:23:53,430 --> 00:23:55,263 understanding that there are two 587 00:23:55,263 --> 00:23:57,374 barracks that don't have heat that is 588 00:23:57,374 --> 00:23:59,541 the diodes responsibility . So what is 589 00:23:59,541 --> 00:24:01,597 being done about that ? It's getting 590 00:24:01,597 --> 00:24:03,819 very cold up there . As I understand it 591 00:24:03,819 --> 00:24:07,120 Jenna they have taken steps to correct 592 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:10,580 that . You look at Ramstein , they 593 00:24:10,590 --> 00:24:13,320 carried out the mmr vaccinations , 594 00:24:13,330 --> 00:24:17,260 95% of the 9000 or so people there have 595 00:24:17,270 --> 00:24:19,450 been vaccinated and then they also 596 00:24:20,340 --> 00:24:22,800 looked at the population and found that 597 00:24:22,810 --> 00:24:26,180 95% of the sample they took had 598 00:24:26,190 --> 00:24:29,430 um antibodies to for the measles . So 599 00:24:29,430 --> 00:24:32,330 why can't those flights begin again ? 600 00:24:32,330 --> 00:24:34,497 The C . D . C . Is saying they have to 601 00:24:34,497 --> 00:24:36,663 wait 21 days but if they're vaccinated 602 00:24:36,663 --> 00:24:38,886 and they have antibodies shouldn't they 603 00:24:38,886 --> 00:24:42,200 also be moved to the U . S . It's also 604 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,920 getting cold at Ramstein . Yes it is . 605 00:24:45,540 --> 00:24:49,520 Again we are working in lockstep 606 00:24:49,530 --> 00:24:52,060 with the C . D . C . And HHS on this 607 00:24:52,070 --> 00:24:54,990 and uh we want to be mindful that we 608 00:24:54,990 --> 00:24:57,410 are observant of CDC guidelines . Uh 609 00:24:57,420 --> 00:25:00,040 and and their requirements . Uh so 610 00:25:00,050 --> 00:25:03,600 we're not gonna move any faster than we 611 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,270 can do it safely for the health of the 612 00:25:07,270 --> 00:25:10,830 evacuees as well , for the health of 613 00:25:10,830 --> 00:25:13,120 the communities to which they're being 614 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,910 transported . And we are all mindful of 615 00:25:15,910 --> 00:25:18,077 the changing weather follows upon us . 616 00:25:18,077 --> 00:25:20,790 We know that um , and all the 617 00:25:20,790 --> 00:25:22,790 installation commanders are taking 618 00:25:22,830 --> 00:25:25,100 steps to make sure that with the coming 619 00:25:25,100 --> 00:25:27,322 colder weather , we can be able to keep 620 00:25:27,322 --> 00:25:29,100 people warm and safe . And last 621 00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:32,050 question on the covid vaccines are 622 00:25:32,060 --> 00:25:34,690 those service members who don't get the 623 00:25:34,690 --> 00:25:36,850 Covid vaccine . Are they facing 624 00:25:36,850 --> 00:25:40,720 dishonorable discharge ? What I will 625 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:44,150 tell you is that we're going 626 00:25:44,150 --> 00:25:47,760 to try to help those who 627 00:25:48,540 --> 00:25:51,020 resist taking the vaccine , help them 628 00:25:51,020 --> 00:25:53,131 make the best decision . Some of them 629 00:25:53,131 --> 00:25:55,110 will have legitimate reasons maybe 630 00:25:55,110 --> 00:25:57,110 health reasons of their own because 631 00:25:57,110 --> 00:25:59,332 their doctor doesn't want to get them . 632 00:25:59,332 --> 00:26:01,388 And yes , there can be some that can 633 00:26:01,388 --> 00:26:03,388 apply for religious accommodation . 634 00:26:03,388 --> 00:26:05,499 There's a process . Each service runs 635 00:26:05,499 --> 00:26:07,499 for that . But for those who resist 636 00:26:07,499 --> 00:26:07,460 just because they don't want to take 637 00:26:07,460 --> 00:26:09,738 the vaccine , it is now a lawful order . 638 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,150 Uh and what the secretary expects is 639 00:26:13,150 --> 00:26:16,770 that commanders will uh do everything 640 00:26:16,770 --> 00:26:18,826 they can to inform and educate these 641 00:26:18,826 --> 00:26:21,500 members to to get the vaccine because 642 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:23,667 it's not just in their best interest . 