WEBVTT 00:00.240 --> 00:04.000 Good afternoon everybody I am pleased 00:04.000 --> 00:06.167 and honored to be joined at the podium 00:06.167 --> 00:07.889 today by dr Hicks , the Deputy 00:07.889 --> 00:10.400 Secretary of Defense , who is going to 00:10.400 --> 00:12.740 talk to you at the outset of this 00:12.740 --> 00:14.880 briefing on the department's 00:14.890 --> 00:17.110 implementation roadmap on section on 00:17.110 --> 00:19.166 preventing sexual assault and sexual 00:19.166 --> 00:21.420 harassment . Uh And after the Deputy 00:21.420 --> 00:23.587 secretary has some opening comments to 00:23.587 --> 00:25.753 walk you through that romance , um she 00:25.753 --> 00:27.920 will be able to stick around for a few 00:27.920 --> 00:30.031 questions as before . I will moderate 00:30.031 --> 00:32.198 the questions . We don't have time for 00:32.198 --> 00:34.253 very many . That deputy has a pretty 00:34.253 --> 00:36.476 packed agenda this afternoon , but I'll 00:36.476 --> 00:38.587 moderate a few questions after that . 00:38.587 --> 00:38.340 And then when that's over , I'll come 00:38.340 --> 00:40.173 back up to the podium for normal 00:40.173 --> 00:42.229 briefing stuff . So we bet , ma'am . 00:43.040 --> 00:44.040 Mhm 00:49.440 --> 00:51.290 mm . All right , Good afternoon 00:51.290 --> 00:53.950 everyone . As part of the department's 00:53.960 --> 00:56.470 efforts to eliminate sexual assault and 00:56.470 --> 00:58.414 sexual harassment from the ranks . 00:58.414 --> 01:00.414 Today , I am providing an important 01:00.414 --> 01:02.860 update on our implementation roadmap . 01:03.640 --> 01:05.473 This represents the department's 01:05.473 --> 01:07.529 strategic approach , has approved by 01:07.529 --> 01:09.696 the Secretary of Defense to act on the 01:09.696 --> 01:11.720 recommendations of the 90 day 01:11.730 --> 01:13.952 Independent Review Commission on sexual 01:13.952 --> 01:16.008 assault and sexual harassment in the 01:16.008 --> 01:18.250 military . We're going to make needed 01:18.640 --> 01:20.710 foundational investments to support 01:20.720 --> 01:22.609 sexual assault , accountability , 01:22.609 --> 01:25.130 prevention programs , healthy command 01:25.130 --> 01:28.930 climates and quality victim care to 01:28.930 --> 01:30.890 date sexual harassment and sexual 01:30.890 --> 01:33.057 assault remain serious problems in our 01:33.057 --> 01:35.320 force with lethal consequences for 01:35.320 --> 01:37.590 service members and harmful effects on 01:37.590 --> 01:40.000 our combat readiness . This 01:40.000 --> 01:41.611 administration has placed an 01:41.611 --> 01:43.860 unprecedentedly high priority on this 01:43.860 --> 01:46.560 challenge . Set in fact , in his first 01:46.560 --> 01:48.950 day in office , Secretary Austin issued 01:48.950 --> 01:51.061 a memorandum to department leadership 01:51.061 --> 01:53.040 tasking them with reporting data 01:53.050 --> 01:55.272 pertaining to sexual assault and sexual 01:55.272 --> 01:58.400 harassment . On February 26 at the 01:58.400 --> 02:00.122 direction of President Biden , 02:00.122 --> 02:02.530 Secretary Austin established the 90 Day 02:02.530 --> 02:04.860 Independent Review Commission or ICC . 02:05.640 --> 02:08.560 On June 21 , the ICC provided its 02:08.560 --> 02:10.338 findings and recommendations to 02:10.338 --> 02:11.850 secretary Austin and their 02:11.850 --> 02:13.950 comprehensive evidence based and 02:13.950 --> 02:16.900 stakeholder informed report , made 82 02:16.910 --> 02:19.350 recommendations that spanned four lines 02:19.350 --> 02:22.760 of effort , accountability , prevention , 02:22.770 --> 02:25.060 climate and culture and victim care . 02:25.740 --> 02:29.010 And on July 2 , 2021 , less than six 02:29.010 --> 02:31.350 months after stating his intent to lead 02:31.350 --> 02:33.294 the department encountering sexual 02:33.294 --> 02:35.072 assault and sexual harassment , 02:35.072 --> 02:37.170 secretary Austin directed this 02:37.170 --> 02:39.950 implementation way ahead . We have now 02:39.950 --> 02:41.890 created that way ahead called the 02:41.890 --> 02:43.990 implementation roadmap and Secretary 02:44.000 --> 02:46.380 Austin has approved it in its entirety . 02:46.940 --> 02:49.400 We constructed our roadmap by creating 02:49.400 --> 02:51.740 specialized teams comprising experts 02:51.750 --> 02:54.570 across the department . After reviewing 02:54.570 --> 02:57.220 the IRC s recommendations are experts 02:57.230 --> 03:00.160 identified sequencing issues eliminated , 03:00.170 --> 03:02.080 excuse me estimated resource 03:02.080 --> 03:04.180 requirements and characterized the 03:04.180 --> 03:06.190 risks and benefits associated with 03:06.200 --> 03:09.440 different implementation paths built in 03:09.440 --> 03:11.273 consultation with the department 03:11.273 --> 03:13.496 civilian and uniformed leadership . The 03:13.496 --> 03:16.160 resulting road map represents a best in 03:16.160 --> 03:17.827 practice , sexual assault and 03:17.827 --> 03:20.240 harassment prevention and response 03:20.240 --> 03:23.090 program that ensures rapid action and 03:23.100 --> 03:26.400 early and enduring results . In 03:26.400 --> 03:28.344 accordance with Secretary Austin's 03:28.344 --> 03:30.450 guidance , our approach is holistic 03:30.460 --> 03:32.460 addressing all of the I . R . CES 03:32.460 --> 03:34.640 recommendations across its four lines 03:34.640 --> 03:37.540 of effort . We are implementing in four 03:37.540 --> 03:40.100 tiers of action . Our goal is to 03:40.110 --> 03:42.820 implement as rapidly as possible while 03:42.820 --> 03:45.280 ensuring we can deliver durable and 03:45.280 --> 03:48.650 meaningful outcomes . The first tier 03:48.660 --> 03:50.216 which we have already begun 03:50.216 --> 03:52.390 implementing is our foundation . It 03:52.390 --> 03:54.690 consists of the most important elements 03:54.700 --> 03:56.922 in preventing sexual assault and sexual 03:56.922 --> 03:58.760 harassment and holding offenders 03:58.760 --> 04:01.450 accountable . The preponderance of 04:01.450 --> 04:04.180 initiatives and resources are focused 04:04.190 --> 04:07.640 in our first tier for instance , it 04:07.640 --> 04:09.807 contains three of our highest priority 04:09.807 --> 04:11.584 recommendations , including the 04:11.584 --> 04:13.418 establishment of the office is a 04:13.418 --> 04:15.270 special victim prosecutors , the 04:15.270 --> 04:18.170 creation of a full time and specialized 04:18.170 --> 04:20.320 prevention work force and the 04:20.320 --> 04:22.740 implementation of full time Sexual 04:22.750 --> 04:25.050 assault Response Coordinator and Sexual 04:25.050 --> 04:27.217 assault Prevention and Response victim 04:27.220 --> 04:30.640 advocate positions follow on tears 04:30.650 --> 04:33.510 build on or expand beyond these 04:33.510 --> 04:36.230 foundations . That said our tiered 04:36.230 --> 04:39.340 approach is not rigidly constructed and 04:39.340 --> 04:41.650 we have done it in such a way that we 04:41.650 --> 04:44.450 are able to be dynamic and expect it to 04:44.450 --> 04:47.050 evolve over time where more expedient 04:47.050 --> 04:49.330 pathways or best practices are newly 04:49.330 --> 04:52.270 identified and make no mistake , the 04:52.270 --> 04:54.560 department is committed to completing 