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Ladies and gentlemen , welcome to the 

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Tampa Convention center and this 

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historic change of command ceremony 

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during which General Kenneth F . 

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McKenzie Jr . United States Marine 

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Corps will relinquish command of the 

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United States Central Command to 

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General Michael E . Carella , United 

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States Army . We are honored to have a 

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number of distinguished guests in 

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attendance this afternoon . Please hold 

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your applause until I have recognized 

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all of our guests . Members of 

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Congress , the honorable Tommy 

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Tuberville Senator for the state of 

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Alabama . Service Chiefs Admiral 

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Michael Guild , a Chief of Naval 

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Operations General Charles C . Q . 

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Brown , Chief of Staff of the Air Force . 

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General James McConville . Chief of 

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Staff commandant of the Marine Corps , 

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Admiral Karl Schultz , Commandant of 

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the Coast Guard Combating commanders . 

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General Laura Richardson . Commander U . 

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S . Southern Command General Richard 

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Clarke , Commander U . S . Special 

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Operations Command . Admiral Samuel , 

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papa Row Commander , U . S . Pacific 

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fleet former commanders . General 

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retired Joseph Dunford , 19th chairman 

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of the joint chiefs of staff . General 

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retired Robert Magnus 30th Commandant 

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of the Marine Corps General . Retired 

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joseph votel Former Commander U . S . 

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Central Command General retired 

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Stephen Lyons , 13th commander of U . S . 

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Transcom . Ambassadors . 

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Ambassador , Retired joseph Westfall . 

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Ambassador , retired dale . Daily 

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Assistant secretaries . Dr mara 

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Karlin . Acting Assistant Secretary of 

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Defense for international Security 

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Affairs . Mr chris Meyer . 

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Assistant Secretary of Defense for 

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if it's for 

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with which we are proud to partner with 

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in the levant Arabian peninsula , 

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Military and Central and South Asia . 

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We are also would like to welcome 

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members of the diplomatic corps in our 

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agency and senior leaders of the 

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military , federal and civilian of 

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civilian community . Let us not forget 

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to welcome our Central command families 

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who truly carry the heaviest loads and 

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enable us to do the important work we 

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do . Please join me in a round of 

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applause . 

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Mhm . 

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The United States Central Command was 

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established in 1983 And is responsible 

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for military operations in the region , 

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consistent of 21 countries in the 

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Levant Arabian Peninsula and Central 

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and South Asia , including the waters 

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of the Red Sea , the Arabian gulf and 

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indian ocean . The United States 

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Central Command is composed of five 

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components and one joint task force 

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which are represented at today's 

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ceremony by their commanders and their 

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senior enlisted leaders . The 

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subordinate components are United 

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States Army Central Command 

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Headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base 

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South Carolina . United States Air 

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Forces Central Command , headquartered 

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at Shaw Air Force Base , south Carolina . 

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The United States Naval Forces Central 

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Command headquartered in manama bahrain , 

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the United States Marine Forces Central 

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Command , headquartered at MacDIll Air 

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Force Base florida . United States 

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Special Operations Command Central 

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headquartered at MacDIll Air Force base 

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florida . The subordinate Joint Task 

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Force Combined Joint Task Force 

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operation inherent resolve headquarter 

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and Baghdad . Alright . Throughout its 

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history , Central Command has deployed 

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combat forces to southwest Asia and the 

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Horn of Africa on a number of occasions 

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to deter our enemies , assure our 

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friends and to maintain stability in a 

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critical region of the world . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , as we prepare 

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for the entrance of the official party , 

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we are honored to welcome the Secretary 

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of Defense , the honorable Lord jay 

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Austin the third who will preside over 

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today's ceremony and the Chairman , 

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Joint Chiefs of Staff , General Mark a 

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Milley , United States Army . 

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Ladies and gentlemen please rise for 

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the arrival of the fisher party and 

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remain standing for honors to the 

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Secretary of Defense . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , it is our honor 

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and privilege to have as our presiding 

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official . The Secretary of Defense , 

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the Honorable Lord J . Olson the third . 

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Mm hmm . Okay , 

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mm hmm mm hmm mm hmm 

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mm hmm . Mhm . 

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Yeah . Okay , 

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mm hmm . 

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Yeah , 

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ladies and gentlemen please remain 

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standing for the invocation delivered 

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by command chaplain Colonel Joey Bird , 

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United States Army . The presentation 

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of the colors and the playing of the 

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national anthem by the commandant's own , 

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the United States Marine drum and bugle 

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corps . I invite you to 

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join me in prayer . Oh God almighty , 

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all power in heaven and earth belongs 

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to you today . We call upon you to be 

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present with us as we witnessed the US 

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sitcom change of command leadership 

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from General Kenneth F . McKenzie Jr to 

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General Michael eric parrilla . We ask 

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you to empower General Carillon with 

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your authority and a place in him . 

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Your leadership May he lead us centcom 

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with optimism , determination and trust 

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in those who served alongside him . May 

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we the members of US centcom served 

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with loyalty our best efforts and a 

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willingness to learn . We welcome his 

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lovely wife mary page and family and 

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pray for their well being . Thank you 

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for the leadership of General Mackenzie . 

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He has served our nation and US sitcom 

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with honor and distinction . His legacy 

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and good work will endure forever . The 

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lives of people all around the world , 

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his country , family friends , the 

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state of Alabama and the United States 

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Marine Corps are very proud of him . He 

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and Maryland will be greatly missed and 

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we bid them a fond farewell . We pray 

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for the safety of every service member 

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and civilian deployed in harm's way and 

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their families finally , oh God we pray 

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for peace on earth until that day comes 

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when war will be no more . Please 

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continue to be with our great military 

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with our allies and partners with all 

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good and humane men and women who seek 

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your justice , peace and freedom for 

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all die Holy name . We pray . Amen . 

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Mm hmm , 

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mm hmm . 

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Mhm . Oh 

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yeah . 

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Mm hmm . 

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Mhm 

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mhm . 

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Yeah . Mm hmm , 

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mm hmm . 

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Mhm , 

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mm hmm . 

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Mhm . Mhm . 

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Oh 

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ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 

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The change of command is a time honored 

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event . Key to the ceremony is the 

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passing of the unit colors . The colors 

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of the commander's symbol of authority 

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representing his responsibilities to 

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the organization . The passing of the 

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color symbolizes the transfer of 

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command responsibility and authority 

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from the old commander to the new 

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commander . 

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The United States Central Command . 

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Senior enlisted leader . Fleet Master 

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Chief James hurdle is the custodian of 

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the colors when the colors are not 

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displayed for the commander , they are 

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in the care of the Central Command . 

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Senior enlisted Leader . Fleet Master 

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Chief hurdle . Ladies and gentlemen , 

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Fleet Master Chief hurdle will 

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facilitate the passing of the unit 

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colors as the command . Senior enlisted 

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leader . The senior enlisted leader 

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represents the importance of non 

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commissioned officers to the armed 

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forces of the United States and within 

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the United States Central Command . 

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Fleet Master Chief James hurdle is 

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delivering the colors to the commander . 

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General Mackenzie . 

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Order Sir General Mackenzie , By order 

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of the president of the United States . 

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General Kenneth F . McKenzie , jr . 

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United States Marine Corps , effective 

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one April 2022 , you will stand 

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detached from your present station and 

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relinquish duties as commander of 

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United States Central Command . On one 

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April 2022 , you were transferred to 

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the Marine Corps officers retired list 

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after completion of 42 years , 10 

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months and two days of active service . 

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The Secretary of Defense , The 

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honorable Lord Jay Austin and third 

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will now present the colors to the new 

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commander . General Michael E . Carella , 

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charging him with the responsibility 

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for mission accomplishment and the 

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welfare of his force . Orders to 

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General gorilla by the authority of 

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title 10 United States Code section 1 

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60 for General Michael Kurilla assumes 

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command of the United States Central 

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Command MacDIll Air Force Base florida . 

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Effective one april 2000 and 22 . 

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General Carrillo returns the colors of 

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fleet Master Chief hurdle signifying 

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his acceptance of command 

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responsibility and the continuation of 

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the mission . Ladies and gentlemen , 

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the United States Central Command 

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Commander , General Michael E . Carella , 

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United States Army . Mm hmm . 

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Yeah . 

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Whoa . 

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Mhm . 

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Okay . Yeah . Mm hmm . 

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Mhm . Ladies and 

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gentlemen , the Chairman of the Joint 

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Chiefs of Staff , General Mark A Milley . 

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Yes . Yeah . Alright , 

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curly you're in charge . 

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It's a great day . And I want to thank 

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everyone for being here . There's a lot 

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of dignitaries that are here , a lot of 

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generals , a lot of political leaders 

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and so on and and please forgive me if 

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I don't announce all of you . But I did 

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want to recognize Senator Tuberville , 

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you know frank Mackenzie's from Alabama . 

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Uh , that's within our Alabama and , 

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and uh , and the centers here represent 

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the great people of Alabama and and 

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frank has been a buddy of mine for a 

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long time and frank said whatever you 

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do get up here , don't say war eagle . 