643 00:26:23,667 --> 00:26:25,667 It's in the best interests of their 644 00:26:25,667 --> 00:26:27,778 families , their loved ones and their 645 00:26:27,778 --> 00:26:29,889 and their teammates And that includes 646 00:26:29,889 --> 00:26:32,056 that would include counseling with not 647 00:26:32,056 --> 00:26:34,056 only ones chain of command but with 648 00:26:34,056 --> 00:26:35,833 health care providers , medical 649 00:26:35,833 --> 00:26:38,580 professionals to again walk them 650 00:26:38,580 --> 00:26:40,636 through the risks that they would be 651 00:26:40,636 --> 00:26:43,210 taking . Um There are a number of tools 652 00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:45,320 short of using the uniform code of 653 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:47,209 military justice and disciplinary 654 00:26:47,209 --> 00:26:49,740 action to try to get these individuals 655 00:26:49,750 --> 00:26:52,670 uh to do the right thing and to follow 656 00:26:52,670 --> 00:26:56,580 this lawful order that said there there 657 00:26:56,590 --> 00:26:58,646 are disciplinary actions that can be 658 00:26:58,646 --> 00:27:00,757 taken again . Not all of them have to 659 00:27:00,757 --> 00:27:03,920 uh I would think would rise the level 660 00:27:03,930 --> 00:27:07,200 of a discharge but and I wouldn't want 661 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,200 to go through the list because it's 662 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,256 going to vary case the case and each 663 00:27:11,256 --> 00:27:13,422 service and commanders going to handle 664 00:27:13,422 --> 00:27:15,422 it differently . But it is a lawful 665 00:27:15,422 --> 00:27:17,589 order . If you refuse to obey a lawful 666 00:27:17,589 --> 00:27:19,311 order , yes you can be held to 667 00:27:19,311 --> 00:27:21,367 disciplinary action . But I wouldn't 668 00:27:21,367 --> 00:27:23,422 want to specify at this time exactly 669 00:27:23,422 --> 00:27:22,730 what that would be in every case 670 00:27:22,730 --> 00:27:24,730 because it's going to depend on the 671 00:27:24,730 --> 00:27:26,786 individual and the commander and the 672 00:27:26,786 --> 00:27:29,008 tools that they want to use available . 673 00:27:29,140 --> 00:27:32,920 The best incentive that one can have Is 674 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,360 knowing that one by taking the vaccine 675 00:27:35,370 --> 00:27:37,590 is doing the right thing for the unit 676 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,656 for the family , for the community , 677 00:27:39,656 --> 00:27:43,550 not just for him or herself . Uh and um 678 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,480 and look we're up over 90% now 679 00:27:46,490 --> 00:27:50,120 of the active duty force with at least 680 00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:52,740 one dose . Uh So we're making pretty 681 00:27:52,740 --> 00:27:56,540 good progress . Yeah , Travis . Thanks 682 00:27:56,540 --> 00:27:58,880 john is there any update on the DHS 683 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,270 request for D . O . D . To contract ? 684 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,169 Air transport for migrants at the 685 00:28:03,169 --> 00:28:06,880 border ? Yeah , I don't have a 686 00:28:06,890 --> 00:28:09,250 specific update on that Travis 687 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,096 to date . There have been no flights 688 00:28:13,220 --> 00:28:15,220 that have occurred . Transportation 689 00:28:15,220 --> 00:28:16,942 Command is working to get them 690 00:28:16,942 --> 00:28:19,630 contracted now . So the request has 691 00:28:19,630 --> 00:28:21,970 been approved by the secretary . The 692 00:28:21,980 --> 00:28:24,147 deputy secretaries verbally approved a 693 00:28:24,147 --> 00:28:26,369 request for transportation support from 694 00:28:26,369 --> 00:28:28,480 the Department of Homeland Security . 