04:54.560 --> 04:57.200 implementation on as fast a timeline as 04:57.200 --> 04:59.680 possible while ensuring our efforts 04:59.680 --> 05:02.260 take deep root throughout all levels of 05:02.260 --> 05:04.110 leadership down to the unit and 05:04.110 --> 05:07.020 individual level . To that end , we are 05:07.020 --> 05:08.687 taking necessary steps in the 05:08.687 --> 05:10.680 department to ensure expedient 05:10.680 --> 05:13.070 implementation of recommendations that 05:13.070 --> 05:15.292 the administration has already proposed 05:15.292 --> 05:17.540 in legislation . Those recommendations 05:17.540 --> 05:19.373 such as the establishment of the 05:19.373 --> 05:21.484 offices of special victim prosecutors 05:21.484 --> 05:24.230 represent real cultural and structural 05:24.230 --> 05:28.150 shifts for the military departments in 05:28.150 --> 05:29.928 the memorandum Secretary Austin 05:29.930 --> 05:32.360 released today . He includes four 05:32.360 --> 05:34.360 specific actions to ensure that the 05:34.360 --> 05:36.193 department begins to swiftly and 05:36.193 --> 05:37.749 deliberately moved from the 05:37.749 --> 05:39.860 recommendations contained in the road 05:39.860 --> 05:42.320 map to implementation first . He has 05:42.320 --> 05:44.560 directed the undersecretary of Defense 05:44.570 --> 05:47.070 for personnel and readiness to issue 05:47.080 --> 05:48.860 enterprise wide guidance for 05:48.860 --> 05:50.971 implementing all recommendations this 05:50.971 --> 05:53.390 fall Beginning with Guidance on Tier 05:53.390 --> 05:56.490 one recommendations . by October 13 , 05:56.490 --> 05:59.910 2021 . Second each service and relevant 05:59.910 --> 06:01.980 component is directed to develop 06:01.990 --> 06:04.050 implementation plans and resource 06:04.050 --> 06:07.200 mapping by november 12 2021 for tier 06:07.200 --> 06:09.550 one recommendations . And by the end of 06:09.550 --> 06:12.350 january 2022 for all actions 06:13.040 --> 06:14.880 Third , the undersecretary for 06:14.880 --> 06:17.102 personnel and readiness will develop an 06:17.102 --> 06:20.310 outcome metrics evaluation report by 06:20.310 --> 06:23.740 May one , This will be used to 06:23.740 --> 06:26.180 track the effectiveness and progress on 06:26.190 --> 06:29.400 implementation . And fourth , in 06:29.400 --> 06:31.344 consultation with the services and 06:31.344 --> 06:32.870 relevant components . The 06:32.870 --> 06:34.703 undersecretary for personnel and 06:34.703 --> 06:36.648 readiness will formally assess the 06:36.648 --> 06:39.410 roadmap no fewer than twice per year 06:39.490 --> 06:41.657 and make recommendations to me through 06:41.657 --> 06:44.260 the deputies workforce council or DW C . 06:44.740 --> 06:47.660 The D W C in turn will meet quarterly 06:47.670 --> 06:50.080 to monitor implementation progress and 06:50.080 --> 06:52.360 accelerate timelines wherever possible , 06:53.940 --> 06:55.996 countering sexual assault and sexual 06:55.996 --> 06:58.051 harassment in the military remains a 06:58.051 --> 06:59.990 priority for Secretary Austin for 06:59.990 --> 07:02.730 President biden . And for me , we 07:02.730 --> 07:04.410 continue to move quickly and 07:04.410 --> 07:06.521 deliberately and are committed to the 07:06.521 --> 07:08.780 path that I have outlined . Our changes 07:08.780 --> 07:10.891 are comprehensive and they provide us 07:10.891 --> 07:12.960 an opportunity to deal a fundamental 07:12.960 --> 07:15.510 blow to this problem . As I've said 07:15.510 --> 07:17.570 previously , our service members 07:17.570 --> 07:19.890 deserve no less and our combat 07:19.900 --> 07:22.210 effectiveness depends on our success . 07:22.220 --> 07:24.276 Thank you And I'm happy to take some 07:24.276 --> 07:27.250 questions . Uh huh . Yeah , thank you . 07:27.260 --> 07:29.710 I'm Secretary bob burns for me . You 07:29.710 --> 07:31.599 made several references to moving 07:31.599 --> 07:34.280 quickly with this . So can you give us 07:34.290 --> 07:36.568 here ? You mentioned any year any date . 07:36.568 --> 07:38.568 So when will you have completed the 07:38.568 --> 07:40.846 implementation of tier one for example . 07:41.040 --> 07:44.620 So uh including our reserve component 07:44.630 --> 07:46.852 elements , we think it could take up to 07:46.852 --> 07:49.730 2027 to do the full implementation 07:49.740 --> 07:52.100 primarily around these major hiring 07:52.100 --> 07:54.340 actions that we're putting forward . So 07:54.340 --> 07:57.030 this is the major prevention work force , 07:57.040 --> 08:00.650 the focus of most of that work force as 08:00.650 --> 08:02.740 full time professionals on sexual 08:02.740 --> 08:04.907 assault and sexual harassment , making 08:04.907 --> 08:07.018 sure we get the right skills , um not 08:07.018 --> 08:09.240 just people in jobs but the right skill 08:09.240 --> 08:11.462 sets and expertise into these positions 08:11.462 --> 08:14.090 that we think is the longest lead item 08:14.100 --> 08:16.000 in Tier one and probably the most 08:16.000 --> 08:18.056 important of our recommendations for 08:18.056 --> 08:20.278 the Active component . I think we'll be 08:20.278 --> 08:22.333 able to see progress much earlier in 08:22.333 --> 08:24.111 the first two years . So you're 08:24.111 --> 08:26.730 distinguishing between 2027 for reserve 08:26.740 --> 08:29.520 only that full implementation of tier 08:29.520 --> 08:31.910 one is inclusive of all elements of the 08:31.910 --> 08:34.200 force and that reserve component moving 08:34.200 --> 08:37.550 to full time professionals who are able 08:37.550 --> 08:39.328 to look after for example , the 08:39.328 --> 08:41.610 National Guard obviously across 54 08:41.610 --> 08:43.554 different National Guard component 08:43.554 --> 08:46.060 elements that will take much more time . 08:46.060 --> 08:48.282 But in the first two years you will see 08:48.282 --> 08:50.449 significant movement on that full time 08:50.449 --> 08:52.890 force for the active component . One 08:52.890 --> 08:54.834 quick follow up . Does that to any 08:54.834 --> 08:57.490 extent reflect the military services . 08:57.700 --> 09:00.000 Skepticism about moving too quickly 09:00.000 --> 09:03.160 when I smile only because it does not . 09:03.160 --> 09:05.382 The military services are eager to move 09:05.382 --> 09:07.493 as fast as possible . They would like 09:07.493 --> 09:09.660 to make sure that as much as we can is 09:09.660 --> 09:12.150 in this first wave , this first tier of 09:12.150 --> 09:14.260 activity . And I think what we're 09:14.260 --> 09:16.660 trying to balance is the expert advice 09:16.660 --> 09:18.660 we've been given to make sure we do 09:18.660 --> 09:21.210 this well that uh , you know , the 09:21.220 --> 09:23.387 routes have to be deep . We can't just 09:23.387 --> 09:26.000 move quickly but shallowly and have the 09:26.010 --> 09:28.310 figment of action without having really 09:28.310 --> 09:30.860 well thought through processes for how 09:30.860 --> 09:33.750 we do this . The D . O . D . Efforts in 09:33.750 --> 09:35.750 this space will be the largest ever 09:35.750 --> 09:38.350 attempted . No university , no major 09:38.350 --> 09:40.730 institution is at our scale . So 09:40.730 --> 09:42.786 building a workforce of prevention , 09:42.786 --> 09:45.008 workforce , building the accountability 09:45.008 --> 09:46.897 approach very specifically around 09:46.897 --> 09:49.063 sexual assault , sexual harassment and 09:49.063 --> 09:51.174 related crimes . This will be a first 09:51.174 --> 09:53.397 of its kind endeavour . We want to move 09:53.397 --> 09:55.452 fast , but we want to make sure that 09:55.452 --> 09:57.508 these changes last and we build back 09:57.508 --> 10:01.060 that trust in the force , David . Um , 10:01.740 --> 10:05.370 so I understand the the 10:05.380 --> 10:07.380 priorities that you laid out in the 10:07.380 --> 10:09.330 deadlines you gave , do they still 10:09.330 --> 10:13.240 require legislation Sure . 