1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:10,170 afternoon everybody . Thanks 3 00:00:10,170 --> 00:00:13,010 for your patience and starting a little 4 00:00:13,010 --> 00:00:15,320 bit late on a friday afternoon . I do 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,640 have a few things to start out with . 6 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,650 Um so I think you saw this morning 7 00:00:23,650 --> 00:00:26,530 that Secretary Austin spoke during a 8 00:00:26,540 --> 00:00:28,707 Hall of Heroes induction ceremony that 9 00:00:28,707 --> 00:00:30,651 was conducted over Joint base Myer 10 00:00:30,651 --> 00:00:32,818 Henderson Hall . That ceremony honored 11 00:00:32,818 --> 00:00:34,984 the recent Medal of Honor recipients . 12 00:00:34,984 --> 00:00:37,096 Army Master Sergeant , Earl Plumlee , 13 00:00:37,096 --> 00:00:39,780 Army Sergeant , first class one cash , 14 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:41,930 an army sergeant , first class 15 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:44,610 Christopher Seles . We echo of course 16 00:00:44,610 --> 00:00:46,777 president biden and saying that we are 17 00:00:46,777 --> 00:00:48,666 grateful for all that these three 18 00:00:48,666 --> 00:00:50,666 soldiers have done and we certainly 19 00:00:50,666 --> 00:00:52,777 honor their courage and bravery under 20 00:00:52,777 --> 00:00:56,180 exceptional circumstances . Um as I 21 00:00:56,180 --> 00:00:58,124 mentioned previously , the Defense 22 00:00:58,124 --> 00:01:00,069 Policy Board met this week for the 23 00:01:00,069 --> 00:01:02,291 first time since completing since we've 24 00:01:02,291 --> 00:01:04,513 completed Secretary Austin's zero based 25 00:01:04,513 --> 00:01:06,680 review process . That board , which is 26 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,847 chaired by Madeleine Albright received 27 00:01:08,847 --> 00:01:11,013 classified briefings on china military 28 00:01:11,013 --> 00:01:13,069 modernization , the national defense 29 00:01:13,069 --> 00:01:15,069 strategy , priorities and strategic 30 00:01:15,069 --> 00:01:17,124 approach . Integrated deterrence the 31 00:01:17,124 --> 00:01:19,291 nuclear posture review and the missile 32 00:01:19,291 --> 00:01:21,180 Defense review . Secretary Austin 33 00:01:21,180 --> 00:01:23,402 joined the meeting yesterday to receive 34 00:01:23,402 --> 00:01:25,458 an out brief from the board on their 35 00:01:25,458 --> 00:01:27,402 findings . After reviewing a draft 36 00:01:27,402 --> 00:01:29,730 version of the still classified 2000 37 00:01:29,730 --> 00:01:31,650 and 21 National Defense Strategy 38 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,151 Secretary thank the members for their 39 00:01:34,151 --> 00:01:36,318 continued dedication to the nation and 40 00:01:36,318 --> 00:01:38,429 their sound advice and counsel as the 41 00:01:38,429 --> 00:01:40,707 department continues to refine the NDS , 42 00:01:40,707 --> 00:01:42,873 as you know , the Defense Policy Board 43 00:01:42,873 --> 00:01:44,873 is chartered to provide independent 44 00:01:44,873 --> 00:01:46,984 advice and recommendations on matters 45 00:01:46,984 --> 00:01:49,096 concerning defense policy in response 46 00:01:49,096 --> 00:01:51,262 to specific tasks from the Secretary , 47 00:01:51,262 --> 00:01:52,818 the Deputy Secretary or the 48 00:01:52,818 --> 00:01:54,984 undersecretary of Defense for Policy . 49 00:01:54,984 --> 00:01:57,151 Full readout will be posted on defense 50 00:01:57,151 --> 00:01:59,510 dot gov later today . Also on the 51 00:01:59,510 --> 00:02:01,788 Secretary's plate today . This morning . 52 00:02:01,788 --> 00:02:03,899 He spoke by phone with german Federal 53 00:02:03,899 --> 00:02:05,677 Minister of Defense , Christine 54 00:02:05,677 --> 00:02:07,843 Lambrecht this morning to congratulate 55 00:02:07,843 --> 00:02:10,121 her on her new appointment to the role . 56 00:02:10,121 --> 00:02:12,343 The leaders reaffirmed their commitment 57 00:02:12,343 --> 00:02:14,566 to strong US german defense cooperation 58 00:02:14,566 --> 00:02:16,677 both bilaterally and of course within 59 00:02:16,677 --> 00:02:18,621 the NATO alliance , they discussed 60 00:02:18,621 --> 00:02:18,350 their commitment to work together on a 61 00:02:18,350 --> 00:02:20,406 full range of challenges , including 62 00:02:20,406 --> 00:02:22,400 addressing Russia's destabilizing 63 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,456 actions in eastern europe , ensuring 64 00:02:24,456 --> 00:02:26,470 NATO alliance unity , maintaining 65 00:02:26,470 --> 00:02:28,192 positive trajectory on defense 66 00:02:28,192 --> 00:02:30,248 investments and of course increasing 67 00:02:30,248 --> 00:02:32,526 cooperation in the indo pacific region . 68 00:02:32,526 --> 00:02:34,660 A full read out of that it should be 69 00:02:34,660 --> 00:02:36,882 posted if not now , certainly very soon 70 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,060 on our website . I'm sure that some of 71 00:02:40,060 --> 00:02:42,004 you also been tracking some recent 72 00:02:42,004 --> 00:02:44,060 confirmation hearings . We were very 73 00:02:44,060 --> 00:02:46,060 pleased to see the confirmations of 74 00:02:46,070 --> 00:02:48,014 john Sherman , the Chief new Chief 75 00:02:48,014 --> 00:02:50,237 Information Officer , Nicholas Girton , 76 00:02:50,237 --> 00:02:52,292 the new Director of operational test 77 00:02:52,292 --> 00:02:54,459 and evaluation . And of course Admiral 78 00:02:54,459 --> 00:02:56,626 Chris Grady , the new Vice Chairman of 79 00:02:56,626 --> 00:02:58,792 the Joint Chiefs of Staff . We welcome 80 00:02:58,792 --> 00:03:01,400 all uh to uh their new roles . Welcome 81 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,511 some of them back into public service 82 00:03:03,511 --> 00:03:05,733 and the Secretary is looking forward to 83 00:03:05,733 --> 00:03:08,011 working closely with all three of them . 84 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,700 Um as I think you know december 18th is 85 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:12,811 national read across America day . It 86 00:03:12,811 --> 00:03:15,033 will kick off tomorrow at eight a.m. At 87 00:03:15,033 --> 00:03:17,089 Arlington National Cemetery as reads 88 00:03:17,089 --> 00:03:18,922 will be placed at each marker by 89 00:03:18,922 --> 00:03:21,270 Volunteers . Chairman Milley plans to 90 00:03:21,270 --> 00:03:23,400 attend that ceremony . The event has 91 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,980 grown over the past 30 years to include 92 00:03:25,980 --> 00:03:28,830 now nearly 3000 participating locations 93 00:03:28,830 --> 00:03:30,997 all across the country . And of course 94 00:03:30,997 --> 00:03:33,250 if anyone would like to volunteer , you 95 00:03:33,250 --> 00:03:35,361 can go to their website at res across 96 00:03:35,361 --> 00:03:38,190 America dot org . And then lastly later 97 00:03:38,190 --> 00:03:41,040 today this afternoon , US Air Forces 98 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,020 Central will release their airpower 99 00:03:45,020 --> 00:03:48,280 summary reports covering february 2020 100 00:03:48,290 --> 00:03:51,300 through november 2021 . These reports 101 00:03:51,300 --> 00:03:53,130 will provide an overview of air 102 00:03:53,130 --> 00:03:55,560 operations to include strikes conducted 103 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,560 in Iraq Syria and Afghanistan under 104 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,782 Combined Forces Air Component Commander 105 00:03:59,782 --> 00:04:02,620 authorities . As you know , The public 106 00:04:02,620 --> 00:04:04,731 release of air strikes in Afghanistan 107 00:04:04,731 --> 00:04:06,676 was paused in March of 2020 due to 108 00:04:06,676 --> 00:04:08,342 sensitivities surrounding the 109 00:04:08,342 --> 00:04:10,176 implementation of the us Taliban 110 00:04:10,176 --> 00:04:12,342 agreement . It's important to remember 111 00:04:12,342 --> 00:04:14,564 that during this time D O . D continued 112 00:04:14,564 --> 00:04:16,787 to I'm sorry , continued to collect and 113 00:04:16,787 --> 00:04:18,787 analyze the data and provided it to 114 00:04:18,787 --> 00:04:20,898 Inspectors General for inclusions and 115 00:04:21,340 --> 00:04:23,396 in their regular reports to Congress 116 00:04:23,740 --> 00:04:25,740 seeking to remain as transparent as 117 00:04:25,740 --> 00:04:27,740 possible as Secretary directed that 118 00:04:27,740 --> 00:04:29,573 this data again be made publicly 119 00:04:29,573 --> 00:04:31,518 releasable . These reports will be 120 00:04:31,518 --> 00:04:33,629 available as they said later today on 121 00:04:33,629 --> 00:04:35,518 the U . S . Air Force's Central's 122 00:04:35,518 --> 00:04:37,407 website at absent dot mil again , 123 00:04:37,407 --> 00:04:39,462 they'll go back to february 2020 and 124 00:04:39,462 --> 00:04:41,462 then they'll continue going forward 125 00:04:41,462 --> 00:04:43,629 with that we'll take questions later . 126 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,620 One quick thing on that . Are those 127 00:04:46,630 --> 00:04:48,852 monthly reports that are just gonna all 128 00:04:48,852 --> 00:04:50,741 be shoved out or is there one big 129 00:04:51,140 --> 00:04:54,910 report on That time span . I don't know 130 00:04:54,910 --> 00:04:56,854 what it's gonna look like when you 131 00:04:56,854 --> 00:04:58,966 click on the website , but there will 132 00:04:58,966 --> 00:05:01,132 be the monthly summaries going back to 133 00:05:01,132 --> 00:05:03,188 February 2020 and then going forward 134 00:05:03,188 --> 00:05:05,410 every month as it used to be . And then 135 00:05:05,410 --> 00:05:08,300 um just another question on vaccines 136 00:05:08,310 --> 00:05:10,500 since the services are now starting to 137 00:05:10,510 --> 00:05:12,566 release some of their discipline and 138 00:05:12,566 --> 00:05:14,788 you address this a little bit the other 139 00:05:14,788 --> 00:05:16,843 day , um is there any concern by the 140 00:05:16,843 --> 00:05:18,621 secretary ? And have there been 141 00:05:18,621 --> 00:05:20,843 discussions between him and some of the 142 00:05:20,843 --> 00:05:22,899 service chiefs and secretaries about 143 00:05:22,899 --> 00:05:25,130 discipline and any effort to ensure 144 00:05:25,130 --> 00:05:28,120 that it's equal across the services and 145 00:05:28,130 --> 00:05:30,910 such that if you're treated one way by 146 00:05:30,910 --> 00:05:32,854 the Marine Corps , you're going to 147 00:05:32,854 --> 00:05:34,966 largely be treated the same way given 148 00:05:34,966 --> 00:05:37,021 similar circumstances by the army or 149 00:05:37,021 --> 00:05:39,310 the Air Force leader . I think in 150 00:05:39,310 --> 00:05:41,970 general , that will most likely be the 151 00:05:41,970 --> 00:05:44,026 case . I mean , you've already heard 152 00:05:44,026 --> 00:05:46,520 the services talk about the fact that 153 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,360 they are even as deadlines have lapsed 154 00:05:49,540 --> 00:05:53,050 offering their troops even more time 155 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,990 to to get vaccinated before taking any 156 00:05:56,990 --> 00:05:58,434 administrative action and 157 00:05:58,434 --> 00:06:00,780 administrative discharges generally 158 00:06:00,780 --> 00:06:03,580 occur the same in the same process 159 00:06:03,590 --> 00:06:05,940 across the services . Now there may be 160 00:06:05,940 --> 00:06:07,662 some slight differences but an 161 00:06:07,662 --> 00:06:09,884 administrative discharge . That process 162 00:06:09,884 --> 00:06:12,740 is not so unique among the services . 163 00:06:12,740 --> 00:06:14,500 So the secretary is not overly 164 00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:16,389 concerned that there will be vast 165 00:06:16,389 --> 00:06:19,140 differences between one service over 166 00:06:19,140 --> 00:06:20,807 another as they process these 167 00:06:20,807 --> 00:06:22,630 individuals for administrative 168 00:06:22,630 --> 00:06:24,741 separation and it is administrative , 169 00:06:24,741 --> 00:06:26,741 it's not , you know , it's not as a 170 00:06:26,741 --> 00:06:29,460 result of a legal proceeding and that , 171 00:06:29,470 --> 00:06:32,350 you know , as like a court martial . Um 172 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:35,880 and uh again this is an administrative 173 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,600 discharges as you know , are are fairly 174 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,440 common practice . Uh So the processes 175 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:44,700 are are pretty similar across the 176 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:47,260 services . Yes , john 177 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,010 to get your reaction to the fact that 178 00:06:51,010 --> 00:06:53,350 60,000 afghan interpreters who had 179 00:06:53,350 --> 00:06:56,270 applied for S . I . B . Visas remain 180 00:06:56,280 --> 00:06:59,540 behind in Afghanistan . 33,000 of them 181 00:06:59,550 --> 00:07:01,494 are cleared for vetting . This was 182 00:07:01,494 --> 00:07:03,328 based on the Wall Street Journal 183 00:07:03,328 --> 00:07:05,550 article that quotes State Department 184 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:08,600 officials . Will the U . S . Will the U . 185 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,120 S . Military be helping with evacuating 186 00:07:11,130 --> 00:07:14,800 those people and 60,000 interpreters 187 00:07:14,810 --> 00:07:17,590 being left behind is pretty significant . 188 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,600 I've seen the press reporting and I 189 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,767 certainly would refer you to the State 190 00:07:21,767 --> 00:07:23,600 Department for validation of the 191 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:23,050 numbers , jen as you know , that 192 00:07:23,060 --> 00:07:25,227 program is not administered by D . O . 