695 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,591 Under this request , D . O . D . Will 696 00:28:30,591 --> 00:28:32,702 provide contracted air transportation 697 00:28:32,702 --> 00:28:34,647 For customs and border patrol on a 698 00:28:34,647 --> 00:28:36,536 reimbursable basis . Um this will 699 00:28:36,536 --> 00:28:39,770 conclude on or before 20 October and 700 00:28:39,770 --> 00:28:41,937 again , as I said the other day can be 701 00:28:41,937 --> 00:28:44,080 provided with minimal risk to current 702 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,080 diode emissions . I've talked about 703 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:49,380 this the other day . Um uh but again 704 00:28:49,380 --> 00:28:52,100 today as of now there haven't been any 705 00:28:52,100 --> 00:28:54,100 contracted flights . Transportation 706 00:28:54,100 --> 00:28:56,322 command is still working that when they 707 00:28:56,322 --> 00:28:58,433 do those flights up and running , can 708 00:28:58,433 --> 00:29:00,489 you say whether service members will 709 00:29:00,489 --> 00:29:00,060 have any role at all whether 710 00:29:00,060 --> 00:29:02,350 transporting migrants to the actual 711 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:04,360 aircraft or providing security or 712 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,582 anything like that . I don't know about 713 00:29:06,582 --> 00:29:08,471 that Travis . I can ask to see if 714 00:29:08,471 --> 00:29:10,693 there's more fidelity we have on this . 715 00:29:10,693 --> 00:29:14,400 Again , the request is specifically Air 716 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:18,200 transportation and Customs and 717 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,300 border Patrol . As I understand the 718 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:23,400 request would be escorting these 719 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,120 individuals on these flights ? I'm not 720 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,760 aware of any additional 721 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:32,320 duties on the ground that would 722 00:29:32,330 --> 00:29:34,386 accompany the request . It it really 723 00:29:34,386 --> 00:29:37,240 was about uh air transportation to 724 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,810 these other locations uh in the 725 00:29:40,810 --> 00:29:44,210 continental United States . Yeah . Yes 726 00:29:44,220 --> 00:29:46,870 john did the secretary and the prime 727 00:29:46,870 --> 00:29:49,670 minister discuss the administration 728 00:29:49,670 --> 00:29:52,750 snaking Francis submarine deal with 729 00:29:52,750 --> 00:29:54,861 Australia during their They certainly 730 00:29:54,861 --> 00:29:58,220 talked about the the arrangement and 731 00:29:58,220 --> 00:30:00,331 the importance of the arrangement for 732 00:30:00,331 --> 00:30:02,331 not just Australia but for security 733 00:30:02,331 --> 00:30:05,600 dynamics in the indo pacific , I won't 734 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:07,711 go into any more detail than that . I 735 00:30:07,711 --> 00:30:09,878 mean , everybody in the administration 736 00:30:09,878 --> 00:30:13,220 is mindful of course of the statements 737 00:30:13,220 --> 00:30:15,900 that french leaders have made and with 738 00:30:15,900 --> 00:30:18,600 the secretary has maintained and he 739 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,800 maintained this in his discussion with 740 00:30:21,810 --> 00:30:23,810 french Minister , Defense on monday 741 00:30:23,810 --> 00:30:26,810 that France is our oldest ally . We 742 00:30:26,810 --> 00:30:28,760 share a lot of security interests 743 00:30:28,770 --> 00:30:30,840 around the world and in the indo 744 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,690 pacific specifically one of them of 745 00:30:33,690 --> 00:30:35,857 course is in africa as we talked about 746 00:30:35,857 --> 00:30:38,630 earlier . Uh and that uh we're gonna 747 00:30:38,630 --> 00:30:41,160 keep working at this , at the security 748 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,160 interests we share . We're going to 749 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:45,400 maintain a commitment to one another 750 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:46,844 bilaterally and certainly 751 00:30:46,844 --> 