10:13.240 --> 10:15.300 There most of the actions that I've 10:15.300 --> 10:17.522 described . We can do ourselves . There 10:17.522 --> 10:19.522 are some key elements we have asked 10:19.522 --> 10:21.720 Congress to help us with the first and 10:21.720 --> 10:23.720 most important is the change to the 10:23.720 --> 10:26.190 uniform code of Military justice to 10:26.190 --> 10:29.840 expand a group of 10:29.850 --> 10:31.960 activities or offenses ? Excuse me , 10:31.960 --> 10:33.682 around sexual assault , sexual 10:33.682 --> 10:36.200 harassment related , um , sexual 10:36.210 --> 10:39.000 offenses and put those outside of the 10:39.000 --> 10:42.190 chain of command under these offices of 10:42.190 --> 10:44.880 special prosecutors , so that these 10:44.890 --> 10:47.550 offices also we are asking for 10:47.550 --> 10:50.340 legislative assistance to develop those 10:50.340 --> 10:52.396 offices . Those are probably the two 10:52.396 --> 10:54.451 most important elements for which we 10:54.451 --> 10:56.507 need legislative relief building out 10:56.507 --> 10:58.451 the prevention workforce . We need 10:58.451 --> 11:00.870 Congress's help on funding it , um , 11:00.870 --> 11:03.210 and make sure making sure we have the 11:03.220 --> 11:06.570 particularly civilian workforce ceiling 11:06.580 --> 11:09.340 to hire people . But mostly we can do 11:09.340 --> 11:11.451 that within our own authorities . And 11:11.451 --> 11:14.510 you mentioned coming up with metrics by 11:14.520 --> 11:17.690 millions next year . Don't you already 11:17.690 --> 11:20.700 have metrics and the annual sexual 11:20.700 --> 11:24.360 assault reports . Aren't you gonna know ? 11:24.940 --> 11:27.060 Uh , the next time our report comes 11:27.060 --> 11:29.410 around whether or not you're having any 11:29.410 --> 11:31.870 impact those kind of metrics . You're 11:31.870 --> 11:34.092 right . We do have metrics that help us 11:34.092 --> 11:36.960 understand the rate of reporting , for 11:36.960 --> 11:38.849 instance , on sexual harassment , 11:38.849 --> 11:41.071 sexual assault . What we're looking for 11:41.071 --> 11:43.182 is how to measure the quality of this 11:43.182 --> 11:46.330 workforce . Um , the particular , um , 11:46.340 --> 11:48.820 you know , the steps in the process , I 11:48.820 --> 11:51.380 think is how I would put it for , how 11:51.380 --> 11:53.658 we understand has scaled the challenge , 11:53.658 --> 11:55.720 for instance , the size of the unit 11:55.730 --> 11:57.674 level at which we need a dedicated 11:57.674 --> 11:59.786 professional , how we think about the 11:59.786 --> 12:02.090 offices of special prosecutors in each 12:02.090 --> 12:04.257 military department . That's the level 12:04.257 --> 12:06.423 of metrics we're talking about . Would 12:06.423 --> 12:08.423 you expect to see any change in the 12:08.640 --> 12:11.260 annual sexual assault harassment report 12:11.260 --> 12:13.510 when it comes out next spring as a 12:13.510 --> 12:17.100 result of this ? Well , I don't expect 12:17.110 --> 12:19.332 as a result of this , we will see it as 12:19.332 --> 12:21.520 soon as the spring . Uh we also have 12:21.520 --> 12:23.700 not had the change of the chain of 12:23.700 --> 12:27.000 command yet through congress . So uh we 12:27.000 --> 12:29.222 certainly are looking to make change as 12:29.222 --> 12:31.340 fast as possible and see change in 12:31.340 --> 12:33.507 those statistics as fast as possible . 12:33.507 --> 12:35.260 Where I think we will see more 12:35.260 --> 12:38.900 immediate effect to that point is more 12:38.900 --> 12:41.011 along the lines of what the secretary 12:41.011 --> 12:43.233 has already put into action beyond what 12:43.233 --> 12:44.622 was from the I . R . C . 12:44.622 --> 12:46.678 Recommendations . He had a series of 12:46.678 --> 12:48.789 actions right away . So you can think 12:48.789 --> 12:50.900 of the fort Hood report for example , 12:50.900 --> 12:53.067 in the follow on actions taken there . 12:53.067 --> 12:55.289 So for example , we are already looking 12:55.289 --> 12:57.456 hard at installations across the force 12:57.456 --> 12:59.122 to understand where there are 12:59.122 --> 13:00.733 installations that are doing 13:00.733 --> 13:02.900 particularly well . Uh and where there 13:02.900 --> 13:05.122 are some installations where we need to 13:05.122 --> 13:07.178 send focused help . So where we take 13:07.178 --> 13:08.844 that prevention sexual sexual 13:08.844 --> 13:11.067 harassment prevention workforce that we 13:11.067 --> 13:13.289 have today and send them out . Think of 13:13.289 --> 13:14.956 fly away teams to help at the 13:14.956 --> 13:16.956 installation level . Those sorts of 13:16.956 --> 13:19.178 actions are already underway . And I do 13:19.178 --> 13:21.400 hope in fact that they will have effect 13:21.400 --> 13:23.440 on the statistics . We next see the 13:23.450 --> 13:24.450 last one will be 13:27.630 --> 13:29.870 spoken to a few military investigators 13:29.870 --> 13:31.926 and one of the issues that they have 13:31.926 --> 13:33.870 brought up was the fact that if an 13:33.870 --> 13:36.037 offender is kicked out of the military 13:36.037 --> 13:38.092 for other than honorable discharge . 13:38.092 --> 13:40.259 Once they're out they can apply to get 13:40.259 --> 13:42.259 that change to honorable which will 13:42.259 --> 13:44.370 impact wherever they apply for jobs . 13:44.370 --> 13:45.981 Is that one of the issues or 13:45.981 --> 13:47.926 recommendations that's going to be 13:47.926 --> 13:49.981 worked on through this new program ? 13:49.981 --> 13:52.203 Are they going to try to adjust that or 13:52.203 --> 13:54.259 fix that or has it been discussed at 13:54.259 --> 13:54.020 all ? I would have to look into that . 13:54.020 --> 13:56.131 That was not one of the I . R . C . S 13:56.131 --> 13:58.353 recommendations to change that policy . 13:58.353 --> 14:01.500 It has not come up to my level thus far 14:01.500 --> 14:03.611 in our look at our re look at how the 14:03.611 --> 14:05.833 department addresses this issue but I'm 14:05.833 --> 14:08.080 happy to look at that . Thank you . 14:08.090 --> 14:10.540 Thank you . Thank you all . Yeah . 14:12.440 --> 14:13.440 Mhm . 14:20.640 --> 14:24.480 Okay . Just a couple of others things 14:24.480 --> 14:26.660 to get through this afternoon . Yeah . 14:34.140 --> 14:36.307 Uh This morning as I think some of you 14:36.307 --> 14:38.529 know Secretary Aston welcome Australian 14:38.529 --> 14:40.862 prime Minister Morrison to the pentagon . 