193 00:07:25,227 --> 00:07:28,200 D . That said the secretary continues 194 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,850 to believe strongly that we have a 195 00:07:30,850 --> 00:07:32,794 moral obligation to help those who 196 00:07:32,794 --> 00:07:35,450 helped us , especially the you know , 197 00:07:35,450 --> 00:07:37,750 interpreters and translators uh and 198 00:07:37,750 --> 00:07:39,920 people that that literally put their 199 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,142 lives on the line with with our our men 200 00:07:42,142 --> 00:07:44,198 and women in uniform . He feels very 201 00:07:44,198 --> 00:07:46,198 strongly about that . That's why he 202 00:07:46,198 --> 00:07:47,920 continues to work closely with 203 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:49,587 Secretary Blinken And we as a 204 00:07:49,587 --> 00:07:51,587 department continue to work closely 205 00:07:51,587 --> 00:07:53,753 with the State Department's task force 206 00:07:53,753 --> 00:07:55,920 to help identify uh and and facilitate 207 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:57,976 the movement out of Afghanistan , of 208 00:07:57,976 --> 00:08:00,087 all those who who have helped us . So 209 00:08:00,087 --> 00:08:02,087 as I've said many times , while the 210 00:08:02,087 --> 00:08:04,420 military mission in Afghanistan is over , 211 00:08:04,420 --> 00:08:06,890 The mission to help get our allies out 212 00:08:06,900 --> 00:08:08,900 and safe , safe , safely out of the 213 00:08:08,900 --> 00:08:11,100 country is not over . Um And then to 214 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:13,322 your second question , I do not foresee 215 00:08:13,330 --> 00:08:16,140 a US military role in terms of 216 00:08:16,140 --> 00:08:18,950 facilitating the physical relocation of 217 00:08:18,950 --> 00:08:22,030 these individuals . We have been , well , 218 00:08:22,030 --> 00:08:24,620 we as a government have been doing this 219 00:08:24,620 --> 00:08:26,630 through commercial and industrial 220 00:08:26,630 --> 00:08:28,908 aircraft , not using military aircraft . 221 00:08:28,908 --> 00:08:31,130 I don't see that changing . I'd like to 222 00:08:31,130 --> 00:08:33,180 get your reaction to the former 223 00:08:33,190 --> 00:08:35,910 national security advisor to President 224 00:08:35,910 --> 00:08:38,590 Ghani Hamdullah mojito , who has given 225 00:08:38,590 --> 00:08:40,590 an interview in which he blames the 226 00:08:40,590 --> 00:08:42,534 Doha agreement for the fall of the 227 00:08:42,534 --> 00:08:44,701 Kabul government . So he's essentially 228 00:08:44,701 --> 00:08:46,646 blaming . So I'll make Khalilzad's 229 00:08:46,646 --> 00:08:48,090 agreement under the trump 230 00:08:48,090 --> 00:08:50,034 administration for the fall of the 231 00:08:50,034 --> 00:08:52,030 Afghan government . I haven't seen 232 00:08:52,030 --> 00:08:54,730 those comments . Um um as you know , 233 00:08:54,730 --> 00:08:56,952 we're doing our own after Action review 234 00:08:56,952 --> 00:08:59,730 here . I certainly uh won't get ahead 235 00:08:59,730 --> 00:09:03,040 of the work that they're doing . Um uh 236 00:09:03,050 --> 00:09:05,930 as you've heard the Secretary say , I 237 00:09:05,930 --> 00:09:09,650 mean , um certainly at the 238 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:14,180 the Doha agreement send a powerful 239 00:09:14,180 --> 00:09:17,620 signal to our Afghan allies 240 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,300 and the Afghan government that uh that 241 00:09:21,300 --> 00:09:23,300 the United States was was leaving . 242 00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:25,356 There's no question about that . And 243 00:09:25,356 --> 00:09:28,070 and uh and we do believe it had 244 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,840 definitely had an impact on the morale 245 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,620 of the N . D . S . F . But but jen and 246 00:09:33,630 --> 00:09:35,574 without getting ahead of the after 247 00:09:35,574 --> 00:09:37,920 action review , obviously , we we've 248 00:09:37,930 --> 00:09:40,097 we've been talking a lot over the last 249 00:09:40,097 --> 00:09:42,208 several months about what happened in 250 00:09:42,208 --> 00:09:44,152 Afghanistan and , and uh I suspect 251 00:09:44,152 --> 00:09:46,208 we're going to learn there was a lot 252 00:09:46,208 --> 00:09:48,430 that led to the events of mid august a 253 00:09:48,430 --> 00:09:51,980 lot . Um and I I think we'd be reticent 254 00:09:51,980 --> 00:09:55,310 at this place and time to pin it on , 255 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,910 you know , one thing , 11 decision , 256 00:09:57,910 --> 00:10:00,620 one agreement , one meeting one factor . 257 00:10:00,820 --> 00:10:03,042 Um I think it would be imprudent for us 258 00:10:03,042 --> 00:10:04,320 to do that right now , 259 00:10:08,590 --> 00:10:11,700 jay software vulnerability , this is 260 00:10:11,700 --> 00:10:14,420 the new that cisa put out the warning . 261 00:10:14,430 --> 00:10:17,240 Federal government agencies are 262 00:10:17,260 --> 00:10:20,140 affected by this software vulnerability 263 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:23,060 there , jen , easterly gave a 264 00:10:24,910 --> 00:10:26,966 interview yesterday . I mean they're 265 00:10:26,966 --> 00:10:29,132 really sounding alarm bells . What has 266 00:10:29,132 --> 00:10:31,243 the pentagon done to protect itself ? 267 00:10:31,243 --> 00:10:33,410 Uh C U S Cyber command , the N S A and 268 00:10:33,410 --> 00:10:35,720 D . O . D . Cyber Crime Center are 269 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,553 taking rapid action right now to 270 00:10:37,553 --> 00:10:39,609 identify and mitigate the log four J 271 00:10:39,609 --> 00:10:41,498 vulnerabilities by monitoring for 272 00:10:41,498 --> 00:10:43,490 malicious cyber activity uh and 273 00:10:43,490 --> 00:10:45,657 directing mitigation against potential 274 00:10:45,657 --> 00:10:48,030 exploitation . We continue to work with 275 00:10:48,030 --> 00:10:49,974 cybersecurity and infrastructure , 276 00:10:49,974 --> 00:10:52,240 security agency system on a whole of 277 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,018 government response and sharing 278 00:10:54,018 --> 00:10:56,570 information with our interagency . Uh 279 00:10:56,580 --> 00:10:58,636 Inter inter inter agency and Defense 280 00:10:58,636 --> 00:11:00,358 Industrial based partners . We 281 00:11:00,358 --> 00:11:02,580 reinforced the guidance and information 282 00:11:02,580 --> 00:11:04,747 that Cisa has released and we strongly 283 00:11:04,747 --> 00:11:06,691 encourage everyone to follow their 284 00:11:06,691 --> 00:11:08,358 guidance to upgrade and patch 285 00:11:08,358 --> 00:11:10,191 accordingly . Um I think you can 286 00:11:10,191 --> 00:11:09,850 understand for operations of 287 00:11:09,850 --> 00:11:12,072 operational security , I'm not going to 288 00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:14,183 be able to get into the status of our 289 00:11:14,183 --> 00:11:16,072 network operations or information 290 00:11:16,072 --> 00:11:18,400 systems at this time jenny . Thank you 291 00:11:18,410 --> 00:11:21,810 john on the N . B . A 292 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,900 listener , it has authorization 293 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:27,670 actually And the fiscal year 294 00:11:27,670 --> 00:11:31,430 2022 Defense Authorization 295 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,360 Act past the U . S . Senate 296 00:11:35,510 --> 00:11:38,810 this week . I'm sorry . Has what 297 00:11:38,830 --> 00:11:41,570 has passed this week passed through the 298 00:11:41,570 --> 00:11:44,250 Senate ? Yes , you may take off . You 299 00:11:44,250 --> 00:11:46,583 can take it off if you like . All right . 