00:30:48,890 multilaterally through many other , 752 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:51,690 many other four . J 753 00:30:51,740 --> 00:30:55,690 you may see obviously that South 754 00:30:55,690 --> 00:30:58,920 korean praise the moving in , proposed 755 00:30:58,930 --> 00:31:02,130 the full party and of the world that 756 00:31:02,140 --> 00:31:06,000 Grace Declaration with South 757 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:09,370 Korea . United States , North Korea and 758 00:31:09,380 --> 00:31:12,850 china at the United Nations 759 00:31:12,860 --> 00:31:16,200 General Assembly . In fact 760 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:20,130 this declaration of the and of the 761 00:31:20,140 --> 00:31:22,950 world is what nurse christian leader 762 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,860 kingdom won't want . And it meant that 763 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:31,090 we draw the United States , we have 764 00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:33,610 troops from South Korea and this 765 00:31:33,610 --> 00:31:36,740 mentoring of the United Nations 766 00:31:36,750 --> 00:31:40,710 command , what you like face . Well , I 767 00:31:40,710 --> 00:31:42,766 think , you know , the United States 768 00:31:42,766 --> 00:31:45,860 remains committed to achieving lasting 769 00:31:45,860 --> 00:31:48,610 peace on the korean peninsula through 770 00:31:48,620 --> 00:31:52,060 dialogue and diplomacy with North Korea . 771 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:54,862 We continue to seek engagement with the 772 00:31:54,862 --> 00:31:56,973 Dprk to address a variety of issues . 773 00:31:57,140 --> 00:31:59,360 And we're open to discussing the 774 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:00,971 possibility of an end of war 775 00:32:00,971 --> 00:32:03,150 declaration . Our goal remains , as 776 00:32:03,150 --> 00:32:05,890 always the complete denuclearization of 777 00:32:05,890 --> 00:32:07,960 the peninsula . Do you think this 778 00:32:07,970 --> 00:32:11,010 declaration of the End of the world is 779 00:32:11,020 --> 00:32:14,510 not a solution to notice koreas 780 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:17,690 nuclear problem ? As I said , we're 781 00:32:17,690 --> 00:32:20,310 open to a discussion about an end of 782 00:32:20,310 --> 00:32:23,220 war declaration , but we are also 783 00:32:23,230 --> 00:32:26,790 committed to diplomacy and dialogue 784 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,270 with the Dprk to achieve the 785 00:32:29,270 --> 00:32:32,060 denuclearization , uh you know that we 786 00:32:32,060 --> 00:32:34,171 know that this is a complex issue and 787 00:32:34,171 --> 00:32:36,227 uh we're committed to supporting the 788 00:32:36,227 --> 00:32:38,590 role of our diplomats uh in having that 789 00:32:38,590 --> 00:32:40,630 kind of dialogue going forward . I 790 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:43,650 think . So thank you . I would like to 791 00:32:43,650 --> 00:32:46,760 go back to have a follow up to a 792 00:32:46,870 --> 00:32:49,110 question about the statement , the 793 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:53,080 common statement and the trial . You 794 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:56,750 said that uh you understood 795 00:32:56,750 --> 00:33:00,520 that us is going to continue to stay 796 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,370 committed to that task . So 797 00:33:04,380 --> 00:33:07,400 does it mean that it's business as 798 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,300 usual ? Or you are going to send more 799 00:33:10,310 --> 00:33:12,710 capabilities or to use more 800 00:33:12,710 --> 00:33:15,730 capabilities or what exactly is 801 00:33:15,740 --> 00:33:19,130 reinforcing ? Yeah , when it comes to 802 00:33:19,140 --> 00:33:21,251 counterterrorism operations , there's 803 00:33:21,251 --> 00:33:23,473 no business as usual . I mean it's it's 804 00:33:23,473 --> 00:33:25,930 something you focus on day to day . Um , 805 00:33:25,940 --> 00:33:29,430 and uh as you've heard the Secretary of 806 