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He said for me to tell you , Senator 

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Roll tide . Yeah . Mhm . 

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That's what he told me . That's what he 

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said . Now the secretary and I got to 

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go and testify next week in front of 

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center , terrible . So it'll go really 

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well , thank you . I can't wait for 

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that . It'll be awesome . Hey , thank 

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you all for being here and thanks to 

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sector for making it down here . Uh 

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this is really homecoming for him after 

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41 years of service and sometime in the 

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civilian sector after retirement . And 

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now the 28th Secretary Defense . So 

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thank you sir for being here . 

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And I also want to thank uh general 

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retired . Now joe Dunford former coming 

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down to the Marine Corps and my 

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predecessor as the chairman , a great 

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00:21:47,949 --> 00:21:50,004
officer great friend has a statue in 

282
00:21:50,004 --> 00:21:52,116
Quincy . I told him I wasn't gonna go 

283
00:21:52,116 --> 00:21:54,227
up to Quincy and spray painted , tear 

284
00:21:54,227 --> 00:21:54,120
it down . I'm not gonna cancel joe 

285
00:21:54,120 --> 00:21:56,176
Dunford . He's one of the great ones 

286
00:21:56,176 --> 00:21:58,176
ever . Good personal friend Ellen , 

287
00:21:58,176 --> 00:22:00,398
thank you for being here . I appreciate 

288
00:22:00,398 --> 00:22:02,453
it . And and joe was so good that he 

289
00:22:02,453 --> 00:22:04,453
warned me about my 1st 2.5 years of 

290
00:22:04,453 --> 00:22:06,676
chairman . So thank you . Thank you for 

291
00:22:06,676 --> 00:22:10,180
doing that as well . Mm hmm . 

292
00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,550
I do want to take a moment to 

293
00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,940
recognize my wife who's here holly ann 

294
00:22:20,950 --> 00:22:23,290
I won't make any jokes . So that one's , 

295
00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:27,130
that one's off limits . But but I 

296
00:22:27,130 --> 00:22:28,963
want to thank her for being here 

297
00:22:28,963 --> 00:22:31,074
because she's representing all of the 

298
00:22:31,074 --> 00:22:33,130
families , all of the spouses of the 

299
00:22:33,130 --> 00:22:35,530
entire joint force and our families 

300
00:22:35,530 --> 00:22:37,810
sacrifice and silence while we in 

301
00:22:37,810 --> 00:22:39,880
uniform , go do our thing . Uh and I 

302
00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:41,991
want to thank you holly ann on behalf 

303
00:22:41,991 --> 00:22:44,213
of all of the families and on behalf of 

304
00:22:44,213 --> 00:22:46,436
the nation for what you do and what you 

305
00:22:46,436 --> 00:22:46,370
represent . So thank you . Mm hmm . 

306
00:22:50,390 --> 00:22:53,720
Yeah . Mhm . And there's no group of 

307
00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,500
families that have given more to this 

308
00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,250
country than the Gold Star families . 

309
00:22:59,340 --> 00:23:02,450
And we have several of them here today . 

310
00:23:02,590 --> 00:23:04,812
I'm not going to call you out by name . 

311
00:23:04,812 --> 00:23:07,740
Um , I will just uh , please allow me a 

312
00:23:07,740 --> 00:23:10,240
minute to pay some humble uh , 

313
00:23:10,250 --> 00:23:12,430
reference to each of you for the 

314
00:23:12,430 --> 00:23:14,541
sacrifice you've given . Uh , there's 

315
00:23:14,541 --> 00:23:16,790
no greater loss . There's no greater 

316
00:23:16,790 --> 00:23:19,390
sacrifice than to lay yourself down on 

317
00:23:19,390 --> 00:23:21,668
the altar of freedom as your loved one , 

318
00:23:21,668 --> 00:23:23,779
your soldiers or sailors or airmen or 

319
00:23:23,779 --> 00:23:25,834
marine did . And your presence today 

320
00:23:25,834 --> 00:23:28,057
humbles all of us . So thanks to all of 

321
00:23:28,057 --> 00:23:29,557
you for being here today . 

322
00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,350
Okay , thank you 

323
00:23:36,340 --> 00:23:39,250
for me . It's a great honor to be here 

324
00:23:39,550 --> 00:23:43,090
and to not so much honor the 

325
00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:45,267
Mackenzie's and the guerrillas . We'll 

326
00:23:45,267 --> 00:23:47,433
get to that . But this is really about 

327
00:23:47,433 --> 00:23:49,433
the command . It's about this great 

328
00:23:49,433 --> 00:23:51,780
organization called Central Command . 

329
00:23:51,780 --> 00:23:54,720
So in part it's about frank McKenzie in 

330
00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,390
part it's about eric gorilla , but it's 

331
00:23:57,390 --> 00:23:59,620
really about all the troops , all the 

332
00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:01,731
soldiers , sailors , airmen , marines 

333
00:24:01,731 --> 00:24:03,842
that are not in this room right now . 

334
00:24:03,842 --> 00:24:05,898
They are out on freedom's frontier , 

335
00:24:05,898 --> 00:24:08,760
literally and very , very complex . A . 

336
00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:10,920
O . R . That is Central command and 

337
00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,300
almost Every single one of us in 

338
00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:15,990
uniform today , almost every one of us 

339
00:24:16,010 --> 00:24:19,610
has spent some time in centcom over our 

340
00:24:19,610 --> 00:24:22,250
career . Uh , and most especially in 

341
00:24:22,250 --> 00:24:25,610
the last 20 consecutive years of 

342
00:24:25,610 --> 00:24:28,890
war , centcom's truly critical to the 

343
00:24:28,890 --> 00:24:31,220
security of our nation and really to 

344
00:24:31,220 --> 00:24:33,380
the stability and security of the 

345
00:24:33,380 --> 00:24:35,960
entire world . It's quite literally the 

346
00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,060
crossroads between europe Asia in 

347
00:24:39,060 --> 00:24:41,870
africa . The world's energy supplies 

348
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,820
come through the centcom a or it's an 

349
00:24:44,820 --> 00:24:47,540
area that spans more than four million 

350
00:24:47,540 --> 00:24:50,520
square miles . Has over 20 countries , 

351
00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:53,250
populated by half a billion people 

352
00:24:53,470 --> 00:24:55,940
speak hundreds of languages and 

353
00:24:55,940 --> 00:24:58,770
practice many religions , all of which 

354
00:24:59,140 --> 00:25:01,960
transact national borders . Just the 

355
00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,850
demographics alone makes centcom zeo 

356
00:25:04,850 --> 00:25:08,470
are extraordinarily tense , always in a 

357
00:25:08,470 --> 00:25:10,740
state of turmoil . But there's also 

358
00:25:10,740 --> 00:25:12,970
great cooperation , great hope , great 

359
00:25:12,970 --> 00:25:15,640
promise for a future that is better 

360
00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,500
than today . Centcom strategic 

361
00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:21,250
importance and complexity requires the 

362
00:25:21,250 --> 00:25:24,190
very best of our leaders . And that 

363
00:25:24,190 --> 00:25:26,510
brings me to frank McKenzie . Joe 

364
00:25:26,510 --> 00:25:28,660
Dunford did a wonderful job this 

365
00:25:28,660 --> 00:25:31,680
morning , recounting frank Mackenzie's 

366
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,400
career and I won't do that here now 

367
00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:36,511
because many of you are , most of you 

368
00:25:36,511 --> 00:25:38,940
were there this morning and it would be 

369
00:25:38,940 --> 00:25:41,070
very difficult to briefly summarize 

370
00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,840
What is really 43 years , not 42 years , 

371
00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,250
10 days or 10 months and two days But 

372
00:25:48,250 --> 00:25:50,306
43 years . And as you said , you had 

373
00:25:50,306 --> 00:25:52,250
sited also had another eight years 

374
00:25:52,250 --> 00:25:54,417
because he was on the extended program 

375
00:25:54,417 --> 00:25:57,440
at Citadel . But I can stay with 

376
00:25:57,440 --> 00:25:59,551
certainty that frank McKenzie is here 

377
00:25:59,551 --> 00:26:01,640
because of his character . Yes , 

378
00:26:01,650 --> 00:26:03,539
because of his confidence and his 

379
00:26:03,539 --> 00:26:05,706
commitment . But really because of his 

380
00:26:05,706 --> 00:26:08,770
character , no matter where frank was 

381
00:26:08,770 --> 00:26:12,100
sent , he did his duty with unwavering 

382
00:26:12,100 --> 00:26:15,350
commitment and integrity to the nation 

383
00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,830
and to the constitution . He's 

384
00:26:17,830 --> 00:26:20,330
commanded at every level as joe Dunford 

385
00:26:20,330 --> 00:26:22,520
mentioned most challenging and dynamic 

386
00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,631
environments the nation has ever seen 

387
00:26:24,740 --> 00:26:27,850
Over his last four plus decades . He 

388
00:26:27,850 --> 00:26:30,700
was in the pentagon On 911 on that day , 

389
00:26:30,700 --> 00:26:33,630
everything around us changed and frank 

390
00:26:33,630 --> 00:26:35,630
left the pentagon on the command of 

391
00:26:35,630 --> 00:26:38,290
22nd mu multiple combat deployments to 

392
00:26:38,290 --> 00:26:40,990
both Iraq and Afghanistan all before he 

393
00:26:40,990 --> 00:26:42,879
ever took the colors of centcom . 