300 00:11:46,583 --> 00:11:49,610 And the restriction on the reduction of 301 00:11:49,620 --> 00:11:53,430 U . S . Forces in South Korea has been 302 00:11:53,430 --> 00:11:56,890 removed . So are you going to 303 00:11:56,900 --> 00:11:58,170 keep the 304 00:11:58,180 --> 00:12:01,670 2,028,500 U.S . 305 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:05,210 troops in South Korea at the current to 306 00:12:05,210 --> 00:12:09,030 read it . So the your right to 307 00:12:09,030 --> 00:12:11,380 pass the Senate , the president hasn't 308 00:12:11,390 --> 00:12:13,557 signed it into law so I'm not going to 309 00:12:13,557 --> 00:12:15,501 get out of the President but I can 310 00:12:15,501 --> 00:12:17,501 assure you that there's no plans no 311 00:12:17,501 --> 00:12:19,334 intention to change our alliance 312 00:12:19,334 --> 00:12:21,810 posture in any way . And and and the 313 00:12:21,810 --> 00:12:24,032 secretary said as much as you know when 314 00:12:24,032 --> 00:12:26,254 we were in Seoul just a couple of weeks 315 00:12:26,254 --> 00:12:29,260 ago , you already answered 316 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,560 and any changes at all . Not that I'm 317 00:12:32,560 --> 00:12:34,730 predicting any we're committed to this 318 00:12:34,740 --> 00:12:37,160 alliance and to keeping our force 319 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,271 posture there . You saw that that was 320 00:12:39,271 --> 00:12:41,493 referenced in the global posture review 321 00:12:41,493 --> 00:12:43,660 but any changes , whatever will always 322 00:12:43,660 --> 00:12:45,771 be done as an alliance decision uh in 323 00:12:45,771 --> 00:12:47,993 lockstep with our South korean allies . 324 00:12:48,140 --> 00:12:51,190 Any numbers not changing like 28,000 325 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,730 I'm not here to announce or to signal 326 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,440 or to in anyway uh provide 327 00:12:59,150 --> 00:13:01,317 an indication that there's going to be 328 00:13:01,317 --> 00:13:03,206 a change in posture on the Korean 329 00:13:03,206 --> 00:13:05,372 peninsula . And again I point you back 330 00:13:05,372 --> 00:13:07,372 to the Secretary's comments when we 331 00:13:07,372 --> 00:13:11,260 were in Seoul two questions related 332 00:13:11,260 --> 00:13:13,371 though , I wonder if you could update 333 00:13:13,371 --> 00:13:15,316 us on the situation of the Russian 334 00:13:15,316 --> 00:13:17,593 troop build up on the board of Ukraine . 335 00:13:17,593 --> 00:13:19,816 Is there anything different there ? And 336 00:13:19,816 --> 00:13:21,982 then also Secretary Austin of course , 337 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,990 completed the global force posture 338 00:13:23,990 --> 00:13:25,768 review . But there have been no 339 00:13:25,768 --> 00:13:27,934 announcements about movements and some 340 00:13:27,934 --> 00:13:29,990 of the NATO eastern flank allies are 341 00:13:29,990 --> 00:13:32,101 obviously interested in bolstering up 342 00:13:32,101 --> 00:13:34,268 the eastern flank . Um Are there gonna 343 00:13:34,268 --> 00:13:36,580 be any announcements about possible new 344 00:13:36,590 --> 00:13:38,812 troop rotations anywhere in the world ? 345 00:13:38,940 --> 00:13:42,260 No . Next question . I'm just kidding . 346 00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:46,270 We continue to monitor the situation in 347 00:13:46,270 --> 00:13:48,326 Russia Ukraine and of course I don't 348 00:13:48,326 --> 00:13:51,210 have as I have tried not to do to get 349 00:13:51,210 --> 00:13:53,500 into an intelligence assessments here 350 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:55,611 from the podium , I'm not going to do 351 00:13:55,611 --> 00:13:58,830 that . But we haven't seen any um we 352 00:13:58,830 --> 00:14:02,130 haven't seen any significant changes in 353 00:14:02,130 --> 00:14:05,240 the posture of Russian forces arrayed 354 00:14:05,250 --> 00:14:07,460 around the Ukrainian border . They are 355 00:14:07,460 --> 00:14:10,550 still there in large number and that's 356 00:14:10,550 --> 00:14:12,606 as far as I think I'm gonna go . And 357 00:14:12,606 --> 00:14:15,070 then as to your second question um I 358 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,070 have no new rotational deployments to 359 00:14:18,070 --> 00:14:20,510 speak to in terms of our our NATO 360 00:14:20,510 --> 00:14:23,210 allies . Um We have a lot of capability 361 00:14:23,210 --> 00:14:25,377 in the region that capability is still 362 00:14:25,377 --> 00:14:27,488 there , some of it is fixed , some of 363 00:14:27,488 --> 00:14:29,654 it is rotational . Um and as you heard 364 00:14:29,654 --> 00:14:31,821 uh Jake Sullivan the national Security 365 00:14:31,821 --> 00:14:33,766 advisor say you know if there's an 366 00:14:33,766 --> 00:14:36,970 incursion another incursion and if some 367 00:14:36,970 --> 00:14:39,500 of our NATO allies asked for additional 368 00:14:39,500 --> 00:14:41,940 capabilities are rotational elements . 369 00:14:41,940 --> 00:14:43,829 We will be positively disposed to 370 00:14:43,829 --> 00:14:45,773 consider that . But I have no such 371 00:14:45,773 --> 00:14:47,996 request to speak to and no movements to 372 00:14:47,996 --> 00:14:51,040 speak to today . Tara . Thanks sean on 373 00:14:51,050 --> 00:14:53,480 the air power summary reports . Um 374 00:14:53,490 --> 00:14:55,530 Going forward will the department 375 00:14:55,540 --> 00:14:57,580 commit to continuing to release air 376 00:14:57,580 --> 00:15:00,510 strike data in Afghanistan ? And in 377 00:15:00,510 --> 00:15:02,660 that vein have there been any U . S . 378 00:15:02,660 --> 00:15:05,250 Airstrikes in Afghanistan since the 379 00:15:05,250 --> 00:15:07,490 withdrawal was complete ? There have 380 00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:10,900 been no air 381 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:12,960 strikes in Afghanistan since the 382 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,230 withdrawal is complete . And yes we are 383 00:15:15,230 --> 00:15:18,730 committed to providing summaries . 