00:33:29,430 --> 00:33:33,160 State before , he is uh praised the 807 00:33:33,170 --> 00:33:36,140 french and their military efforts in 808 00:33:36,140 --> 00:33:38,850 the saddle specifically . And we are 809 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,129 and have been for quite some time 810 00:33:41,129 --> 00:33:43,190 supporting them through a variety of 811 00:33:43,190 --> 00:33:46,560 needs . And as I said to bob 812 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:49,151 uh , when when you , when you look at 813 00:33:49,151 --> 00:33:51,207 the word reinforcing , that means it 814 00:33:51,207 --> 00:33:53,096 means exactly that we're going to 815 00:33:53,096 --> 00:33:55,318 continue to stay committed to that task 816 00:33:55,318 --> 00:33:57,318 to helping the french uh , in their 817 00:33:57,318 --> 00:33:59,373 operations in that part of the world 818 00:33:59,373 --> 00:34:01,596 against the terrorist threat . And that 819 00:34:01,596 --> 00:34:04,930 support has and will continue to change 820 00:34:04,930 --> 00:34:07,400 over time situationally as it needs to 821 00:34:07,410 --> 00:34:09,580 the most important part . I know , you 822 00:34:09,580 --> 00:34:11,691 know , I know it's interesting to see 823 00:34:11,691 --> 00:34:13,802 whether what that signals an increase 824 00:34:13,802 --> 00:34:16,024 or decrease or what that looks like and 825 00:34:16,024 --> 00:34:15,730 I totally understand the interest in 826 00:34:15,730 --> 00:34:19,410 that , but uh don't get lost in 827 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:23,140 in that level of detail are the 828 00:34:23,140 --> 00:34:26,570 important thing is that we understand 829 00:34:26,570 --> 00:34:28,459 the important role that France is 830 00:34:28,459 --> 00:34:30,348 playing in that part of the world 831 00:34:30,348 --> 00:34:32,480 specifically and that we're going to 832 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:34,702 continue to support their efforts to do 833 00:34:34,702 --> 00:34:36,924 that to the best of our ability when we 834 00:34:36,924 --> 00:34:40,290 see reinforcing we understand more 835 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,620 that I understand that you understand 836 00:34:43,620 --> 00:34:45,842 that means more . I would just tell you 837 00:34:45,842 --> 00:34:47,787 that that uh , there's there's not 838 00:34:47,787 --> 00:34:50,470 gonna be any slackening of us support 839 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:53,780 uh for french operations in the saddle 840 00:34:53,780 --> 00:34:55,836 and that we are going to continue to 841 00:34:55,836 --> 00:34:58,780 maintain a dialogue with the french as 842 00:34:58,780 --> 00:35:01,290 the secretary reiterated on monday in 843 00:35:01,290 --> 00:35:03,760 the phone conversation with minister 844 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:06,240 parlay . Uh we're going to maintain a 845 00:35:06,240 --> 00:35:08,830 focus on that and you know I think it's 846 00:35:08,830 --> 00:35:12,430 conceivable that um that over any 847 00:35:12,430 --> 00:35:14,660 period of time that supports going to 848 00:35:14,660 --> 00:35:17,810 increase their it could decrease 849 00:35:17,810 --> 00:35:19,810 depending on what the nature of the 850 00:35:19,810 --> 00:35:22,950 threat is . But rather than get into 851 00:35:22,950 --> 00:35:25,610 the sine wave on a daily basis . Uh I 852 00:35:25,620 --> 00:35:27,850 would just ask that you uh the takeaway 853 00:35:27,850 --> 00:35:29,683 here is that we're going to stay 854 00:35:29,683 --> 00:35:31,906 committed to it over the long haul . We 855 00:35:31,906 --> 00:35:34,520 know how important it is . Uh We know 856 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:36,687 how effective the french have been and 857 00:35:36,687 --> 00:35:38,909 we want to see them continue to be that 858 00:35:38,909 --> 00:35:41,280 effective . Uh I gotta go to the phones 859 00:35:41,280 --> 00:35:44,570 here , Phil . Start you still on . Yeah 860 00:35:44,580 --> 00:35:46,590 I was gonna ask about the french uh 861 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:49,330 french support as well but I'll change 862 00:35:49,330 --> 00:35:51,810 my question . Um last week the uh 863 00:35:51,820 --> 00:35:54,153 members earlier this week the C . D . C . 