394
00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:46,100
Shortly after his return he came to the 

395
00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:48,211
pentagon and he and I worked together 

396
00:26:48,211 --> 00:26:50,700
for the first time . We were colonels 

397
00:26:50,700 --> 00:26:52,922
at the time and I could tell from those 

398
00:26:52,922 --> 00:26:55,144
early interactions that I had a trusted 

399
00:26:55,144 --> 00:26:57,470
teammate in frank McKenzie and it's 

400
00:26:57,470 --> 00:27:01,250
been that way ever since these last few 

401
00:27:01,250 --> 00:27:04,950
years have been quite intense frank and 

402
00:27:04,950 --> 00:27:08,830
I have talked a lot almost daily and on 

403
00:27:08,830 --> 00:27:11,270
many occasions multiple times a day , 

404
00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:14,750
countless phone calls , meetings , VtCS 

405
00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,390
and endless discussions , very 

406
00:27:17,390 --> 00:27:21,140
emotional , very strategic , very 

407
00:27:21,140 --> 00:27:25,060
heartfelt . I have personally an 

408
00:27:25,060 --> 00:27:28,150
incredible amount of trust , confidence 

409
00:27:28,540 --> 00:27:31,160
and personal respect for frank McKenzie . 

410
00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:35,180
He has guided centcom and by extension 

411
00:27:35,180 --> 00:27:37,830
the nation through some of our most 

412
00:27:37,830 --> 00:27:41,660
tough times and he always did it with 

413
00:27:41,660 --> 00:27:44,560
honor , integrity , attacked 

414
00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,450
competence , humility , operational 

415
00:27:47,450 --> 00:27:50,850
skill and on occasion a bit of humor . 

416
00:27:51,940 --> 00:27:54,360
On my 3rd day on the job , Turkey 

417
00:27:54,940 --> 00:27:57,820
invaded Syria and frank superbly led 

418
00:27:57,820 --> 00:28:00,490
centcom through a very dangerous and 

419
00:28:00,620 --> 00:28:03,730
unstable period as we rapidly adjusted 

420
00:28:03,730 --> 00:28:05,670
our operational footprint under 

421
00:28:05,670 --> 00:28:08,850
pressure . It was here at centcom 

422
00:28:09,540 --> 00:28:11,762
under frank's leadership that America's 

423
00:28:11,762 --> 00:28:14,450
longest war came to an end and led to 

424
00:28:14,450 --> 00:28:16,450
the largest military air evacuation 

425
00:28:16,740 --> 00:28:19,860
ever conducted in human history . The 

426
00:28:19,860 --> 00:28:22,880
cost in american blood of that 

427
00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,590
operation is something we will never 

428
00:28:25,590 --> 00:28:27,520
forget and we will always 

429
00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,860
And there are over 124,000 

430
00:28:33,340 --> 00:28:36,060
afghans who will live life free 

431
00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,550
because of the selfless sacrifice of 

432
00:28:40,550 --> 00:28:42,606
those soldiers , sailors and marines 

433
00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,950
and because of the leadership frank 

434
00:28:45,950 --> 00:28:49,350
McKenzie , the entire team at centcom 

435
00:28:49,940 --> 00:28:51,996
should always be proud of everything 

436
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,210
you've accomplished under frank's 

437
00:28:54,210 --> 00:28:56,990
leadership . He has led our most 

438
00:28:56,990 --> 00:28:59,460
sensitive counterterrorism missions . 

439
00:28:59,940 --> 00:29:02,990
He led the fight to finally defeat ISIS 

440
00:29:02,990 --> 00:29:05,620
including them killing of its leader , 

441
00:29:05,620 --> 00:29:08,360
Baghdadi and his replacement . 

442
00:29:10,140 --> 00:29:12,196
He massively dealt with the regional 

443
00:29:12,196 --> 00:29:14,770
challenge of Iran on a day to day basis , 

444
00:29:15,140 --> 00:29:18,060
which is always tense and he eliminated 

445
00:29:18,060 --> 00:29:20,171
the leader of the world's most lethal 

446
00:29:20,171 --> 00:29:23,400
terror organization Iran's irgc quds 

447
00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,940
force every day , frank's 

448
00:29:26,940 --> 00:29:29,080
analysis and recommendations . We're 

449
00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,460
always well thought out and candidly 

450
00:29:32,460 --> 00:29:35,170
presented and more importantly frank , 

451
00:29:35,180 --> 00:29:37,360
always faithfully implemented and 

452
00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,600
executed the decisions of our top 

453
00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,220
civilian leaders . In short frank 

454
00:29:43,220 --> 00:29:45,610
McKenzie , the leader who combines 

455
00:29:45,610 --> 00:29:47,721
character , competence and commitment 

456
00:29:48,140 --> 00:29:50,960
to an exceptionally high standard and 

457
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:53,380
frank personifies the Marine Corps 

458
00:29:53,380 --> 00:29:57,340
motto of central Fidelis and frank is 

459
00:29:57,340 --> 00:30:01,250
a rare leader to be sure , but he and I 

460
00:30:01,250 --> 00:30:03,472
both know that he wouldn't have made it 

461
00:30:03,472 --> 00:30:05,950
this far in life without Maryland 

462
00:30:06,940 --> 00:30:09,051
Marilyn Mackenzie has been with Frank 

463
00:30:09,051 --> 00:30:11,500
for 38 years and I think you can draw a 

464
00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:13,830
straight line between when frank met 

465
00:30:13,830 --> 00:30:16,010
Maryland and his improved performance 

466
00:30:16,010 --> 00:30:17,232
in the marine corps . 

467
00:30:20,330 --> 00:30:22,780
I have on personal witness from 

468
00:30:22,780 --> 00:30:26,020
multiple graduates of the Citadel class 

469
00:30:26,020 --> 00:30:29,140
of 79 who are here today and many of 

470
00:30:29,140 --> 00:30:31,620
the early teammates of frank and the 

471
00:30:31,620 --> 00:30:34,260
Marine corps that frank barely knew how 

472
00:30:34,260 --> 00:30:38,200
to read . It's 

473
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:39,867
true . I'm not making it up . 

474
00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:44,784
Prior to meeting Marilyn frank was 

475
00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:47,607
literally and I looked this up because 

476
00:30:47,607 --> 00:30:49,718
the citadel is a public institution . 

477
00:30:49,718 --> 00:30:51,940
It's on the it's on the web . He had an 

478
00:30:51,940 --> 00:30:55,120
aptitude problem and he was on aptitude 

479
00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,064
probation as they called it at the 

480
00:30:57,064 --> 00:31:00,280
citadel . And now once he met Marilyn 

481
00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,800
he learned how to read and it wasn't a 

482
00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:05,967
coincidence . You see , Maryland has a 

483
00:31:05,967 --> 00:31:08,022
long and distinguished career Having 

484
00:31:08,022 --> 00:31:10,133
retired from 30 years of teaching our 

485
00:31:10,133 --> 00:31:12,300
Children . There's no more important a 

486
00:31:12,300 --> 00:31:14,356
job in America than that of teaching 

487
00:31:14,356 --> 00:31:16,411
our youth . There's hundreds of kids 

488
00:31:16,411 --> 00:31:19,130
who now love to read . Thanks to the 

489
00:31:19,130 --> 00:31:21,074
hard work , dedication and care of 

490
00:31:21,074 --> 00:31:23,870
Maryland and for that . I thank you . 

491
00:31:23,870 --> 00:31:26,092
And we all thank you for your work as a 

492
00:31:26,092 --> 00:31:28,259
teacher and for your example to all of 

493
00:31:28,259 --> 00:31:30,537
us . Thank you Marilyn for what you do . 

494
00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:34,040
Mm hmm . 

495
00:31:39,340 --> 00:31:43,040
And much of frank's careers been a 

496
00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:46,320
nation at war and the costs of war are 

497
00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:49,330
born by our families . As I mentioned , 

498
00:31:49,580 --> 00:31:52,410
they often go unseen , their worries , 

499
00:31:52,410 --> 00:31:55,560
their sleepless nights , their anxiety , 

500
00:31:56,140 --> 00:31:58,470
it never ends for them . And we 

501
00:31:58,470 --> 00:32:00,990
couldn't do our job without the love of 

502
00:32:00,990 --> 00:32:04,670
our spouses , their advice but also 

503
00:32:05,340 --> 00:32:07,920
the sacrifice of our Children . You see 

504
00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:10,490
we volunteered for this military but 

505
00:32:10,490 --> 00:32:13,030
our kids did not and K . R . And 

506
00:32:13,030 --> 00:32:15,252
Kristin and the grandkids , Noron James 

507
00:32:15,252 --> 00:32:17,890
are here and I can tell you that your 

508
00:32:17,890 --> 00:32:20,170
dad and granddad , I wouldn't be here 

509
00:32:20,170 --> 00:32:22,760
today standing proudly as a four star 

510
00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:25,750
marine retired without your love and 

511
00:32:25,930 --> 00:32:28,263
unquestioned support over so many years . 