384 00:15:18,740 --> 00:15:20,851 Should should that be the case ? Just 385 00:15:20,851 --> 00:15:23,018 that's why we're trying to get back to 386 00:15:23,018 --> 00:15:25,129 these these air power summary reports 387 00:15:25,129 --> 00:15:28,790 which wouldn't they published by absent 388 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,480 and so Afghanistan would still fall 389 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:32,480 within their writ 390 00:15:35,110 --> 00:15:37,380 conducted strikes only Or would if 391 00:15:37,380 --> 00:15:39,520 there's if there's a strike conducted 392 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,464 by another government organization 393 00:15:41,464 --> 00:15:43,687 would it would those also be counted in 394 00:15:43,687 --> 00:15:46,110 the data . My understanding and I will 395 00:15:46,110 --> 00:15:48,277 check this after the briefing . But my 396 00:15:48,277 --> 00:15:50,277 understanding is it's us only we're 397 00:15:50,277 --> 00:15:53,810 responsible for our you know for our 398 00:15:53,810 --> 00:15:55,866 missions . So it'll be us only . But 399 00:15:56,340 --> 00:15:59,680 I'll just double check that . Yeah . 400 00:15:59,690 --> 00:16:03,240 Really ? Thank you yesterday the filing 401 00:16:03,250 --> 00:16:06,510 administration as the china's Academy 402 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,110 of Military Medical Sciences to the 403 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:11,550 export Brathwaite who have been the 404 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,150 chinese leaders to develop brain 405 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,670 control weapon . But could you give us 406 00:16:16,670 --> 00:16:19,130 a sense of the D . O . D . Assessment 407 00:16:19,140 --> 00:16:21,870 on what such weapons might do in 408 00:16:21,870 --> 00:16:24,440 greater detail ? And how much is the 409 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,690 deal would be concerned about the 410 00:16:26,690 --> 00:16:29,560 chinese military using such weapons in 411 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:31,560 the battlefield in the future ? I'm 412 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,671 sorry I missed the first part of your 413 00:16:33,671 --> 00:16:35,838 question . What weapons are we talking 414 00:16:35,838 --> 00:16:37,838 about ? The brain control weapons ? 415 00:16:38,610 --> 00:16:40,720 Brain controlled weapons . 416 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,610 Okay . Um I'll tell you what real . Uh 417 00:16:45,620 --> 00:16:47,898 I don't have control of my brain today . 418 00:16:47,898 --> 00:16:50,110 So I'm gonna take the question and uh 419 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,231 and and we'll get back to you on that 420 00:16:52,231 --> 00:16:54,342 one . That's a very specific question 421 00:16:54,342 --> 00:16:57,600 that I was not prepared for . So . Well , 422 00:16:57,610 --> 00:16:59,832 we'll take it and get back to you . Let 423 00:16:59,832 --> 00:17:01,250 me what's that ? 424 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,607 Brain controlled weapons ? All right . 425 00:17:07,607 --> 00:17:11,340 Um Okay . Okay . We can do 426 00:17:11,340 --> 00:17:13,396 both . I can take it and send it out 427 00:17:13,396 --> 00:17:15,618 and if if you want I can read it out on 428 00:17:15,618 --> 00:17:18,660 monday as well , but I wasn't um I 429 00:17:18,670 --> 00:17:21,003 don't have anything for you on that one . 430 00:17:21,003 --> 00:17:22,948 Let me go to the phones , Sylvie . 431 00:17:23,940 --> 00:17:25,996 Hello john . My question was asked . 432 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:27,440 Thank you . 433 00:17:35,340 --> 00:17:38,180 Bye . Brain control weapons . Alright . 434 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:39,270 David martin . 435 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,407 Ok . David . We'll come back to you if 436 00:17:50,407 --> 00:17:51,962 we missed you oren from CNN 437 00:17:56,140 --> 00:17:58,420 john there are now seven republican 438 00:17:58,420 --> 00:18:00,364 governors that includes Oklahoma's 439 00:18:00,364 --> 00:18:02,476 governor who are who are asking for a 440 00:18:02,476 --> 00:18:04,198 withdrawal or attraction or an 441 00:18:04,198 --> 00:18:06,520 exemption from the National Guard 442 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,510 vaccine mandate ? Um Obviously he's 443 00:18:09,510 --> 00:18:11,566 already responded to Oklahoma . When 444 00:18:11,566 --> 00:18:13,788 might he respond to the other governors 445 00:18:13,788 --> 00:18:15,510 and is there any indication or 446 00:18:15,510 --> 00:18:17,454 suggestion that for any reason the 447 00:18:17,454 --> 00:18:19,600 response would be any different ? We 448 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,933 have not responded to those letters yet . 449 00:18:21,933 --> 00:18:23,989 We just got them . In fact , I think 450 00:18:23,989 --> 00:18:26,267 when the latest one came in last night , 451 00:18:26,267 --> 00:18:28,489 obviously we will respond appropriately 452 00:18:28,489 --> 00:18:31,110 to uh , to the Governor's regarding 453 00:18:31,110 --> 00:18:34,080 their concerns . I would just say that 454 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,480 as we said to the Oklahoma governor , 455 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,580 this is a valid military medical 456 00:18:38,580 --> 00:18:41,110 requirement . The vaccine it makes for 457 00:18:41,110 --> 00:18:43,470 a more ready force and it is in the 458 00:18:43,470 --> 00:18:46,510 secretary's authorities to set those 459 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,770 mandatory military readiness 460 00:18:48,770 --> 00:18:52,190 requirements . Um , did you have one ? 461 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,610 The governor of texas said something to 462 00:18:57,610 --> 00:19:00,760 the effect of um he will 463 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,607 he was accusing the federal government 464 00:19:03,607 --> 00:19:07,080 of trying to defund texas if um , they 465 00:19:07,090 --> 00:19:09,450 made them enforce the mandate to your 466 00:19:09,450 --> 00:19:11,617 knowledge . Has the pentagon ever said 467 00:19:11,617 --> 00:19:14,120 anything about defunding ? No . And I 468 00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:16,120 think as you probably recall in our 469 00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:18,450 response uh to Governor Stitt in 470 00:19:18,450 --> 00:19:21,540 Oklahoma , that what what we said was 471 00:19:21,540 --> 00:19:24,510 that failure to get the vaccine could 472 00:19:24,510 --> 00:19:26,850 put you as the individual guardsmen , 473 00:19:26,860 --> 00:19:28,804 your participation in the National 474 00:19:28,804 --> 00:19:32,520 Guard at at in jeopardy because your 475 00:19:32,530 --> 00:19:34,710 your your pay your ability to train 476 00:19:34,710 --> 00:19:36,821 your ability to go on , you know , to 477 00:19:36,821 --> 00:19:39,099 to to to get military funded education . 