864 00:35:54,153 --> 00:35:55,876 Was given the authority by the 865 00:35:55,876 --> 00:35:59,790 president to um uh quarantine uh 866 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,110 folks for 21 days for the mmr vaccine . 867 00:36:03,110 --> 00:36:05,166 Just wondering whether or not that's 868 00:36:05,166 --> 00:36:07,110 translated into any kind of actual 869 00:36:07,110 --> 00:36:09,270 order Uh to the to to you all or any 870 00:36:09,270 --> 00:36:11,590 memo to the D . O . D . saying that you 871 00:36:11,590 --> 00:36:13,701 know you have to keep these people in 872 00:36:13,701 --> 00:36:15,740 place wherever they are for 21 days 873 00:36:15,740 --> 00:36:17,850 following vaccination . Thanks . I'm 874 00:36:17,850 --> 00:36:21,810 not aware of any official order uh 875 00:36:21,820 --> 00:36:23,542 on that Phil as I said , we're 876 00:36:23,542 --> 00:36:25,653 following CDC guidelines just the way 877 00:36:25,653 --> 00:36:28,830 we do um with respect to covid here at 878 00:36:28,830 --> 00:36:31,052 the pentagon and military installations 879 00:36:31,052 --> 00:36:32,997 around the country . We follow CDC 880 00:36:32,997 --> 00:36:35,470 guidelines uh and uh and and we're 881 00:36:35,470 --> 00:36:37,637 gonna , that's gonna be exactly how we 882 00:36:37,637 --> 00:36:40,230 approach this . We're not going to move 883 00:36:40,230 --> 00:36:43,330 people until the CDC is comfortable 884 00:36:43,330 --> 00:36:46,850 doing so . Could you , could you 885 00:36:46,850 --> 00:36:48,906 explain whether that means that they 886 00:36:48,906 --> 00:36:51,072 will be held for 21 days following the 887 00:36:51,072 --> 00:36:54,880 vaccine ? Again , I won't speak 888 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:58,490 to uh specific uh 889 00:36:58,500 --> 00:37:02,120 mandates by the CDC , but I 890 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,470 certainly uh I think it's 891 00:37:05,930 --> 00:37:08,930 reasonable to suggest to think that uh 892 00:37:08,940 --> 00:37:11,710 that this quarantine will go on for a 893 00:37:11,710 --> 00:37:13,960 while longer as as as we continue to 894 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:16,071 work through the vaccination scheme . 895 00:37:16,630 --> 00:37:18,797 Louis john I'd just like to go back to 896 00:37:18,797 --> 00:37:22,110 tom's question about four McCoy um is 897 00:37:22,110 --> 00:37:24,490 north com making plans ? Long term 898 00:37:24,490 --> 00:37:27,590 plans for the housing of um these 899 00:37:27,590 --> 00:37:30,720 afghan evacuees at all of their bases . 900 00:37:30,730 --> 00:37:32,800 And if so , how long , how long term 901 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,090 are we talking about ? I think you 902 00:37:35,090 --> 00:37:37,312 heard General Van Herck talk about this 903 00:37:37,312 --> 00:37:39,534 the other day . We're going to maintain 904 00:37:39,534 --> 00:37:41,701 the ability to keep them as long as we 905 00:37:41,701 --> 00:37:43,812 need to , as long as there is a valid 906 00:37:43,812 --> 00:37:45,979 mission uh and a population that needs 907 00:37:45,979 --> 00:37:48,034 support uh the Department of Defense 908 00:37:48,034 --> 00:37:50,257 will stay at that . I couldn't begin to 909 00:37:50,257 --> 00:37:52,423 speculate now what that will look like 910 00:37:52,423 --> 00:37:54,880 uh on the calendar . I couldn't be 911 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:58,170 predictive about how long uh but we're 912 00:37:58,170 --> 00:38:00,640 certainly prepared uh to be able to 913 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:02,807 house these individuals for as long as 914 00:38:02,807 --> 00:38:04,751 they as we need to . And does that 915 00:38:04,751 --> 00:38:08,600 include potentially ramping up the size 916 00:38:08,610 --> 00:38:11,410 of the Uh the infrastructure that you 917 00:38:11,410 --> 00:38:13,632 have right now ? Because I imagine that 918 00:38:13,632 --> 00:38:15,688 if you were counting on a short term 919 00:38:15,688 --> 