14:40.862 --> 14:43.084 Secretary thanked our Australian allies 14:43.084 --> 14:44.973 for more than a century of shared 14:44.973 --> 14:47.084 sacrifice and for their contributions 14:47.084 --> 14:49.029 in Afghanistan Secretary and Prime 14:49.029 --> 14:51.084 Minister discussed the future of the 14:51.084 --> 14:53.251 alliance and how this august agreement 14:53.251 --> 14:54.918 will contribute to integrated 14:54.918 --> 14:57.084 deterrence that's working closely with 14:57.084 --> 14:57.020 our allies and friends in defense of 14:57.020 --> 14:58.853 our shared security and to deter 14:58.853 --> 15:01.740 threats uh to a free and open indo 15:01.740 --> 15:04.770 pacific . I do have one other thing 15:04.770 --> 15:07.890 that I wanted to mention 15:09.040 --> 15:12.700 have seen the news that 15:13.100 --> 15:16.460 bob Raisman who worked for 15:16.930 --> 15:18.930 stars and stripes for a very , very 15:18.930 --> 15:21.460 long time , just passed away this week 15:21.840 --> 15:25.200 uh , due to complications from cancer . 15:25.210 --> 15:27.520 Um , if any of you and I know many of 15:27.520 --> 15:30.360 you , I've served in uh , reported out 15:30.360 --> 15:33.710 of Iraq and Afghanistan , you can thank 15:33.720 --> 15:35.887 Mr Reisman for the fact that you could 15:35.887 --> 15:38.109 pick up a copy of stars and stripes and 15:38.109 --> 15:40.164 read it and so could the troops uh , 15:40.164 --> 15:42.220 because that was one of his key jobs 15:42.220 --> 15:44.442 was to , I think that I think the title 15:44.442 --> 15:46.276 was expeditionary distribution , 15:46.276 --> 15:49.160 getting , getting those copies of the 15:49.170 --> 15:52.460 newspapers to as many missiles and , 15:53.040 --> 15:56.220 And uh , and work facilities across 15:56.220 --> 15:58.331 Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 20 15:58.331 --> 16:00.553 years , pretty incredible work and uh , 16:00.640 --> 16:03.430 stars and stripes as you know , uh , is 16:03.440 --> 16:07.050 a publication subsidized by the 16:07.050 --> 16:09.217 Department of Defense but has complete 16:09.217 --> 16:11.161 editorial independence and I think 16:11.161 --> 16:13.383 that's pretty remarkable . I don't know 16:13.383 --> 16:15.383 too many other places where you can 16:15.383 --> 16:17.494 find something like that . And having 16:17.494 --> 16:19.830 been a veteran myself , like I just 16:19.830 --> 16:21.997 can't speak enough about how important 16:21.997 --> 16:24.250 stripes is to helping inform 16:24.640 --> 16:27.440 our men and women and their families 16:27.450 --> 16:29.820 all over the world , even in war zones . 16:29.820 --> 16:31.987 And so our thoughts and prayers go out 16:31.987 --> 16:33.960 to the Reisman family uh , and our 16:33.960 --> 16:36.071 thanks and our gratitude for his many 16:36.071 --> 16:38.560 long years of service uh , to such a 16:38.560 --> 16:41.400 noble task . And so we're , we're all 16:41.400 --> 16:43.400 heartbroken here to get this , this 16:43.400 --> 16:46.220 word and again we we stand by to 16:46.220 --> 16:48.331 support the family in any way that we 16:48.331 --> 16:51.750 can with that bob . Hey john thanks a 16:51.760 --> 16:54.390 question for you on , there was a line 16:54.390 --> 16:56.430 in the joint statement put out by 16:56.440 --> 16:59.670 President Biden and uh because Macron 16:59.670 --> 17:03.200 regarding their their 17:03.210 --> 17:05.377 conversation in which it said that the 17:05.377 --> 17:07.321 U . S . Commits to reinforcing its 17:07.321 --> 17:09.930 support to counter terrorism operations 17:09.930 --> 17:12.152 in the saddle and I'm wondering if that 17:12.152 --> 17:14.740 has any actual real world implications 17:14.740 --> 17:17.040 for military operations ? Well , it 17:17.040 --> 17:19.207 absolutely has real world implications 17:19.207 --> 17:22.380 and we are uh continue to provide a 17:22.380 --> 17:25.300 measure of support uh to french 17:25.300 --> 17:27.244 operations in the saddle . And and 17:27.244 --> 17:29.356 that's what this a line was referring 17:29.356 --> 17:31.940 to was the long standing support that 17:31.940 --> 17:35.670 we continue to provide the french . Um 17:36.040 --> 17:39.620 and uh and I you can 17:39.620 --> 17:41.731 certainly surmise from that that that 17:41.731 --> 17:43.842 that support will continue . And I'll 17:43.842 --> 17:47.440 tell you , the secretary spoke to uh 17:47.450 --> 17:50.430 Minister parley on monday and in fact 17:50.430 --> 17:52.486 this was one of the things that they 17:52.486 --> 17:55.790 talked about was uh was ongoing , us 17:55.790 --> 17:59.300 french uh collaboration . This is 17:59.300 --> 18:01.300 reinforcing . I just wonder if that 18:01.300 --> 18:03.411 means increasing or expanding in some 18:03.411 --> 18:05.920 way . I won't speak to specifics about 18:05.920 --> 18:08.790 increases or decreases . What I can 18:08.790 --> 18:12.440 tell you is that uh we have 18:12.440 --> 18:15.040 supported some of their operations in 18:15.040 --> 18:17.262 that part of the world . We're going to 18:17.262 --> 18:19.484 continue to do that . And clearly we're 18:19.484 --> 18:21.960 gonna look for ways to make it as 18:21.960 --> 18:24.182 effective as possible going forward And 18:24.182 --> 18:26.010 I can't rule in or rule out any 18:26.010 --> 18:29.950 particular , uh , element of that 18:29.950 --> 18:32.610 support bob in terms of whether it's 18:32.610 --> 18:35.470 going to increase as a result of , uh , 18:35.480 --> 18:38.060 of this conversation today . But , um , 18:38.640 --> 18:41.450 when I , when I saw the verb reinforced 18:41.450 --> 18:43.394 what I , what I took away was that 18:43.394 --> 18:45.728 we're gonna stay committed to that task . 18:45.728 --> 18:48.550 Yeah , john there were thousands of 18:48.560 --> 18:50.504 afghan refugees at at Fort McCoy , 18:50.504 --> 18:53.090 Wisconsin and army facility and 18:53.090 --> 18:55.360 apparently there are problems with lack 18:55.360 --> 18:57.930 of food , clothing . Um , some of the 18:57.930 --> 18:59.874 women are being harassed by former 18:59.874 --> 19:01.920 afghan soldiers . Uh , members of 19:01.920 --> 19:04.380 Congress are asking Secretary Austin to 19:04.380 --> 19:06.491 investigate what's going on . Can you 19:06.491 --> 19:08.550 say if he's received that letter , 19:08.560 --> 19:10.560 asking for the investigation in any 19:10.560 --> 19:13.910 sense of the way ahead ? Uh , we're 19:13.910 --> 19:17.160 certainly aware of these reports 19:17.740 --> 19:19.830 tom and and we take it very , very 19:19.830 --> 19:23.530 seriously . Um , there are 19:23.540 --> 19:26.670 the , especially in a place like Fort 19:26.670 --> 19:29.180 McCoy with winter coming on and so 19:29.190 --> 19:33.160 North com is very mindful of of 19:33.160 --> 19:34.993 the needs of the weather and the 19:34.993 --> 19:36.827 climate and making sure that the 19:36.827 --> 19:39.770 evacuees have a safe , clean , warm , 19:39.780 --> 19:41.920 um living environment while they 19:41.920 --> 19:44.760 continue this processing . But we're 19:45.140 --> 19:48.400 we're mindful about this at all Eight 19:48.410 --> 19:50.688 installations here domestically , that , 19:50.688 --> 19:52.799 um , that we have a responsibility to 19:52.799 --> 19:55.132 provide that kind of an environment for , 19:55.132 --> 19:56.910 for these individuals and their 19:56.910 --> 19:59.021 families , uh , to be able to subsist 19:59.021 --> 20:01.021 while they , while they continue to 20:01.021 --> 20:03.260 work through the immigration process . 