478 00:19:39,099 --> 00:19:40,988 It's really about your individual 479 00:19:40,988 --> 00:19:43,110 participation . There was never a 480 00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:46,270 threat to defund the National Guard in 481 00:19:46,270 --> 00:19:50,250 any state Tony Questions 482 00:19:50,250 --> 00:19:52,361 in a couple of different areas of the 483 00:19:52,361 --> 00:19:54,472 United Arab Emirates . F . 35 issue . 484 00:19:54,472 --> 00:19:56,639 Did that come up into discussions with 485 00:19:56,639 --> 00:19:58,510 dr call on in the joint military 486 00:19:58,510 --> 00:20:01,530 dialogue ? I would tell you Tony that 487 00:20:01,530 --> 00:20:03,641 it was not a focus of the discussions 488 00:20:03,750 --> 00:20:05,639 yesterday . You said we're always 489 00:20:05,639 --> 00:20:07,806 concerned about technology transfer to 490 00:20:07,806 --> 00:20:09,917 nations that have an adversarial view 491 00:20:09,917 --> 00:20:11,861 of our commitment to a rules based 492 00:20:11,861 --> 00:20:14,083 international order . What nations were 493 00:20:14,083 --> 00:20:16,250 you talking about china and the United 494 00:20:16,250 --> 00:20:18,361 Arab Emirates relationship or Iran or 495 00:20:19,150 --> 00:20:21,610 there are there are there are several 496 00:20:21,610 --> 00:20:23,499 nations that would fall into that 497 00:20:23,499 --> 00:20:25,388 category Tony china and the U . A 498 00:20:25,388 --> 00:20:27,710 relationship following . You don't have 499 00:20:27,710 --> 00:20:29,877 to look far to see evidence that china 500 00:20:29,877 --> 00:20:31,377 continues to challenge the 501 00:20:31,377 --> 00:20:33,543 international rules based order in the 502 00:20:33,543 --> 00:20:35,800 indo pacific and beyond . As As US 503 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:37,856 concerned then that China might have 504 00:20:37,856 --> 00:20:39,856 the access to F- 35 technology that 505 00:20:39,856 --> 00:20:41,856 we're selling . I'm not going to go 506 00:20:41,856 --> 00:20:43,967 beyond what I said yesterday . Okay a 507 00:20:43,967 --> 00:20:45,967 little closer to home on monday the 508 00:20:45,967 --> 00:20:48,022 pentagon inspector general put out a 509 00:20:48,022 --> 00:20:49,856 report on trans . I'm one of the 510 00:20:49,856 --> 00:20:52,022 pentagon's tap sole source provider of 511 00:20:52,022 --> 00:20:54,960 spare parts 2019 . There was a G . 512 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,127 Similar I . G . Report came out and it 513 00:20:57,127 --> 00:20:59,238 concluded that transition was getting 514 00:20:59,238 --> 00:21:01,580 excess profits Monday they reported 515 00:21:01,580 --> 00:21:04,130 that they got a transplant got excess 516 00:21:04,130 --> 00:21:07,860 profits of $1 or $2.20.8 million . 517 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:10,950 What steps has the pentagon taken since 518 00:21:10,950 --> 00:21:13,630 that earlier I . G . Report to arm its 519 00:21:13,630 --> 00:21:15,370 contracting people with better 520 00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:18,950 information or better tools to extract 521 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,190 information from trans dime . That 522 00:21:21,190 --> 00:21:23,740 could lead to cheaper parts and 523 00:21:23,740 --> 00:21:26,950 potentially the the 524 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,890 D . O . D . I . G . Offered some 525 00:21:29,890 --> 00:21:32,660 recommendations on this . Uh Three of 526 00:21:32,660 --> 00:21:34,600 them in particular were accepted 527 00:21:34,610 --> 00:21:37,530 accepted . All three uh including 528 00:21:37,530 --> 00:21:40,120 trying to you know work on a refund to 529 00:21:40,250 --> 00:21:43,750 improve alternate contracting policies 530 00:21:43,750 --> 00:21:46,060 and and several others so without going 531 00:21:46,060 --> 00:21:48,227 into more detail than that . I mean um 532 00:21:48,227 --> 00:21:51,390 uh we uh we appreciate the work that 533 00:21:51,390 --> 00:21:54,780 the that the I . G . Did and and we're 534 00:21:54,780 --> 00:21:56,502 going to accept and follow the 535 00:21:56,502 --> 00:21:58,669 recommendations in layman's language . 536 00:21:58,669 --> 00:22:00,790 The recommendations to get extracted 537 00:22:00,790 --> 00:22:04,390 refund from transactions $20.8 million . 538 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:06,727 This d . o . d . I intend to do that . 539 00:22:06,727 --> 00:22:10,570 Go ask translation for a refund . Yeah 540 00:22:10,580 --> 00:22:14,350 so I mean um again we 541 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:16,830 appreciate the work of the the I . G . 542 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,020 Um It did highlight challenges that 543 00:22:20,020 --> 00:22:22,020 contracting officers now experience 544 00:22:22,020 --> 00:22:24,270 procuring parts uh including their 545 00:22:24,270 --> 00:22:26,340 ability to obtain data to determine 546 00:22:26,340 --> 00:22:30,170 fair and reasonable uh prices . Um 547 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,607 As noted they recommended that we seek 548 00:22:32,607 --> 00:22:35,160 a voluntary refund And uh and we're 549 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,620 gonna we're gonna do that . Um And then 550 00:22:37,630 --> 00:22:39,074 like I said the other two 551 00:22:39,074 --> 00:22:41,019 recommendations that were going to 552 00:22:41,019 --> 00:22:43,100 pursue one is uh to have the defense 553 00:22:43,100 --> 00:22:45,470 pricing and contracting director review 554 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,258 the Defense federal acquisition 555 00:22:47,258 --> 00:22:49,480 regulations information for the current 556 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,570 policy as it pertains uh to this issue 557 00:22:52,570 --> 00:22:55,280 and then to and then to also identify 558 00:22:55,290 --> 00:22:57,430 alternative options for purchasing 559 00:22:57,430 --> 00:22:59,541 items from countries from companies ? 560 00:22:59,541 --> 00:23:03,510 Sorry . Yeah thank you . Do 561 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,000 you have any updates on the schedule 562 00:23:06,010 --> 00:23:08,630 for upcoming us ? Japan two plus two 563 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,862 And what , what's going to be a kind of 564 00:23:10,862 --> 00:23:12,918 the top line for the , we're looking 565 00:23:12,918 --> 00:23:15,140 forward to the discussion . I will have 566 00:23:15,140 --> 00:23:17,196 more to say as we get closer to it . 