512
00:32:28,263 --> 00:32:32,010
So thanks to each of you . Mm hmm 

513
00:32:37,340 --> 00:32:40,340
frank , you've serve your country with 

514
00:32:40,340 --> 00:32:42,562
great distinction and you're surrounded 

515
00:32:42,562 --> 00:32:44,618
by your family and people who admire 

516
00:32:44,618 --> 00:32:46,951
and appreciate your work and leadership . 

517
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,296
You and Marilyn and your family have 

518
00:32:49,296 --> 00:32:51,518
contributed an incredible legacy to the 

519
00:32:51,518 --> 00:32:53,462
Marine Corps to centcom and to the 

520
00:32:53,462 --> 00:32:55,573
nation . And I want to thank you as a 

521
00:32:55,573 --> 00:32:58,640
friend and fellow warrior . You've seen 

522
00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:00,529
the crucible of combat up close . 

523
00:33:01,140 --> 00:33:03,362
You've served your nation exceptionally 

524
00:33:03,362 --> 00:33:06,190
well . Your has been a life of selfless 

525
00:33:06,190 --> 00:33:08,690
service . So fair winds and following 

526
00:33:08,690 --> 00:33:10,760
seas simplify my friend 

527
00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:13,640
and the fight . 

528
00:33:21,540 --> 00:33:23,484
It took me a while to get the navy 

529
00:33:23,484 --> 00:33:26,370
piece and the arm and the marine . I 

530
00:33:26,370 --> 00:33:28,537
got I had to rehearse that a couple of 

531
00:33:28,537 --> 00:33:30,960
times . But the fight isn't over here 

532
00:33:31,740 --> 00:33:33,796
every day . There's new threats this 

533
00:33:33,796 --> 00:33:35,960
country faces and there's always new 

534
00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,238
challenges and in this complex theater , 

535
00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:40,980
especially everything from terrorism to 

536
00:33:40,980 --> 00:33:43,330
regional conflict can rear its head on 

537
00:33:43,330 --> 00:33:45,970
very short notice and we are getting 

538
00:33:45,970 --> 00:33:48,192
the right leader here at the right time 

539
00:33:48,192 --> 00:33:50,192
to take command of centcom if there 

540
00:33:50,192 --> 00:33:52,530
ever was some way to feed into a 

541
00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:54,474
machine , the requirements for the 

542
00:33:54,474 --> 00:33:56,620
perfect leader of centcom . The 

543
00:33:56,620 --> 00:33:58,731
character , traits , the attributes , 

544
00:33:58,731 --> 00:34:00,953
the experiences , the knowledge and the 

545
00:34:00,953 --> 00:34:02,953
personality . That would be ideal . 

546
00:34:02,953 --> 00:34:04,898
That machine would spit out . ErIC 

547
00:34:04,898 --> 00:34:08,600
gorilla . Eric's got vast experience in 

548
00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,980
combat on staffs . He's a visionary , 

549
00:34:12,150 --> 00:34:14,910
he's a thinker and he's a doer . He 

550
00:34:14,910 --> 00:34:17,260
understands both the physical and human 

551
00:34:17,260 --> 00:34:19,520
terrain and is able to identify root 

552
00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:21,353
causes of problems and developed 

553
00:34:21,353 --> 00:34:23,298
systems . He's not at all a linear 

554
00:34:23,298 --> 00:34:25,480
thinker . He's actually a very gifted 

555
00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:28,160
problem solver . He's fought under 

556
00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:30,480
immense pressure and understands the 

557
00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:32,530
conventional fight and the special 

558
00:34:32,530 --> 00:34:35,850
operations fight and he too like frank 

559
00:34:36,340 --> 00:34:38,284
has been tested in the unforgiving 

560
00:34:38,284 --> 00:34:40,650
environment , ground combat , he's 

561
00:34:40,650 --> 00:34:42,960
tough , he's smart , he's innovative 

562
00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:45,862
and no one understands more deeply more 

563
00:34:45,862 --> 00:34:48,100
personally what service and combat 

564
00:34:48,100 --> 00:34:50,380
means for each of us . He was wounded 

565
00:34:50,380 --> 00:34:52,880
twice in combat as a striker . 

566
00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:55,490
Battalion commander , Mosul Iraq . He 

567
00:34:55,490 --> 00:34:57,640
recovered from being shot three times 

568
00:34:58,540 --> 00:35:00,540
an injury that included a shattered 

569
00:35:00,540 --> 00:35:02,980
femur And he recovered fast enough to 

570
00:35:02,980 --> 00:35:04,647
pass the 75th ranger regiment 

571
00:35:04,647 --> 00:35:06,813
assessment and continue jumping out of 

572
00:35:06,813 --> 00:35:09,020
airplanes . You can knock eric curler 

573
00:35:09,020 --> 00:35:12,180
down but you can't keep him down . He's 

574
00:35:12,180 --> 00:35:14,890
as tough and competent a soldier as 

575
00:35:14,890 --> 00:35:18,210
we'll ever find and more importantly 

576
00:35:18,210 --> 00:35:20,630
than that . Eric knows our forces , not 

577
00:35:20,630 --> 00:35:22,680
just weapons , technology and 

578
00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,910
capabilities , it's people and he 

579
00:35:24,910 --> 00:35:27,210
understands that people always come 

580
00:35:27,210 --> 00:35:29,800
first . Eric gorilla is one of the 

581
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:31,710
finest leaders of integrity of 

582
00:35:31,710 --> 00:35:33,710
competence , of knowledge or skills 

583
00:35:33,940 --> 00:35:35,996
that we've ever produced in our army 

584
00:35:36,340 --> 00:35:39,150
and he is exactly the right person to 

585
00:35:39,150 --> 00:35:41,230
lead this command and to the men and 

586
00:35:41,230 --> 00:35:43,360
women of centcom . What you do every 

587
00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:45,550
day , standing watch on freedom's 

588
00:35:45,550 --> 00:35:48,420
frontier is key to our nation's 

589
00:35:48,420 --> 00:35:52,010
security . Key for your sacrifice 

590
00:35:52,330 --> 00:35:54,552
to keep your skills up to maintain your 

591
00:35:54,552 --> 00:35:57,450
readiness . So thank you . Thank you 

592
00:35:57,450 --> 00:35:59,617
for what you're doing . And I ask that 

593
00:35:59,617 --> 00:36:01,839
you welcome ERic and his family because 

594
00:36:01,839 --> 00:36:04,061
at his side he is fortunate enough have 

595
00:36:04,061 --> 00:36:07,000
a wonderful partner and mary page . The 

596
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,430
families of ST calmer , gaining an 

597
00:36:09,430 --> 00:36:11,700
incredible advocate . She's gracious 

598
00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:14,060
and kind and leaves a lasting impact on 

599
00:36:14,060 --> 00:36:16,370
everyone around her and she has held 

600
00:36:16,370 --> 00:36:18,650
the hands of the wounded and comforted 

601
00:36:18,650 --> 00:36:20,710
the families of the fallen All while 

602
00:36:20,710 --> 00:36:22,599
raising two wonderful daughters , 

603
00:36:22,730 --> 00:36:24,674
Michelle and Sophie who are here . 

604
00:36:25,030 --> 00:36:27,840
Michelle is a senior at Harvard and 

605
00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,127
we'll have to make a choice whether or 

606
00:36:30,127 --> 00:36:32,182
not she wants to stay at that second 

607
00:36:32,182 --> 00:36:35,560
rate school or not and she can make a 

608
00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:37,393
decision now whether to run this 

609
00:36:37,393 --> 00:36:39,671
country or she wants to write about it . 

610
00:36:39,671 --> 00:36:41,838
And Sophie is well on her way to be in 

611
00:36:41,838 --> 00:36:43,616
the next jane . Goodall . She's 

612
00:36:43,616 --> 00:36:45,782
majoring in biology , has straight A's 

613
00:36:45,782 --> 00:36:48,004
and she's at Tufts . So both of them in 

614
00:36:48,004 --> 00:36:50,310
the holy land of massachusetts . She's 

615
00:36:50,310 --> 00:36:53,030
already worked on big game wildlife in 

616
00:36:53,030 --> 00:36:55,030
South Africa . So eric you got your 

617
00:36:55,030 --> 00:36:57,252
hands full on both and I appreciate the 

618
00:36:57,252 --> 00:36:59,363
fact that you two have no money based 

619
00:36:59,363 --> 00:37:02,910
on those cost of those two schools but 

620
00:37:02,910 --> 00:37:05,450
through it all , eric has had their 

621
00:37:05,450 --> 00:37:08,320
love and support and he could not be 

622
00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:11,580
here without them . So thank you to 

623
00:37:11,580 --> 00:37:14,210
eric gorillas family for allowing us to 

624
00:37:14,210 --> 00:37:16,432
borrow him for one more tour . So thank 

625
00:37:16,432 --> 00:37:17,432
you all . Mhm . 