20:03.260 --> 20:05.482 And again , we're taking it seriously . 20:05.482 --> 20:09.220 I I know of no specific request 20:09.230 --> 20:12.260 today too conduct an investigation . 20:12.480 --> 20:14.647 But the secretary is certainly mindful 20:14.647 --> 20:17.980 of the reports and he's comfortable 20:18.190 --> 20:20.730 that the General Van Herck , the 20:20.740 --> 20:23.370 Northern Command commander , also is 20:23.370 --> 20:26.550 mindful of these issues and will 20:26.550 --> 20:28.439 continue to work closely with our 20:28.439 --> 20:30.494 interagency partners uh to alleviate 20:30.494 --> 20:32.606 any concerns , there might be a sense 20:32.606 --> 20:34.606 who's in charge of the facility . I 20:34.606 --> 20:36.439 know it's an army facility who's 20:36.439 --> 20:38.217 running it ? Is it the Homeland 20:38.217 --> 20:40.272 Security is at ST is it all of you ? 20:40.272 --> 20:42.383 All of the agencies , it seems like , 20:43.240 --> 20:45.490 well , still access to reporters 20:45.490 --> 20:47.546 getting in to find what's going on . 20:47.546 --> 20:49.601 Some lawmakers they've gone in , but 20:49.601 --> 20:51.768 it's confusing about who's actually in 20:51.768 --> 20:53.879 charge out there . Obviously , we own 20:53.879 --> 20:55.879 the facility tom these are military 20:55.879 --> 20:58.340 bases . And so the military commanders 20:58.350 --> 21:02.140 are responsible for the facilities on 21:02.140 --> 21:04.251 their installations and their bases . 21:05.240 --> 21:07.150 We are also responsible for the 21:07.150 --> 21:09.428 environment , the physical environment , 21:10.040 --> 21:13.760 the housing , um and uh and making sure 21:13.760 --> 21:16.150 that the food and water is provided 21:16.160 --> 21:18.710 appropriate medical care if it's needed 21:18.720 --> 21:22.340 recreation facilities and access to 21:22.350 --> 21:24.406 uh that kind of thing , particularly 21:24.406 --> 21:26.350 for the Children . And of course , 21:26.350 --> 21:28.517 appropriate religious accommodations . 21:28.517 --> 21:30.683 That's what we're responsible for . Um 21:30.683 --> 21:34.400 the actual health of the individuals as 21:34.410 --> 21:37.870 HHS and DHS isn't responsible for the 21:37.870 --> 21:39.870 immigration process . And of course 21:39.870 --> 21:42.037 they're lashed up with state . So it's 21:42.037 --> 21:44.480 truly an interagency team effort . Uh 21:44.490 --> 21:47.810 no one of us alone can or should 21:47.820 --> 21:50.650 uh be responsible for the totality of 21:50.650 --> 21:53.090 the mission . But our job is the is the 21:53.090 --> 21:55.510 housing um and and making sure that 21:55.510 --> 21:57.600 there's a safe environment safe and 21:57.600 --> 21:59.822 secure environment for them to complete 21:59.822 --> 22:01.933 the processing and then to your point 22:01.933 --> 22:05.640 on on access we there's no 22:05.650 --> 22:08.860 concerted effort to keep the press away . 22:08.870 --> 22:11.140 In fact just a week or so ago there was 22:11.140 --> 22:13.251 a media day that we did at Fort Bliss 22:13.251 --> 22:15.680 and we fully anticipated and hoped to 22:15.680 --> 22:17.700 conduct follow on media days at the 22:17.700 --> 22:20.840 other installations . And then uh we 22:20.840 --> 22:24.550 got word of the measles outbreak uh and 22:24.550 --> 22:28.000 as you know we have frozen at the 22:28.010 --> 22:30.232 request of the C . D . C . We've frozen 22:30.232 --> 22:32.960 uh all other transportation out of 22:33.640 --> 22:35.862 overseas locations to the United States 22:35.862 --> 22:37.918 because of that out of due caution . 22:37.918 --> 22:40.890 And once we get past that whenever that 22:40.890 --> 22:44.460 is um I fully expect that we will be 22:44.460 --> 22:46.610 able to restart media access to the 22:46.610 --> 22:48.610 facilities . There was there was no 22:48.610 --> 22:50.930 desire to to keep the press out for any 22:50.930 --> 22:53.400 reason . Um I think in the early weeks 22:53.410 --> 22:55.354 we just wanted to make sure we had 22:55.740 --> 22:58.350 things in order that that we were 22:58.840 --> 23:01.062 prepared to receive the numbers that we 23:01.062 --> 23:03.580 received but we absolutely fully expect 23:03.580 --> 23:05.960 to be able to um to provide access 23:05.960 --> 23:08.071 going forward . And that includes for 23:08.071 --> 23:10.293 members of Congress . Clearly they have 23:10.293 --> 23:12.293 a responsibility and a right to see 23:12.293 --> 23:14.293 these facilities to . But right now 23:14.293 --> 23:16.238 visits are are being postponed for 23:16.238 --> 23:18.238 health reasons . Seems to be of the 23:18.238 --> 23:20.349 eight facilities this one place where 23:20.349 --> 23:22.571 there are reports of serious problems I 23:22.571 --> 23:24.900 don't hear or see any problems . And 23:24.900 --> 23:27.067 the other facilities particularly Fort 23:27.067 --> 23:29.289 McCoy . Yeah no I understand that . And 23:29.289 --> 23:31.456 I said we're aware of these reports to 23:31.456 --> 23:31.340 we're taking them all seriously . 23:31.340 --> 23:33.950 General Van Herck uh is very much 23:33.950 --> 23:37.000 mindful of uh what our responsibilities 23:37.000 --> 23:39.000 are in terms of the safe and secure 23:39.000 --> 23:41.000 environment . Um And we take it all 23:41.000 --> 23:42.722 seriously . I can't speak with 23:42.722 --> 23:45.150 specificity to to each and every one of 23:45.160 --> 23:48.830 these of these reports but we're 23:48.830 --> 23:50.608 obviously taking them seriously 23:50.608 --> 23:53.430 jennifer john at fort McCoy it's our 23:53.430 --> 23:55.263 understanding that there are two 23:55.263 --> 23:57.374 barracks that don't have heat that is 23:57.374 --> 23:59.541 the diodes responsibility . So what is 23:59.541 --> 24:01.597 being done about that ? It's getting 24:01.597 --> 24:03.819 very cold up there . As I understand it 24:03.819 --> 24:07.120 Jenna they have taken steps to correct 24:07.120 --> 24:10.580 that . You look at Ramstein , they 24:10.590 --> 24:13.320 carried out the mmr vaccinations , 24:13.330 --> 24:17.260 95% of the 9000 or so people there have 24:17.270 --> 24:19.450 been vaccinated and then they also 24:20.340 --> 24:22.800 looked at the population and found that 24:22.810 --> 24:26.180 95% of the sample they took had 24:26.190 --> 24:29.430 um antibodies to for the measles . So 24:29.430 --> 24:32.330 why can't those flights begin again ? 24:32.330 --> 24:34.497 The C . D . C . Is saying they have to 24:34.497 --> 24:36.663 wait 21 days but if they're vaccinated 24:36.663 --> 24:38.886 and they have antibodies shouldn't they 24:38.886 --> 24:42.200 also be moved to the U . S . It's also 24:42.200 --> 24:44.920 getting cold at Ramstein . Yes it is . 24:45.540 --> 24:49.520 Again we are working in lockstep 24:49.530 --> 24:52.060 with the C . D . C . And HHS on this 24:52.070 --> 24:54.990 and uh we want to be mindful that we 24:54.990 --> 24:57.410 are observant of CDC guidelines . Uh 24:57.420 --> 25:00.040 and and their requirements . Uh so 25:00.050 --> 25:03.600 we're not gonna move any faster than we 25:03.600 --> 25:07.270 can do it safely for the health of the 25:07.270 --> 25:10.830 evacuees as well , for the health of 25:10.830 --> 25:13.120 the communities to which they're being 25:13.120 --> 25:15.910 transported . And we are all mindful of 25:15.910 --> 25:18.077 the changing weather follows upon us . 