567 00:23:17,196 --> 00:23:19,251 Obviously Japan is a key ally in the 568 00:23:19,251 --> 00:23:21,690 region . Um , uh , and that's why I was 569 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:24,120 right on the front end of the 570 00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:26,342 secretary's first international trip to 571 00:23:26,342 --> 00:23:28,564 go to Tokyo . Um , I won't get ahead of 572 00:23:28,564 --> 00:23:30,676 the agenda specifically , but you can 573 00:23:30,676 --> 00:23:32,509 imagine there is an awful lot to 574 00:23:32,509 --> 00:23:34,453 discuss security , common security 575 00:23:34,453 --> 00:23:36,620 challenges in the indo pacific will be 576 00:23:36,620 --> 00:23:39,020 chief among them . Uh , including the 577 00:23:39,020 --> 00:23:40,742 aggressive behavior that china 578 00:23:40,742 --> 00:23:42,742 continues to demonstrate the threat 579 00:23:42,742 --> 00:23:44,853 continue to be posed by north Korea . 580 00:23:44,853 --> 00:23:47,020 Uh , and their missile program Lots to 581 00:23:47,020 --> 00:23:49,340 talk about . Yeah . Let me get back to 582 00:23:49,340 --> 00:23:51,650 the phones here . Louis Martinez are 583 00:23:51,650 --> 00:23:55,250 you there ? Hey 584 00:23:55,250 --> 00:23:57,194 john um , I have a couple of covid 585 00:23:57,194 --> 00:23:59,361 questions if I could please . Um , you 586 00:23:59,361 --> 00:24:01,139 mentioned that there are active 587 00:24:01,139 --> 00:24:04,980 discussions about whether to mandate in 588 00:24:04,980 --> 00:24:07,250 a booster , does that include as part 589 00:24:07,250 --> 00:24:09,430 of that discussion ? Are you gathering 590 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,170 data about how many personnel have 591 00:24:12,170 --> 00:24:15,910 actually received a booster shot ? I'm 592 00:24:15,910 --> 00:24:17,910 not aware of any active effort to 593 00:24:17,910 --> 00:24:20,132 gather that data lui but I'll take your 594 00:24:20,132 --> 00:24:22,243 question and just check and make sure 595 00:24:22,243 --> 00:24:24,410 that that I'm right about that . There 596 00:24:24,410 --> 00:24:26,577 are still discussions about whether or 597 00:24:26,577 --> 00:24:28,743 not to make it mandatory . No decision 598 00:24:28,743 --> 00:24:30,854 has been made . Thanks . And my other 599 00:24:30,854 --> 00:24:33,720 question has to do with um , Macron is 600 00:24:33,730 --> 00:24:36,630 we're seeing certain large increasing 601 00:24:36,630 --> 00:24:39,120 numbers and magnitude of cases 602 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:42,290 nationwide . Um Does the military 603 00:24:42,290 --> 00:24:44,401 undertake sequencing so that they can 604 00:24:44,401 --> 00:24:46,512 determine whether the number of cases 605 00:24:46,512 --> 00:24:48,568 that they're experiencing , um maybe 606 00:24:48,568 --> 00:24:50,679 all Macron versus Delta . And are you 607 00:24:50,679 --> 00:24:52,790 seeing a surgeon ? Is that leading to 608 00:24:52,790 --> 00:24:54,901 concerns that you may have to tighten 609 00:24:54,901 --> 00:24:57,123 restrictions ? The basis we have seen , 610 00:24:57,123 --> 00:24:59,179 we did see a surgeon Delta . I'm not 611 00:24:59,179 --> 00:25:01,346 aware of a surgeon omicron . Again , I 612 00:25:01,346 --> 00:25:03,512 will go back and look and see if we've 613 00:25:03,512 --> 00:25:05,870 got data on that . Um uh as you know , 614 00:25:05,870 --> 00:25:09,000 we we had already tightened up when , 615 00:25:09,010 --> 00:25:11,177 you know , we reverted to more tight , 616 00:25:11,177 --> 00:25:13,121 more tight restrictions across the 617 00:25:13,121 --> 00:25:15,121 department because of Delta and the 618 00:25:15,121 --> 00:25:17,060 effect it was having on our own 619 00:25:17,060 --> 00:25:20,680 workforce . Um I'm not aware of any . I 620 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:22,847 mean , well , let me put it this way , 621 00:25:22,847 --> 00:25:26,420 uh the the across the 622 00:25:26,420 --> 00:25:28,587 department , we are complying with CDC 623 00:25:28,587 --> 00:25:30,930 guidelines and continue to do that . Um 624 00:25:30,940 --> 00:25:32,990 Obviously we respect installation 625 00:25:32,990 --> 00:25:35,520 commanders um and their ability to 626 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,570 moderate as long as they don't go below 627 00:25:38,580 --> 00:25:40,990 uh C . D . C . Guidelines moderate 628 00:25:40,990 --> 00:25:42,934 appropriately given the conditions 629 00:25:42,934 --> 00:25:46,040 where they are because the conditions 630 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,262 in local communities can be different . 631 00:25:48,262 --> 00:25:50,360 So I I don't I'm not aware of any 632 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,490 uniform um uh mandatory 633 00:25:54,490 --> 00:25:56,870 changes of late . But again , let me 634 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,630 let me go back and take a look at the 635 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:01,751 status of Omicron in the department . 636 00:26:01,751 --> 00:26:04,190 Before I , before I say anything more 637 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,210 you sequencing ? Yeah , I'm gonna check , 638 00:26:08,210 --> 00:26:10,321 I don't know , jen , I don't know the 639 00:26:10,321 --> 00:26:13,770 answer to that . Yeah , thank you . Um , 640 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,760 there's reporting now about exhaustion 641 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:21,030 among a lot of the civilian 642 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,018 healthcare workforce as well as 643 00:26:24,018 --> 00:26:26,560 hospital capacity issues on the horizon . 644 00:26:26,940 --> 00:26:30,570 So against that backdrop , the question 645 00:26:30,570 --> 00:26:34,430 of immunization for the 646 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,700 reserve , the National Guard , does 647 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:39,589 that take on another dimension of 648 00:26:39,589 --> 00:26:43,180 importance ? Or do you have any comment 649 00:26:43,180 --> 00:26:45,180 on that officer ? Is there planning 650 00:26:45,180 --> 00:26:47,291 underway for instance , looking ahead 651 00:26:47,291 --> 00:26:49,790 in case there is another wave of Covid 652 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:53,830 with the omicron variant . I'm 653 00:26:53,830 --> 00:26:56,770 not completely sure I understand the 654 00:26:57,140 --> 00:26:57,890 question . 