626
00:37:24,330 --> 00:37:26,510
Yeah and if I could , I'd like to just 

627
00:37:26,510 --> 00:37:28,621
give a shout out to Eric's mother who 

628
00:37:28,621 --> 00:37:30,843
couldn't be here today . She's watching 

629
00:37:30,843 --> 00:37:33,066
from tv . I want to let you know Marcia 

630
00:37:33,066 --> 00:37:35,232
that you raised , a great son , we all 

631
00:37:35,232 --> 00:37:37,066
know it , you know it . But most 

632
00:37:37,066 --> 00:37:39,680
importantly Marcia served as a nurse 

633
00:37:40,030 --> 00:37:42,141
for 50 years and she served as an Air 

634
00:37:42,141 --> 00:37:44,420
Force Reserve Flight Nurse . So thank 

635
00:37:44,420 --> 00:37:46,531
you Marcia for your service as well . 

636
00:37:47,530 --> 00:37:50,350
Okay . Yeah , 

637
00:37:51,830 --> 00:37:55,660
mm hmm . Mhm . So mary page and 

638
00:37:55,670 --> 00:37:57,840
eric welcome to centcom 

639
00:37:59,130 --> 00:38:02,960
Marilyn for you and frank , you're 

640
00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:04,627
going to have a great time in 

641
00:38:04,627 --> 00:38:06,738
retirement I'm sure . But your legacy 

642
00:38:06,738 --> 00:38:08,960
will last a lifetime for those that you 

643
00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:11,182
commanded and now it is my To introduce 

644
00:38:11,182 --> 00:38:13,349
the 28 Secretary of Defense , a friend 

645
00:38:13,349 --> 00:38:15,238
of mine for almost a quarter of a 

646
00:38:15,238 --> 00:38:17,600
century personal mentor , a warrior in 

647
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:19,711
his own right recipient of the silver 

648
00:38:19,711 --> 00:38:21,544
star and the former commander of 

649
00:38:21,544 --> 00:38:23,822
Central Command . Secretary of Defense , 

650
00:38:23,822 --> 00:38:24,822
Lloyd Austin . 

651
00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:34,520
Right . 

652
00:38:37,420 --> 00:38:40,760
Mhm Well good afternoon 

653
00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:43,950
centcom , it is great to be here , 

654
00:38:45,620 --> 00:38:47,731
you know , being back in Tampa always 

655
00:38:47,731 --> 00:38:51,050
feels like coming home this wonderful 

656
00:38:51,050 --> 00:38:53,840
community , the great weather , 

657
00:38:55,020 --> 00:38:58,950
the fabulous fishing , honored 

658
00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:01,127
to be back with the incredible men and 

659
00:39:01,127 --> 00:39:05,030
women of this team . We've got some 

660
00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:07,369
distinguished guests with us this 

661
00:39:07,369 --> 00:39:09,147
afternoon . As the chairman has 

662
00:39:09,147 --> 00:39:13,080
highlighted those distinguished 

663
00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:15,302
guests obviously include him , Chairman 

664
00:39:15,302 --> 00:39:18,430
Mark Milley and Senator Tommy 

665
00:39:18,430 --> 00:39:20,263
Tuberville of the great state of 

666
00:39:20,263 --> 00:39:23,760
Alabama . And by the way , senator , I 

667
00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:26,780
am an auburn graduate . Right . And I 

668
00:39:26,780 --> 00:39:27,950
do speak war eagle . 

669
00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:38,431
The chairman also highlighted that we 

670
00:39:38,431 --> 00:39:40,320
have some outstanding current and 

671
00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:43,260
former military leaders including 

672
00:39:43,270 --> 00:39:46,550
General joe Dunford and also a 

673
00:39:46,550 --> 00:39:48,606
tremendous delegation from the Joint 

674
00:39:48,606 --> 00:39:51,590
Chiefs . I also like to thank the 

675
00:39:51,590 --> 00:39:54,220
representatives from our partners in 

676
00:39:54,220 --> 00:39:56,331
the region who are here with us today 

677
00:39:57,620 --> 00:39:59,830
and I want to say a special welcome to 

678
00:39:59,830 --> 00:40:02,140
the families of general frank McKenzie 

679
00:40:02,970 --> 00:40:04,740
and General erich Corolla . 

680
00:40:07,810 --> 00:40:10,143
General frank McKenzie . Very well done , 

681
00:40:10,710 --> 00:40:13,290
very well done . Thanks for your 

682
00:40:13,290 --> 00:40:15,410
commitment , your professionalism , 

683
00:40:15,420 --> 00:40:18,860
your hard work . General erich 

684
00:40:18,860 --> 00:40:22,690
gorilla . Welcome aboard . You have big 

685
00:40:22,690 --> 00:40:24,857
shoes to fill . But as the chairman is 

686
00:40:24,857 --> 00:40:27,450
highlighted , you are supremely 

687
00:40:27,450 --> 00:40:29,728
talented and the right fit for the job . 

688
00:40:31,810 --> 00:40:33,921
And before I say more about centcom's 

689
00:40:33,921 --> 00:40:36,088
mission and the two leaders that we're 

690
00:40:36,088 --> 00:40:38,890
honoring today , I'd like to say just a 

691
00:40:38,890 --> 00:40:41,590
word about Ukraine , which I know is on 

692
00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,000
everyone's mind . The incredible 

693
00:40:45,000 --> 00:40:46,833
courage of the people of Ukraine 

694
00:40:46,833 --> 00:40:49,860
inspires us all and as the world 

695
00:40:49,860 --> 00:40:52,940
responds to Russia's aggression , 

696
00:40:53,710 --> 00:40:55,820
we're seeing again how much american 

697
00:40:55,820 --> 00:40:59,790
leadership matters . Putin's 

698
00:40:59,790 --> 00:41:01,901
invasion of his sovereign , sovereign 

699
00:41:01,901 --> 00:41:05,290
neighbor is unprovoked and 

700
00:41:05,290 --> 00:41:08,190
unjust . And the Ukrainians are 

701
00:41:08,190 --> 00:41:10,530
fighting bravely to defend their lives , 

702
00:41:11,310 --> 00:41:14,960
their democracy and their freedom . Now 

703
00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:17,182
we've rushed them security assistance . 

704
00:41:18,210 --> 00:41:22,130
We've rallied our NATO allies and we've 

705
00:41:22,130 --> 00:41:24,800
reinforced NATO's eastern flank with 

706
00:41:24,810 --> 00:41:27,910
more combat power to support our 

707
00:41:27,910 --> 00:41:30,710
deterrence and defense efforts . 

708
00:41:32,710 --> 00:41:34,960
You know , Russia's invasion isn't just 

709
00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,180
a moral threat to Ukraine , it's a 

710
00:41:38,180 --> 00:41:39,791
challenge to the rules based 

711
00:41:39,791 --> 00:41:43,250
international system . And the fact is 

712
00:41:43,250 --> 00:41:45,740
that we live in an interconnected world , 

713
00:41:46,810 --> 00:41:49,990
so aggression should be met by global 

714
00:41:49,990 --> 00:41:53,390
effort even as it launches 

715
00:41:54,410 --> 00:41:56,240
global repercussions , 

716
00:41:57,910 --> 00:42:00,010
centcom knows that 

717
00:42:01,900 --> 00:42:04,011
and you know that because you live it 

718
00:42:04,011 --> 00:42:07,370
every day because in our 

719
00:42:07,370 --> 00:42:10,420
interconnected world you are at the 

720
00:42:10,420 --> 00:42:14,030
intersection of it all . This 

721
00:42:14,030 --> 00:42:16,470
region is where we protect waterways so 

722
00:42:16,470 --> 00:42:19,110
that global commerce can flow . 

723
00:42:20,300 --> 00:42:22,300
It is where we fight terrorists who 

724
00:42:22,300 --> 00:42:25,610
threaten our citizens and it's where we 

725
00:42:25,610 --> 00:42:28,720
work with our partners to confront 

726
00:42:29,300 --> 00:42:32,660
instability from Iran and its proxies . 

727
00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:37,760
And so centcom is central to our 

728
00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:41,470
security . It is central to our 

729
00:42:41,470 --> 00:42:45,070
readiness and it is central to our 

730
00:42:45,070 --> 00:42:48,590
mission . And I know how demanding that 

731
00:42:48,590 --> 00:42:52,500
mission is . This command is where the 

732
00:42:52,500 --> 00:42:55,560
rubber meets the road over and over 

733
00:42:55,570 --> 00:42:59,310
again and you get the job done 

734
00:43:00,500 --> 00:43:04,490
over and over again every 

735
00:43:04,490 --> 00:43:06,490
day . You're on high alert fighting 

736
00:43:06,490 --> 00:43:08,810
terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda 

737
00:43:10,970 --> 00:43:14,160
as the chairman mentioned In late 2019 . 