00:38:17,910 stay , that the infrastructure that was 920 00:38:17,910 --> 00:38:20,132 put in place is not as 30 as maybe what 921 00:38:20,132 --> 00:38:22,354 you may need right now . We don't think 922 00:38:22,354 --> 00:38:24,521 there's a need to add installations or 923 00:38:24,521 --> 00:38:26,743 change the capacity . I think we have a 924 00:38:26,743 --> 00:38:29,140 capacity now over 60,000 and we're at 925 00:38:29,150 --> 00:38:31,730 roughly 53,000 . Um 926 00:38:31,740 --> 00:38:34,660 but again , as you've heard General Van 927 00:38:34,660 --> 00:38:37,440 Herck say if he feels like as these 928 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:39,630 flights start resuming again , if he 929 00:38:39,630 --> 00:38:41,920 feels like he needs added capacity , he 930 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:45,810 certainly , we would expect him to 931 00:38:45,810 --> 00:38:49,730 ask for that to speak to that and and 932 00:38:49,730 --> 00:38:51,841 to get the support that he would need 933 00:38:51,841 --> 00:38:54,008 for that . But there's no anticipation 934 00:38:54,008 --> 00:38:56,230 now that we would have to change in any 935 00:38:56,230 --> 00:38:58,341 kind of major way , the capacity that 936 00:38:58,341 --> 00:39:00,286 we built out to , We've got excess 937 00:39:00,286 --> 00:39:02,490 capacity right now as we sit today and 938 00:39:02,490 --> 00:39:04,610 again , we'll obviously be revisiting 939 00:39:04,610 --> 00:39:08,050 this in real time going forward . Yeah . 940 00:39:08,060 --> 00:39:10,690 For can you comment on the dismissal of 941 00:39:10,700 --> 00:39:12,811 Leonora tomorrow and explain why that 942 00:39:12,811 --> 00:39:14,700 would happen in the middle of the 943 00:39:14,700 --> 00:39:16,867 nuclear posture review , I'm not going 944 00:39:16,867 --> 00:39:18,700 to talk about specific personnel 945 00:39:18,700 --> 00:39:22,650 matters born . I 946 00:39:22,650 --> 00:39:24,880 would just tell you that we have a wide 947 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:27,047 ranging team of experts working across 948 00:39:27,047 --> 00:39:29,450 policy issues including on the nuclear 949 00:39:29,450 --> 00:39:31,672 posture review . And we're committed to 950 00:39:31,672 --> 00:39:33,730 ensuring that all teams work 951 00:39:33,740 --> 00:39:35,907 efficiently and effectively to advance 952 00:39:35,907 --> 00:39:38,073 these policy goals . It's natural with 953 00:39:38,073 --> 00:39:40,296 any new administration . This one's not 954 00:39:40,296 --> 00:39:42,430 accepted that we would want to 955 00:39:42,430 --> 00:39:45,450 reevaluate the organizational structure 956 00:39:45,460 --> 00:39:47,571 uh and make changes where we think is 957 00:39:47,571 --> 00:39:49,738 appropriate to support the secretary's 958 00:39:49,738 --> 00:39:51,960 priorities . And I think the you know , 959 00:39:51,960 --> 00:39:53,793 that's again without speaking to 960 00:39:53,793 --> 00:39:56,016 individuals were certainly doing that . 961 00:39:56,016 --> 00:39:58,071 We're gonna continue to consider and 962 00:39:58,071 --> 00:40:00,127 include a wide range of viewpoints , 963 00:40:00,127 --> 00:40:01,960 viewpoints in the in the nuclear 964 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,250 posture review uh including those from 965 00:40:04,260 --> 00:40:07,040 uh administration officials , military 966 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:09,170 leaders , academics and all others . 967 00:40:09,180 --> 00:40:11,150 Again , the focus right now is on 968 00:40:11,150 --> 00:40:13,372 protecting our security interests . The 969 00:40:13,372 --> 00:40:15,594 nuclear posture review is a big part of 970 00:40:15,594 --> 00:40:17,817 that . Um and quite frankly , uh so our 971 00:40:17,817 --> 00:40:19,761 reorganization efforts here at the 972 00:40:19,761 --> 00:40:22,530 department to the real uh all designed 973 00:40:22,530 --> 00:40:25,610 to help us better defend the nation and 974 00:40:25,610 --> 00:40:27,666 support the secretary's priorities . 975 00:40:28,020 --> 00:40:30,290 Okay . That takes us almost at 4:00 . 976 00:40:30,300 --> 00:40:33,950 Thank you very much . Yeah