655 00:27:02,140 --> 00:27:04,220 Covid has become a wave across the 656 00:27:04,220 --> 00:27:06,500 country . Their guard was activated to 657 00:27:06,500 --> 00:27:08,611 try to provide relief for some of the 658 00:27:08,611 --> 00:27:12,520 civilian hospital overflow . And so 659 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:14,576 I'm looking ahead and thinking , you 660 00:27:14,576 --> 00:27:16,798 know , if the wave that they're looking 661 00:27:16,798 --> 00:27:19,060 at now and which has been in sort of 662 00:27:19,810 --> 00:27:23,760 some reporting as well combined with 663 00:27:24,140 --> 00:27:26,060 accumulated exhaustion among the 664 00:27:26,060 --> 00:27:28,140 healthcare population , the civilian 665 00:27:28,140 --> 00:27:31,040 healthcare population who are reporting 666 00:27:31,540 --> 00:27:35,030 a crisis level levels among their 667 00:27:35,030 --> 00:27:38,910 workforce in some areas . I mean , I 668 00:27:38,910 --> 00:27:40,940 think we talked recently , uh , in 669 00:27:40,940 --> 00:27:44,110 michigan , the governor asked for uh , 670 00:27:44,120 --> 00:27:46,120 guard support to help out with some 671 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:49,480 hospitals and certainly governors can , 672 00:27:49,490 --> 00:27:51,740 can pull upon that capability if , if 673 00:27:51,740 --> 00:27:54,480 they need to . I'm not , I'm not aware 674 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:58,420 of any plans at the federal 675 00:27:58,420 --> 00:28:01,430 level to mobilize the guard across the 676 00:28:01,430 --> 00:28:05,160 country due to omicron . Um , uh , 677 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:09,140 nothing , nothing that we're actively 678 00:28:09,140 --> 00:28:11,540 planning for right now . I mean , 679 00:28:11,540 --> 00:28:13,880 obviously we've done it in the past 680 00:28:13,890 --> 00:28:16,840 back in the spring uh mobilize both 681 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,460 active duty and additional guardsmen um 682 00:28:19,470 --> 00:28:21,414 to assist communities all over the 683 00:28:21,414 --> 00:28:24,070 country with vaccinations . Um but 684 00:28:24,070 --> 00:28:26,292 again I don't have anything to speak to 685 00:28:26,292 --> 00:28:29,940 today . Fantastic . Oh the 686 00:28:29,940 --> 00:28:32,520 omicron variant seems to be spreading 687 00:28:32,620 --> 00:28:34,676 pretty quickly and maybe it's just a 688 00:28:34,676 --> 00:28:36,898 burst right now , but within people who 689 00:28:36,898 --> 00:28:39,009 are vaccinated , even people who have 690 00:28:39,009 --> 00:28:40,731 boosters as a parts department 691 00:28:40,731 --> 00:28:42,940 considering options in case of 692 00:28:42,940 --> 00:28:46,160 workforce shutdowns . Um Are you 693 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:47,993 planning for the case that maybe 694 00:28:47,993 --> 00:28:50,160 there's an almond con uh outbreak on a 695 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,160 carrier ? For example , even if you 696 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:54,370 have fully vaccinated force ? Well 697 00:28:54,370 --> 00:28:57,360 certainly the services would be um the 698 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,360 best place to go for those kinds of 699 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,416 contingency plans . We are obviously 700 00:29:01,416 --> 00:29:05,310 watching this closely and uh we want to 701 00:29:05,310 --> 00:29:07,366 be ready for any eventuality . So we 702 00:29:07,366 --> 00:29:10,490 will do what we need to do uh for the 703 00:29:10,490 --> 00:29:12,810 protection of the force uh and the 704 00:29:12,820 --> 00:29:16,600 readiness of the force um as as it 705 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:18,600 requires as it's required out there 706 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,711 with the um with what's going on with 707 00:29:20,711 --> 00:29:22,822 the pandemic , but I don't have any , 708 00:29:22,822 --> 00:29:24,933 again I don't anything specific today 709 00:29:24,933 --> 00:29:27,156 to to talk to . We have been we've done 710 00:29:27,156 --> 00:29:29,378 this before . We have been through this 711 00:29:29,378 --> 00:29:31,400 before um and we have had to adjust 712 00:29:32,740 --> 00:29:36,250 ship schedules and training exercises 713 00:29:36,250 --> 00:29:39,780 and uh tele work and all manner 714 00:29:39,780 --> 00:29:42,920 of of of personnel policies 715 00:29:42,930 --> 00:29:45,490 based on surges in the pandemic in the 716 00:29:45,490 --> 00:29:49,080 past . We we don't believe that we can 717 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:51,830 take a an eye off of that going forward 718 00:29:51,830 --> 00:29:54,480 and that uh you know , depending on 719 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:56,591 where omicron goes , it could have an 720 00:29:56,591 --> 00:30:00,240 impact on the force and on the way 721 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,080 we uh train resource and and and 722 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:04,960 operate . Um I don't again have 723 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,900 anything to speak to today and um each 724 00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:10,122 of the services will have a heavy voice 725 00:30:10,122 --> 00:30:11,900 in this because they know their 726 00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:13,900 operational requirements best . But 727 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:15,900 we're we're watching it closely . I 728 00:30:15,900 --> 00:30:19,780 already got you just to follow up . So 729 00:30:19,790 --> 00:30:22,330 um because the boosters do offer some 730 00:30:22,330 --> 00:30:25,400 protection against severe disease , I'm 731 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:28,810 wondering if the specter of a rising 732 00:30:28,820 --> 00:30:32,050 omicron wave might lend additional 733 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:36,460 um urgency to the need for 734 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,840 reserve personnel to get booster to get 735 00:30:39,850 --> 00:30:41,850 vaccinated , get boosted and all of 736 00:30:41,850 --> 00:30:44,128 that . Again , we've talked about this . 737 00:30:44,128 --> 00:30:45,794 The secretary right now fully 738 00:30:45,794 --> 00:30:47,906 encourages people who are eligible to 739 00:30:47,906 --> 00:30:50,128 get the booster shot . Absolutely . And 740 00:30:50,128 --> 00:30:52,017 there are discussions here at the 741 00:30:52,017 --> 00:30:54,239 pentagon about whether or not it should 742 00:30:54,239 --> 00:30:54,160 be made mandatory . I don't have a 743 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,130 decision to talk to today , but for 744 00:30:57,130 --> 00:30:59,510 those who are eligible , we absolutely 745 00:30:59,510 --> 00:31:01,788 want to see them get the booster shots . 746 00:31:01,788 --> 00:31:03,788 The science proves that the booster 747 00:31:03,788 --> 00:31:07,440 shot can can absolutely help in 748 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:09,496 preventing the disease and if not in 749 00:31:09,496 --> 00:31:11,273 full out preventing , certainly 750 00:31:11,273 --> 00:31:13,384 minimizing the effects of it . Okay , 751 00:31:13,384 --> 00:31:13,770 thanks everybody