25:18.077 --> 25:20.790 We know that um , and all the 25:20.790 --> 25:22.790 installation commanders are taking 25:22.830 --> 25:25.100 steps to make sure that with the coming 25:25.100 --> 25:27.322 colder weather , we can be able to keep 25:27.322 --> 25:29.100 people warm and safe . And last 25:29.100 --> 25:32.050 question on the covid vaccines are 25:32.060 --> 25:34.690 those service members who don't get the 25:34.690 --> 25:36.850 Covid vaccine . Are they facing 25:36.850 --> 25:40.720 dishonorable discharge ? What I will 25:40.720 --> 25:44.150 tell you is that we're going 25:44.150 --> 25:47.760 to try to help those who 25:48.540 --> 25:51.020 resist taking the vaccine , help them 25:51.020 --> 25:53.131 make the best decision . Some of them 25:53.131 --> 25:55.110 will have legitimate reasons maybe 25:55.110 --> 25:57.110 health reasons of their own because 25:57.110 --> 25:59.332 their doctor doesn't want to get them . 25:59.332 --> 26:01.388 And yes , there can be some that can 26:01.388 --> 26:03.388 apply for religious accommodation . 26:03.388 --> 26:05.499 There's a process . Each service runs 26:05.499 --> 26:07.499 for that . But for those who resist 26:07.499 --> 26:07.460 just because they don't want to take 26:07.460 --> 26:09.738 the vaccine , it is now a lawful order . 26:09.840 --> 26:13.150 Uh and what the secretary expects is 26:13.150 --> 26:16.770 that commanders will uh do everything 26:16.770 --> 26:18.826 they can to inform and educate these 26:18.826 --> 26:21.500 members to to get the vaccine because 26:21.500 --> 26:23.667 it's not just in their best interest . 26:23.667 --> 26:25.667 It's in the best interests of their 26:25.667 --> 26:27.778 families , their loved ones and their 26:27.778 --> 26:29.889 and their teammates And that includes 26:29.889 --> 26:32.056 that would include counseling with not 26:32.056 --> 26:34.056 only ones chain of command but with 26:34.056 --> 26:35.833 health care providers , medical 26:35.833 --> 26:38.580 professionals to again walk them 26:38.580 --> 26:40.636 through the risks that they would be 26:40.636 --> 26:43.210 taking . Um There are a number of tools 26:43.220 --> 26:45.320 short of using the uniform code of 26:45.320 --> 26:47.209 military justice and disciplinary 26:47.209 --> 26:49.740 action to try to get these individuals 26:49.750 --> 26:52.670 uh to do the right thing and to follow 26:52.670 --> 26:56.580 this lawful order that said there there 26:56.590 --> 26:58.646 are disciplinary actions that can be 26:58.646 --> 27:00.757 taken again . Not all of them have to 27:00.757 --> 27:03.920 uh I would think would rise the level 27:03.930 --> 27:07.200 of a discharge but and I wouldn't want 27:07.200 --> 27:09.200 to go through the list because it's 27:09.200 --> 27:11.256 going to vary case the case and each 27:11.256 --> 27:13.422 service and commanders going to handle 27:13.422 --> 27:15.422 it differently . But it is a lawful 27:15.422 --> 27:17.589 order . If you refuse to obey a lawful 27:17.589 --> 27:19.311 order , yes you can be held to 27:19.311 --> 27:21.367 disciplinary action . But I wouldn't 27:21.367 --> 27:23.422 want to specify at this time exactly 27:23.422 --> 27:22.730 what that would be in every case 27:22.730 --> 27:24.730 because it's going to depend on the 27:24.730 --> 27:26.786 individual and the commander and the 27:26.786 --> 27:29.008 tools that they want to use available . 27:29.140 --> 27:32.920 The best incentive that one can have Is 27:32.920 --> 27:35.360 knowing that one by taking the vaccine 27:35.370 --> 27:37.590 is doing the right thing for the unit 27:37.600 --> 27:39.656 for the family , for the community , 27:39.656 --> 27:43.550 not just for him or herself . Uh and um 27:43.560 --> 27:46.480 and look we're up over 90% now 27:46.490 --> 27:50.120 of the active duty force with at least 27:50.120 --> 27:52.740 one dose . Uh So we're making pretty 27:52.740 --> 27:56.540 good progress . Yeah , Travis . Thanks 27:56.540 --> 27:58.880 john is there any update on the DHS 27:58.880 --> 28:01.270 request for D . O . D . To contract ? 28:01.280 --> 28:03.169 Air transport for migrants at the 28:03.169 --> 28:06.880 border ? Yeah , I don't have a 28:06.890 --> 28:09.250 specific update on that Travis 28:11.040 --> 28:13.096 to date . There have been no flights 28:13.220 --> 28:15.220 that have occurred . Transportation 28:15.220 --> 28:16.942 Command is working to get them 28:16.942 --> 28:19.630 contracted now . So the request has 28:19.630 --> 28:21.970 been approved by the secretary . The 28:21.980 --> 28:24.147 deputy secretaries verbally approved a 28:24.147 --> 28:26.369 request for transportation support from 28:26.369 --> 28:28.480 the Department of Homeland Security . 28:28.480 --> 28:30.591 Under this request , D . O . D . Will 28:30.591 --> 28:32.702 provide contracted air transportation 28:32.702 --> 28:34.647 For customs and border patrol on a 28:34.647 --> 28:36.536 reimbursable basis . Um this will 28:36.536 --> 28:39.770 conclude on or before 20 October and 28:39.770 --> 28:41.937 again , as I said the other day can be 28:41.937 --> 28:44.080 provided with minimal risk to current 28:44.080 --> 28:46.080 diode emissions . I've talked about 28:46.080 --> 28:49.380 this the other day . Um uh but again 28:49.380 --> 28:52.100 today as of now there haven't been any 28:52.100 --> 28:54.100 contracted flights . Transportation 28:54.100 --> 28:56.322 command is still working that when they 28:56.322 --> 28:58.433 do those flights up and running , can 28:58.433 --> 29:00.489 you say whether service members will 29:00.489 --> 29:00.060 have any role at all whether 29:00.060 --> 29:02.350 transporting migrants to the actual 29:02.360 --> 29:04.360 aircraft or providing security or 29:04.360 --> 29:06.582 anything like that . I don't know about 29:06.582 --> 29:08.471 that Travis . I can ask to see if 29:08.471 --> 29:10.693 there's more fidelity we have on this . 