738
00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:17,160
This command helped end the grip that 

739
00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:21,020
ISIS had on territory in Iraq in Syria 

740
00:43:22,500 --> 00:43:24,920
that same year , the leader of ISIS was 

741
00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:27,040
killed in a raid by U . S . Special 

742
00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:30,690
operations forces In this february . 

743
00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:33,400
Another raid resulted in the death of 

744
00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:37,070
his successor . But the threat remains . 

745
00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:40,711
The attempted prison break at Hasakah 

746
00:43:40,711 --> 00:43:44,660
earlier this year proved that you know , 

747
00:43:44,660 --> 00:43:48,290
sitcom cannot let its guard down . Not 

748
00:43:48,290 --> 00:43:52,070
for 1 2nd . Sitcoms . Mission 

749
00:43:52,070 --> 00:43:54,292
against Terrorism includes are over the 

750
00:43:54,292 --> 00:43:56,920
horizon efforts in Afghanistan with the 

751
00:43:56,920 --> 00:44:00,360
help of our partners . And every day 

752
00:44:00,420 --> 00:44:02,190
you confront the challenge of 

753
00:44:02,190 --> 00:44:04,410
aggression and bullying from Iran . 

754
00:44:06,290 --> 00:44:08,420
Iran has been expanding its nuclear 

755
00:44:08,420 --> 00:44:11,820
program and investing in military 

756
00:44:11,820 --> 00:44:13,940
capabilities , especially ballistic 

757
00:44:13,940 --> 00:44:17,550
missiles . It has cultivated dangerous 

758
00:44:17,550 --> 00:44:21,340
proxies and is using unmanned aerial 

759
00:44:21,340 --> 00:44:24,100
systems to threaten us and our partners 

760
00:44:25,150 --> 00:44:28,320
and I'll say it again centcom you have 

761
00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:31,850
a demanding mission but that's why we 

762
00:44:31,850 --> 00:44:33,960
have the best of the best in this 

763
00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:37,110
command to defend our country 

764
00:44:38,590 --> 00:44:42,050
and defend our partners and to defend 

765
00:44:42,060 --> 00:44:44,116
our interests in this vital region . 

766
00:44:46,090 --> 00:44:47,979
You know , the cornerstone of our 

767
00:44:47,979 --> 00:44:50,850
defense is still deterrence . But in 

768
00:44:50,850 --> 00:44:52,860
today's interwoven world lasting 

769
00:44:52,860 --> 00:44:55,970
deterrence demands more , more 

770
00:44:55,970 --> 00:44:59,730
innovation , more coordination and more 

771
00:44:59,730 --> 00:45:01,619
cooperation with our partners and 

772
00:45:01,619 --> 00:45:05,250
allies . It demands what I call 

773
00:45:05,540 --> 00:45:07,940
integrated deterrence and integrated 

774
00:45:07,940 --> 00:45:10,060
deterrence is at the heart of the 

775
00:45:10,060 --> 00:45:13,290
department's newly completed national 

776
00:45:13,290 --> 00:45:17,160
defense strategy . It means reinforcing 

777
00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:19,630
the war fighters of our superb combat 

778
00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:23,160
credible force and working seamlessly 

779
00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:26,400
across all domains from the seas to 

780
00:45:26,400 --> 00:45:29,930
cyberspace and standing strong across 

781
00:45:29,940 --> 00:45:32,970
all theaters and across the full 

782
00:45:32,970 --> 00:45:35,520
spectrum of conflict and working 

783
00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:37,242
together with our unparalleled 

784
00:45:37,242 --> 00:45:39,187
unparalleled network of allies and 

785
00:45:39,187 --> 00:45:42,100
partners to make clear to any potential 

786
00:45:42,100 --> 00:45:44,660
foe the costs and the folly of 

787
00:45:44,660 --> 00:45:47,680
aggression And working with our 

788
00:45:47,680 --> 00:45:51,290
partners is central two integrated 

789
00:45:51,290 --> 00:45:54,780
deterrence and it's at the core of 

790
00:45:54,780 --> 00:45:58,470
today's sitcom , you know , a few 

791
00:45:58,470 --> 00:46:02,070
months ago I was in bahrain where I saw 

792
00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:05,940
unmanned solar powered naval vessels 

793
00:46:05,940 --> 00:46:09,590
that used artificial intelligence to 

794
00:46:09,590 --> 00:46:11,257
build a shared picture of the 

795
00:46:11,257 --> 00:46:14,290
surrounding seas . Now that's the kind 

796
00:46:14,290 --> 00:46:16,401
of capability that we need to prepare 

797
00:46:16,401 --> 00:46:18,640
for the fights of the future and to 

798
00:46:18,640 --> 00:46:22,410
strengthen integrated deterrence U . S . 

799
00:46:22,410 --> 00:46:24,850
Forces and partner militaries in the 

800
00:46:24,850 --> 00:46:27,640
region . Trained together , we plan 

801
00:46:27,640 --> 00:46:30,200
together and we work together and 

802
00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:33,410
that's a mighty force multiplier and 

803
00:46:33,410 --> 00:46:36,190
just look at the blows that this 

804
00:46:36,190 --> 00:46:40,080
command has dealt to ISIS and with 

805
00:46:40,080 --> 00:46:42,247
our support , our partners in Iraq and 

806
00:46:42,247 --> 00:46:44,410
Syria have been getting better and 

807
00:46:44,410 --> 00:46:47,400
better at expelling remaining the 

808
00:46:47,400 --> 00:46:51,130
remaining holdouts of ISIS . And late 

809
00:46:51,130 --> 00:46:53,074
last year in coordination with the 

810
00:46:53,074 --> 00:46:55,241
government of Iraq , the United States 

811
00:46:55,241 --> 00:46:57,352
transitioned from a combat mission to 

812
00:46:57,352 --> 00:47:00,390
advise and assist mission and you did 

813
00:47:00,390 --> 00:47:03,240
it ahead ahead of schedule . And Daryl 

814
00:47:03,240 --> 00:47:06,960
McKenzie , that sir is no small feat 

815
00:47:06,970 --> 00:47:09,230
and obviously a credit to your 

816
00:47:09,230 --> 00:47:13,030
leadership and I know that you had a 

817
00:47:13,030 --> 00:47:15,970
great team helping you execute . And 

818
00:47:15,970 --> 00:47:19,570
one example of that great team is Staff 

819
00:47:19,570 --> 00:47:21,514
Sergeant Brent Groves who provided 

820
00:47:21,514 --> 00:47:23,910
critical analysis of U . A . V anti 

821
00:47:23,910 --> 00:47:27,210
jamming technology and throughout 

822
00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:31,000
you had MS carry gas mullen 

823
00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:34,710
and Colonel Wilbur delivering the 

824
00:47:34,710 --> 00:47:36,654
timely intelligence that your team 

825
00:47:36,654 --> 00:47:39,950
needed . Can I ask those teammates to 

826
00:47:39,950 --> 00:47:43,070
stand up for a second ? You hear ? 

827
00:47:43,090 --> 00:47:46,800
Where are you ? Okay ? 

828
00:47:47,820 --> 00:47:48,820
Thank you . 

829
00:47:58,680 --> 00:48:00,680
Now we'll keep helping our partners 

830
00:48:00,680 --> 00:48:02,791
increase their capacity . We're going 

831
00:48:02,791 --> 00:48:05,013
to build on longstanding investments in 

832
00:48:05,013 --> 00:48:06,847
training , professional military 

833
00:48:06,847 --> 00:48:08,902
education , intelligence sharing and 

834
00:48:08,902 --> 00:48:11,013
joint exercises . And when we need to 

835
00:48:11,013 --> 00:48:12,930
defend ourselves , we can flow in 

836
00:48:12,940 --> 00:48:16,140
overwhelming force and the whole world 

837
00:48:16,140 --> 00:48:18,260
saw what we could do last august in 

838
00:48:18,260 --> 00:48:21,490
Afghanistan . We called on sitcom to 

839
00:48:21,490 --> 00:48:24,790
complete an evacuation operation , one 

840
00:48:24,790 --> 00:48:26,790
that became the largest in american 

841
00:48:26,790 --> 00:48:30,550
history . And you worked day 

842
00:48:30,560 --> 00:48:32,990
and night to save the lives of more 

843
00:48:32,990 --> 00:48:36,280
than 124,000 people . 

844
00:48:38,070 --> 00:48:39,403
Let me say that again . 

845
00:48:39,970 --> 00:48:43,090
124,000 people . 

846
00:48:50,570 --> 00:48:54,320
Mhm And most incredibly you did 

847
00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:56,200
that in just 17 days . 

848
00:49:00,270 --> 00:49:03,140
I know that everyone here mourns the 13 

849
00:49:03,140 --> 00:49:06,030
service members who we lost in a 

850
00:49:06,030 --> 00:49:09,000
horrific suicide bombing outside the 

851
00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:12,780
Abbey Gate . They gave their lives so 

852
00:49:12,830 --> 00:49:15,870
people could live in freedom and the 

853
00:49:15,870 --> 00:49:18,420
department will always honor their 

854
00:49:18,420 --> 00:49:19,300
sacrifice . 

855
00:49:22,270 --> 00:49:25,050
Operation Allies . Refuge was a solemn 

856
00:49:25,060 --> 00:49:28,240
and dangerous mission and no other 

857
00:49:28,240 --> 00:49:30,462
military in the world could have pulled 

858
00:49:30,462 --> 00:49:33,960
it off . I'm also deeply proud of the 

859
00:49:33,960 --> 00:49:37,340
troops who supported Operation Allies 

860
00:49:37,340 --> 00:49:40,000
welcome , which wrapped up in february 

861
00:49:41,470 --> 00:49:43,526
along with our colleagues across the 

862
00:49:43,526 --> 00:49:45,748
federal government . They helped afghan 

863
00:49:45,748 --> 00:49:47,990
evacuees start new lives here in the 

864
00:49:47,990 --> 00:49:51,270
United States and through it all 

865
00:49:51,870 --> 00:49:54,290
our partners in the region were key . 

866
00:49:55,270 --> 00:49:57,492
They helped us to stand up intermediate 

867
00:49:57,492 --> 00:49:59,970
staging locations . They helped to 

868
00:49:59,970 --> 00:50:02,192
secure the safe passage of thousands of 

869
00:50:02,192 --> 00:50:05,390
people and they answered our call when 

870
00:50:05,390 --> 00:50:08,020
we needed them . We just could not have 

871
00:50:08,020 --> 00:50:11,870
done it without them and we 

872
00:50:11,870 --> 00:50:13,814
could not have done it without the 

873
00:50:13,814 --> 00:50:17,190
people who are here today . People like 

874
00:50:17,860 --> 00:50:21,280
Lieutenant Zachary Durkin from the 

875
00:50:21,280 --> 00:50:23,790
outset , he was with General Mackenzie 

876
00:50:23,790 --> 00:50:27,130
providing intel briefings that increase 

877
00:50:27,130 --> 00:50:30,610
the general's decision advantage . And 

878
00:50:30,610 --> 00:50:33,110
when evacuees at safe haven locations 

879
00:50:33,110 --> 00:50:36,750
like basic necessities , mr bob bob , 

880
00:50:36,750 --> 00:50:40,010
Helguson found creative ways to get 

881
00:50:40,010 --> 00:50:42,880
them what they needed . So zack and bob , 

882
00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:45,350
are you in the audience today ? Come on 

883
00:50:45,350 --> 00:50:47,406
stand up . There you go . Let's give 

884
00:50:47,406 --> 00:50:47,230
them a round of 

885
00:50:47,230 --> 00:50:53,190
a 

886
00:50:53,870 --> 00:50:57,690
mm hmm . Okay , 

887
00:50:59,960 --> 00:51:01,960
ladies and gentlemen will need even 

888
00:51:01,960 --> 00:51:04,182
more of your grit and your skill in the 

889
00:51:04,182 --> 00:51:06,360
years ahead . There's no quick way to 

890
00:51:06,360 --> 00:51:08,527
fix this region's security challenge . 

891
00:51:09,460 --> 00:51:12,790
Especially when it comes to Iraq . The 

892
00:51:12,790 --> 00:51:14,790
president has been clear the United 

893
00:51:14,790 --> 00:51:16,957
States is committed to preventing Iran 

894
00:51:16,957 --> 00:51:19,730
from gaining a nuclear weapon . And 

895
00:51:19,730 --> 00:51:21,841
we're still committed to a diplomatic 

896
00:51:21,841 --> 00:51:24,560
outcome on the nuclear issue . But 

897
00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:26,393
regardless of the outcome of the 

898
00:51:26,393 --> 00:51:28,616
nuclear talks will keep working closely 

899
00:51:28,616 --> 00:51:31,390
together on our with with our many 

900
00:51:31,390 --> 00:51:33,510
partners to confront the threats from 

901
00:51:33,510 --> 00:51:36,390
Iran and in the short term 

902
00:51:37,360 --> 00:51:39,810
will increase intelligence sharing and 

903
00:51:39,810 --> 00:51:42,710
bolster regional air defense and in the 

904
00:51:42,710 --> 00:51:45,210
longer term will work together to 

905
00:51:45,210 --> 00:51:48,370
tackle Iran's use of missiles and its 

906
00:51:48,370 --> 00:51:51,020
proliferation of unmanned aerial 

907
00:51:51,020 --> 00:51:53,570
systems . And we'll keep standing 

908
00:51:53,570 --> 00:51:55,681
strong with our partners to hold Iran 

909
00:51:55,681 --> 00:51:57,348
and its proxies accountable . 

910
00:51:59,660 --> 00:52:01,590
Our partnerships are especially 

911
00:52:01,590 --> 00:52:04,600
important because of china and Russia's 

912
00:52:04,600 --> 00:52:07,760
ambitions in the region . But I am 

913
00:52:07,760 --> 00:52:10,380
confident that sitcom will ensure that 

914
00:52:10,380 --> 00:52:12,491
the United States remains the partner 

915
00:52:12,491 --> 00:52:15,710
of choice and that means doubling down 

916
00:52:15,710 --> 00:52:19,060
on security cooperation . It means 

917
00:52:19,060 --> 00:52:21,640
folding our partners even deeper into 

918
00:52:21,640 --> 00:52:24,390
our training in our exercises 

919
00:52:25,650 --> 00:52:27,990
and it means continuing to be a 

920
00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:30,560
credible and dependable friends . 

921
00:52:32,040 --> 00:52:33,762
Now when it comes to deepening 

922
00:52:33,762 --> 00:52:35,762
partnerships and forging new ones . 

923
00:52:36,150 --> 00:52:38,428
Here again , sitcom is getting it done . 

924
00:52:39,850 --> 00:52:43,210
In recent years . Israel has formed new 

925
00:52:43,210 --> 00:52:45,760
bonds with bahrain and Morocco and the 

926
00:52:45,760 --> 00:52:49,070
U . A . It's still early days 

927
00:52:50,350 --> 00:52:52,461
but we've all seen the groundbreaking 

928
00:52:52,560 --> 00:52:55,610
negative summit Bringing leaders from 

929
00:52:55,620 --> 00:52:57,676
Israel Egypt , the United States and 

930
00:52:57,676 --> 00:53:00,370
those three New Arab partners together 

931
00:53:00,380 --> 00:53:04,130
on Israeli soil . And the summit 

932
00:53:04,140 --> 00:53:08,080
included important talks on how to 

933
00:53:08,080 --> 00:53:10,430
build sitcom , build on sitcoms , work 

934
00:53:10,430 --> 00:53:12,730
on integrated air and missile defenses . 

935
00:53:13,840 --> 00:53:16,320
Now . Israel has already participated 

936
00:53:16,320 --> 00:53:18,670
in exercise with partners in the region 

937
00:53:19,950 --> 00:53:22,050
and those exercises would have been 

938
00:53:22,060 --> 00:53:24,960
unimaginable , unthinkable . Just a few 

939
00:53:24,960 --> 00:53:27,780
years ago . And with General 

940
00:53:27,780 --> 00:53:31,600
Mackenzie's leadership , Israel has now 

941
00:53:31,610 --> 00:53:33,910
moved into sitcoms area of 

942
00:53:33,910 --> 00:53:37,670
responsibility . Of course 

943
00:53:38,850 --> 00:53:41,660
the general had some help and among 

944
00:53:41,670 --> 00:53:43,726
many great teammates . Colonel Donna 

945
00:53:43,726 --> 00:53:46,820
Turner has meticulously computed staff 

946
00:53:46,820 --> 00:53:48,987
hours to get the right people with the 

947
00:53:48,987 --> 00:53:51,098
right skills and the right numbers to 

948
00:53:51,098 --> 00:53:54,690
cover this new addition . And you also 

949
00:53:54,690 --> 00:53:56,690
have outstanding professionals like 

950
00:53:56,690 --> 00:54:00,450
Sergeant Joshua king . He's been laser 

951
00:54:00,450 --> 00:54:03,020
focused on establishing sitcom security 

952
00:54:03,030 --> 00:54:05,680
secure communications system with our 

953
00:54:05,690 --> 00:54:09,640
Israeli partners . So Donna and josh 

954
00:54:09,640 --> 00:54:12,530
are you in the audience today ? Here we 

955
00:54:12,530 --> 00:54:15,550
go . Stand up . Take about . Mm hmm hmm 

956
00:54:15,550 --> 00:54:17,570
hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm , mm hmm 

957
00:54:24,440 --> 00:54:26,496
centcom . In recent years you pulled 

958
00:54:26,496 --> 00:54:28,718
off three major transitions from moving 

959
00:54:28,718 --> 00:54:30,940
Israel into your area of responsibility 

960
00:54:30,940 --> 00:54:33,480
to the airlift , from Afghanistan to 

961
00:54:33,480 --> 00:54:35,758
the advise and assist missions in Iraq . 