29:10.693 --> 29:14.400 Again , the request is specifically Air 29:14.400 --> 29:18.200 transportation and Customs and 29:18.200 --> 29:20.300 border Patrol . As I understand the 29:20.300 --> 29:23.400 request would be escorting these 29:23.400 --> 29:26.120 individuals on these flights ? I'm not 29:26.120 --> 29:28.760 aware of any additional 29:29.960 --> 29:32.320 duties on the ground that would 29:32.330 --> 29:34.386 accompany the request . It it really 29:34.386 --> 29:37.240 was about uh air transportation to 29:37.240 --> 29:40.810 these other locations uh in the 29:40.810 --> 29:44.210 continental United States . Yeah . Yes 29:44.220 --> 29:46.870 john did the secretary and the prime 29:46.870 --> 29:49.670 minister discuss the administration 29:49.670 --> 29:52.750 snaking Francis submarine deal with 29:52.750 --> 29:54.861 Australia during their They certainly 29:54.861 --> 29:58.220 talked about the the arrangement and 29:58.220 --> 30:00.331 the importance of the arrangement for 30:00.331 --> 30:02.331 not just Australia but for security 30:02.331 --> 30:05.600 dynamics in the indo pacific , I won't 30:05.600 --> 30:07.711 go into any more detail than that . I 30:07.711 --> 30:09.878 mean , everybody in the administration 30:09.878 --> 30:13.220 is mindful of course of the statements 30:13.220 --> 30:15.900 that french leaders have made and with 30:15.900 --> 30:18.600 the secretary has maintained and he 30:18.600 --> 30:21.800 maintained this in his discussion with 30:21.810 --> 30:23.810 french Minister , Defense on monday 30:23.810 --> 30:26.810 that France is our oldest ally . We 30:26.810 --> 30:28.760 share a lot of security interests 30:28.770 --> 30:30.840 around the world and in the indo 30:30.840 --> 30:33.690 pacific specifically one of them of 30:33.690 --> 30:35.857 course is in africa as we talked about 30:35.857 --> 30:38.630 earlier . Uh and that uh we're gonna 30:38.630 --> 30:41.160 keep working at this , at the security 30:41.160 --> 30:43.160 interests we share . We're going to 30:43.160 --> 30:45.400 maintain a commitment to one another 30:45.400 --> 30:46.844 bilaterally and certainly 30:46.844 --> 30:48.890 multilaterally through many other , 30:48.900 --> 30:51.690 many other four . J 30:51.740 --> 30:55.690 you may see obviously that South 30:55.690 --> 30:58.920 korean praise the moving in , proposed 30:58.930 --> 31:02.130 the full party and of the world that 31:02.140 --> 31:06.000 Grace Declaration with South 31:06.000 --> 31:09.370 Korea . United States , North Korea and 31:09.380 --> 31:12.850 china at the United Nations 31:12.860 --> 31:16.200 General Assembly . In fact 31:16.640 --> 31:20.130 this declaration of the and of the 31:20.140 --> 31:22.950 world is what nurse christian leader 31:22.960 --> 31:26.860 kingdom won't want . And it meant that 31:28.040 --> 31:31.090 we draw the United States , we have 31:31.100 --> 31:33.610 troops from South Korea and this 31:33.610 --> 31:36.740 mentoring of the United Nations 31:36.750 --> 31:40.710 command , what you like face . Well , I 31:40.710 --> 31:42.766 think , you know , the United States 31:42.766 --> 31:45.860 remains committed to achieving lasting 31:45.860 --> 31:48.610 peace on the korean peninsula through 31:48.620 --> 31:52.060 dialogue and diplomacy with North Korea . 31:52.640 --> 31:54.862 We continue to seek engagement with the 31:54.862 --> 31:56.973 Dprk to address a variety of issues . 31:57.140 --> 31:59.360 And we're open to discussing the 31:59.360 --> 32:00.971 possibility of an end of war 32:00.971 --> 32:03.150 declaration . Our goal remains , as 32:03.150 --> 32:05.890 always the complete denuclearization of 32:05.890 --> 32:07.960 the peninsula . Do you think this 32:07.970 --> 32:11.010 declaration of the End of the world is 32:11.020 --> 32:14.510 not a solution to notice koreas 32:14.520 --> 32:17.690 nuclear problem ? As I said , we're 32:17.690 --> 32:20.310 open to a discussion about an end of 32:20.310 --> 32:23.220 war declaration , but we are also 32:23.230 --> 32:26.790 committed to diplomacy and dialogue 32:26.800 --> 32:29.270 with the Dprk to achieve the 32:29.270 --> 32:32.060 denuclearization , uh you know that we 32:32.060 --> 32:34.171 know that this is a complex issue and 32:34.171 --> 32:36.227 uh we're committed to supporting the 32:36.227 --> 32:38.590 role of our diplomats uh in having that 32:38.590 --> 32:40.630 kind of dialogue going forward . I 32:40.640 --> 32:43.650 think . So thank you . I would like to 32:43.650 --> 32:46.760 go back to have a follow up to a 32:46.870 --> 32:49.110 question about the statement , the 32:49.120 --> 32:53.080 common statement and the trial . You 32:53.080 --> 32:56.750 said that uh you understood 32:56.750 --> 33:00.520 that us is going to continue to stay 33:00.520 --> 33:04.370 committed to that task . So 33:04.380 --> 33:07.400 does it mean that it's business as 33:07.400 --> 33:10.300 usual ? Or you are going to send more 33:10.310 --> 33:12.710 capabilities or to use more 33:12.710 --> 33:15.730 capabilities or what exactly is 33:15.740 --> 33:19.130 reinforcing ? Yeah , when it comes to 33:19.140 --> 33:21.251 counterterrorism operations , there's 33:21.251 --> 33:23.473 no business as usual . I mean it's it's 33:23.473 --> 33:25.930 something you focus on day to day . Um , 33:25.940 --> 33:29.430 and uh as you've heard the Secretary of 33:29.430 --> 33:33.160 State before , he is uh praised the 33:33.170 --> 33:36.140 french and their military efforts in 33:36.140 --> 33:38.850 the saddle specifically . And we are 33:39.240 --> 33:41.129 and have been for quite some time 33:41.129 --> 33:43.190 supporting them through a variety of 33:43.190 --> 33:46.560 needs . And as I said to bob 33:47.040 --> 33:49.151 uh , when when you , when you look at 33:49.151 --> 33:51.207 the word reinforcing , that means it 33:51.207 --> 33:53.096 means exactly that we're going to 33:53.096 --> 33:55.318 continue to stay committed to that task 33:55.318 --> 33:57.318 to helping the french uh , in their 33:57.318 --> 33:59.373 operations in that part of the world 33:59.373 --> 34:01.596 against the terrorist threat . And that 34:01.596 --> 34:04.930 support has and will continue to change 34:04.930 --> 34:07.400 over time situationally as it needs to 34:07.410 --> 34:09.580 the most important part . I know , you 34:09.580 --> 34:11.691 know , I know it's interesting to see 34:11.691 --> 34:13.802 whether what that signals an increase 34:13.802 --> 34:16.024 or decrease or what that looks like and 34:16.024 --> 34:15.730 I totally understand the interest in 34:15.730 --> 34:19.410 that , but uh don't get lost in 34:20.280 --> 34:23.140 in that level of detail are the 34:23.140 --> 34:26.570 important thing is that we understand 34:26.570 --> 34:28.459 the important role that France is 34:28.459 --> 34:30.348 playing in that part of the world 34:30.348 --> 34:32.480 specifically and that we're going to 34:32.480 --> 34:34.702 continue to support their efforts to do 34:34.702 --> 34:36.924 that to the best of our ability when we 34:36.924 --> 34:40.290 see reinforcing we understand more 34:40.440 --> 34:43.620 that I understand that you understand 34:43.620 --> 34:45.842 that means more . I would just tell you 34:45.842 --> 34:47.787 that that uh , there's there's not 34:47.787 --> 34:50.470 gonna be any slackening of us support 34:50.480 --> 34:53.780 uh for french operations in the saddle 34:53.780 --> 34:55.836 and that we are going to continue to 34:55.836 --> 34:58.780 maintain a dialogue with the french as 34:58.780 --> 35:01.290 the secretary reiterated on monday in 35:01.290 --> 35:03.760 the phone conversation with minister 35:03.760 --> 35:06.240 parlay . Uh we're going to maintain a 35:06.240 --> 35:08.830 focus on that and you know I think it's 35:08.830 --> 35:12.430 conceivable that um that over any 35:12.430 --> 35:14.660 period of time that supports going to 35:14.660 --> 35:17.810 increase their it could decrease 35:17.810 --> 35:19.810 depending on what the nature of the 35:19.810 --> 35:22.950 threat is . But rather than get into 35:22.950 --> 35:25.610 the sine wave on a daily basis . Uh I 35:25.620 --> 35:27.850 would just ask that you uh the takeaway 35:27.850 --> 35:29.683 here is that we're going to stay 35:29.683 --> 35:31.906 committed to it over the long haul . We 35:31.906 --> 35:34.520 know how important it is . Uh We know 35:34.520 --> 35:36.687 how effective the french have been and 35:36.687 --> 35:38.909 we want to see them continue to be that 35:38.909 --> 35:41.280 effective . Uh I gotta go to the phones 35:41.280 --> 35:44.570 here , Phil . Start you still on . Yeah 35:44.580 --> 35:46.590 I was gonna ask about the french uh 35:46.600 --> 35:49.330 french support as well but I'll change 35:49.330 --> 35:51.810 my question . Um last week the uh 35:51.820 --> 35:54.153 members earlier this week the C . D . C . 35:54.153 --> 35:55.876 Was given the authority by the 35:55.876 --> 35:59.790 president to um uh quarantine uh 35:59.800 --> 36:03.110 folks for 21 days for the mmr vaccine . 36:03.110 --> 36:05.166 Just wondering whether or not that's 36:05.166 --> 36:07.110 translated into any kind of actual 36:07.110 --> 36:09.270 order Uh to the to to you all or any 36:09.270 --> 36:11.590 memo to the D . O . D . saying that you 36:11.590 --> 36:13.701 know you have to keep these people in 36:13.701 --> 36:15.740 place wherever they are for 21 days 36:15.740 --> 36:17.850 following vaccination . Thanks . I'm 36:17.850 --> 36:21.810 not aware of any official order uh 36:21.820 --> 36:23.542 on that Phil as I said , we're 36:23.542 --> 36:25.653 following CDC guidelines just the way 36:25.653 --> 36:28.830 we do um with respect to covid here at 36:28.830 --> 36:31.052 the pentagon and military installations 36:31.052 --> 36:32.997 around the country . We follow CDC 36:32.997 --> 36:35.470 guidelines uh and uh and and we're 36:35.470 --> 36:37.637 gonna , that's gonna be exactly how we 36:37.637 --> 36:40.230 approach this . We're not going to move 36:40.230 --> 36:43.330 people until the CDC is comfortable 36:43.330 --> 36:46.850 doing so . Could you , could you 36:46.850 --> 36:48.906 explain whether that means that they 36:48.906 --> 36:51.072 will be held for 21 days following the 36:51.072 --> 36:54.880 vaccine ? Again , I won't speak 36:54.880 --> 36:58.490 to uh specific uh 36:58.500 --> 37:02.120 mandates by the CDC , but I 37:02.120 --> 37:05.470 certainly uh I think it's 37:05.930 --> 37:08.930 reasonable to suggest to think that uh 37:08.940 --> 37:11.710 that this quarantine will go on for a 37:11.710 --> 37:13.960 while longer as as as we continue to 37:13.960 --> 37:16.071 work through the vaccination scheme . 37:16.630 --> 37:18.797 Louis john I'd just like to go back to 37:18.797 --> 37:22.110 tom's question about four McCoy um is 37:22.110 --> 37:24.490 north com making plans ? Long term 37:24.490 --> 37:27.590 plans for the housing of um these 37:27.590 --> 37:30.720 afghan evacuees at all of their bases . 37:30.730 --> 37:32.800 And if so , how long , how long term 37:32.800 --> 37:35.090 are we talking about ? I think you 37:35.090 --> 37:37.312 heard General Van Herck talk about this 37:37.312 --> 37:39.534 the other day . We're going to maintain 37:39.534 --> 37:41.701 the ability to keep them as long as we 37:41.701 --> 37:43.812 need to , as long as there is a valid 37:43.812 --> 37:45.979 mission uh and a population that needs 37:45.979 --> 37:48.034 support uh the Department of Defense 37:48.034 --> 37:50.257 will stay at that . I couldn't begin to 37:50.257 --> 37:52.423 speculate now what that will look like 37:52.423 --> 37:54.880 uh on the calendar . I couldn't be 37:54.880 --> 37:58.170 predictive about how long uh but we're 37:58.170 --> 38:00.640 certainly prepared uh to be able to 38:00.640 --> 38:02.807 house these individuals for as long as 38:02.807 --> 38:04.751 they as we need to . And does that 38:04.751 --> 38:08.600 include potentially ramping up the size 38:08.610 --> 38:11.410 of the Uh the infrastructure that you 38:11.410 --> 38:13.632 have right now ? Because I imagine that 38:13.632 --> 38:15.688 if you were counting on a short term 38:15.688 --> 38:17.910 stay , that the infrastructure that was 38:17.910 --> 38:20.132 put in place is not as 30 as maybe what 38:20.132 --> 38:22.354 you may need right now . We don't think 38:22.354 --> 38:24.521 there's a need to add installations or 38:24.521 --> 38:26.743 change the capacity . I think we have a 38:26.743 --> 38:29.140 capacity now over 60,000 and we're at 38:29.150 --> 38:31.730 roughly 53,000 . Um 38:31.740 --> 38:34.660 but again , as you've heard General Van 38:34.660 --> 38:37.440 Herck say if he feels like as these 38:37.440 --> 38:39.630 flights start resuming again , if he 38:39.630 --> 38:41.920 feels like he needs added capacity , he 38:41.920 --> 38:45.810 certainly , we would expect him to 38:45.810 --> 38:49.730 ask for that to speak to that and and 38:49.730 --> 38:51.841 to get the support that he would need 38:51.841 --> 38:54.008 for that . But there's no anticipation 38:54.008 --> 38:56.230 now that we would have to change in any 38:56.230 --> 38:58.341 kind of major way , the capacity that 38:58.341 --> 39:00.286 we built out to , We've got excess 39:00.286 --> 39:02.490 capacity right now as we sit today and 39:02.490 --> 39:04.610 again , we'll obviously be revisiting 39:04.610 --> 39:08.050 this in real time going forward . Yeah . 39:08.060 --> 39:10.690 For can you comment on the dismissal of 39:10.700 --> 39:12.811 Leonora tomorrow and explain why that 39:12.811 --> 39:14.700 would happen in the middle of the 39:14.700 --> 39:16.867 nuclear posture review , I'm not going 39:16.867 --> 39:18.700 to talk about specific personnel 39:18.700 --> 39:22.650 matters born . I 39:22.650 --> 39:24.880 would just tell you that we have a wide 39:24.880 --> 39:27.047 ranging team of experts working across 39:27.047 --> 39:29.450 policy issues including on the nuclear 39:29.450 --> 39:31.672 posture review . And we're committed to 39:31.672 --> 39:33.730 ensuring that all teams work 39:33.740 --> 39:35.907 efficiently and effectively to advance 39:35.907 --> 39:38.073 these policy goals . It's natural with 39:38.073 --> 39:40.296 any new administration . This one's not 39:40.296 --> 39:42.430 accepted that we would want to 39:42.430 --> 39:45.450 reevaluate the organizational structure 39:45.460 --> 39:47.571 uh and make changes where we think is 39:47.571 --> 39:49.738 appropriate to support the secretary's 39:49.738 --> 39:51.960 priorities . And I think the you know , 39:51.960 --> 39:53.793 that's again without speaking to 39:53.793 --> 39:56.016 individuals were certainly doing that . 39:56.016 --> 39:58.071 We're gonna continue to consider and 39:58.071 --> 40:00.127 include a wide range of viewpoints , 40:00.127 --> 40:01.960 viewpoints in the in the nuclear 40:01.960 --> 40:04.250 posture review uh including those from 40:04.260 --> 40:07.040 uh administration officials , military 40:07.040 --> 40:09.170 leaders , academics and all others . 40:09.180 --> 40:11.150 Again , the focus right now is on 40:11.150 --> 40:13.372 protecting our security interests . The 40:13.372 --> 40:15.594 nuclear posture review is a big part of 40:15.594 --> 40:17.817 that . Um and quite frankly , uh so our 40:17.817 --> 40:19.761 reorganization efforts here at the 40:19.761 --> 40:22.530 department to the real uh all designed 40:22.530 --> 40:25.610 to help us better defend the nation and 40:25.610 --> 40:27.666 support the secretary's priorities . 40:28.020 --> 40:30.290 Okay . That takes us almost at 4:00 . 40:30.300 --> 40:33.950 Thank you very much . Yeah