962
00:54:36,910 --> 00:54:39,077
And the way that you got all that done 

963
00:54:39,077 --> 00:54:41,370
speaks volumes about your commander , 

964
00:54:41,370 --> 00:54:45,320
General frank McKenzie . You 

965
00:54:45,320 --> 00:54:47,487
know , frank , you said that belonging 

966
00:54:47,487 --> 00:54:49,598
to something bigger and more powerful 

967
00:54:49,598 --> 00:54:53,060
than yourself , it's life best reward , 

968
00:54:54,840 --> 00:54:58,000
you know , frank the people who rose 

969
00:54:58,000 --> 00:55:01,300
from their seats today along with the 

970
00:55:01,300 --> 00:55:03,200
thousands more who rise to the 

971
00:55:03,200 --> 00:55:05,760
challenge of sitcoms mission every day . 

972
00:55:07,040 --> 00:55:09,580
They stand as testaments to your 

973
00:55:09,580 --> 00:55:12,790
leadership and so general for more than 

974
00:55:12,790 --> 00:55:15,300
four decades you live by the words 

975
00:55:16,240 --> 00:55:17,480
semper Fidelis . 

976
00:55:19,840 --> 00:55:23,290
Always faithful to the troops under 

977
00:55:23,290 --> 00:55:27,290
your command on deployments . 

978
00:55:27,290 --> 00:55:30,540
You went out on patrols with them and 

979
00:55:30,540 --> 00:55:32,429
always faithful to your mission . 

980
00:55:32,429 --> 00:55:34,207
Whether it was leading a marine 

981
00:55:34,207 --> 00:55:35,929
expeditionary unit in Iraq and 

982
00:55:35,929 --> 00:55:38,700
Afghanistan or developing our 

983
00:55:38,700 --> 00:55:40,922
warfighting strategy on the joint staff 

984
00:55:42,140 --> 00:55:44,510
or strengthening regional partnerships 

985
00:55:44,510 --> 00:55:48,000
in this . A or and above 

986
00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:51,860
all , you've always been faithful 

987
00:55:52,840 --> 00:55:56,290
to the country that you love Semper 

988
00:55:56,290 --> 00:55:56,920
Fidelis 

989
00:56:00,490 --> 00:56:04,480
Marilyn , I know that you're very 

990
00:56:04,480 --> 00:56:08,160
proud of your son . KR 

991
00:56:10,230 --> 00:56:12,850
and I know that when he was in 

992
00:56:12,850 --> 00:56:16,540
Afghanistan times were incredibly tough . 

993
00:56:18,130 --> 00:56:21,040
So thank you for serving alongside them 

994
00:56:21,050 --> 00:56:24,500
with him and for all that you've done 

995
00:56:24,500 --> 00:56:28,390
for our military . Thank you 

996
00:56:28,390 --> 00:56:30,612
for all that you've done to support the 

997
00:56:30,612 --> 00:56:33,070
families and all that you've done to 

998
00:56:33,070 --> 00:56:36,780
create capability for those 

999
00:56:36,780 --> 00:56:38,960
families going forward 

1000
00:56:41,230 --> 00:56:43,850
and frank as you had into a a well 

1001
00:56:43,850 --> 00:56:47,820
deserved retirement . Please know 

1002
00:56:47,820 --> 00:56:50,090
that your tenure here at centcom has 

1003
00:56:50,090 --> 00:56:53,830
deepened security in this region and at 

1004
00:56:53,830 --> 00:56:57,570
home for many , many years to come and 

1005
00:56:57,570 --> 00:57:00,880
this team will continue to build on 

1006
00:57:00,880 --> 00:57:04,750
your legacy . So thank you 

1007
00:57:04,750 --> 00:57:06,583
for all that you've done to make 

1008
00:57:06,583 --> 00:57:07,583
America safer . 

1009
00:57:11,030 --> 00:57:13,230
You know , bleeding sitcoms , a tough 

1010
00:57:13,230 --> 00:57:17,230
mission . But General Carola , I know 

1011
00:57:17,230 --> 00:57:20,710
that you're ready . You've led units in 

1012
00:57:20,710 --> 00:57:23,690
combat and I saw you in the field far 

1013
00:57:23,690 --> 00:57:27,530
too many times you've taken on 

1014
00:57:27,530 --> 00:57:29,474
tough jobs in the joint staff as a 

1015
00:57:29,474 --> 00:57:31,920
centcom chief and as a sitcom Chief of 

1016
00:57:31,920 --> 00:57:35,280
staff And you've commanded the storied 

1017
00:57:35,430 --> 00:57:39,320
18th Airborne Corps . Sir , 

1018
00:57:39,320 --> 00:57:42,150
you are purpose built for this mission 

1019
00:57:44,130 --> 00:57:46,510
and of course eric wouldn't be here 

1020
00:57:46,510 --> 00:57:48,621
today without the love and support of 

1021
00:57:48,621 --> 00:57:51,740
his wife mary page and his daughters , 

1022
00:57:52,330 --> 00:57:55,340
Michelle and Sophie So mary page , 

1023
00:57:55,340 --> 00:57:57,507
thank you for the incredible volunteer 

1024
00:57:57,507 --> 00:57:59,490
work that you do for our military 

1025
00:57:59,490 --> 00:58:03,290
spouses and families now eric 

1026
00:58:03,290 --> 00:58:05,270
I'm I'm told that you give every 

1027
00:58:05,270 --> 00:58:07,500
officer of yours a copy of the book 

1028
00:58:07,500 --> 00:58:10,480
Gates of Fire which is a novel about 

1029
00:58:10,480 --> 00:58:13,610
the courage of the Spartans and I'd 

1030
00:58:13,610 --> 00:58:15,832
like to share one of the book's lessons 

1031
00:58:16,420 --> 00:58:19,920
on leadership . It says that a leader 

1032
00:58:19,920 --> 00:58:23,410
should take on the harshest burden a 

1033
00:58:23,410 --> 00:58:26,740
leader quote lifts first 

1034
00:58:27,620 --> 00:58:29,340
and sets down last , 

1035
00:58:31,420 --> 00:58:34,130
General gorilla today . You lift the 

1036
00:58:34,130 --> 00:58:37,010
colors of centcom and all the harsh 

1037
00:58:37,010 --> 00:58:40,140
challenges that they bring and I know 

1038
00:58:40,140 --> 00:58:43,130
that by the time you set them down you 

1039
00:58:43,130 --> 00:58:45,530
will have led centcom bravely forward . 

1040
00:58:47,220 --> 00:58:50,670
Congratulations . General gorilla . I 

1041
00:58:50,670 --> 00:58:53,200
look forward to your leadership of this 

1042
00:58:53,200 --> 00:58:54,200
great command 

1043
00:58:56,500 --> 00:59:00,340
sitcom . Your nation is 

1044
00:59:00,340 --> 00:59:03,530
still counting on you to stand with our 

1045
00:59:03,530 --> 00:59:06,690
partners to make a turbulent region 

1046
00:59:06,690 --> 00:59:09,870
more secure and to keep America and our 

1047
00:59:09,870 --> 00:59:13,520
people safe . You are selfless . 

1048
00:59:15,220 --> 00:59:18,890
You are fearless and you 

1049
00:59:18,890 --> 00:59:22,860
are relentless . I know what you 

1050
00:59:22,860 --> 00:59:26,330
do and I know what your families do 

1051
00:59:27,480 --> 00:59:31,320
and I know how hard it is and I 

1052
00:59:31,320 --> 00:59:33,750
am deeply , deeply grateful 

1053
00:59:35,590 --> 00:59:39,040
your president . It's deeply grateful 

1054
00:59:40,720 --> 00:59:44,040
and your country . It's deeply 

1055
00:59:44,050 --> 00:59:47,630
grateful and thank you again centcom 

1056
00:59:47,630 --> 00:59:50,940
for everything that you do . May God 

1057
00:59:50,940 --> 00:59:54,910
bless you and keep you safe and may God 

1058
00:59:54,910 --> 00:59:57,550
continue to bless the United States of 

1059
00:59:57,550 --> 00:59:59,530
America . Thank you . Mhm . 

1060
01:00:07,010 --> 01:00:08,010
Yeah , 

1061
01:00:14,610 --> 01:00:16,832
thank you . Mr Secretary and chairman , 

1062
01:00:16,832 --> 01:00:18,610
ladies and gentlemen , the 17th 

1063
01:00:18,610 --> 01:00:20,777
Commander of the United States Central 

1064
01:00:20,777 --> 01:00:22,943
Command . General Kenneth F . McKenzie 

1065
01:00:22,943 --> 01:00:25,440
Jr United States Marine Corps . 

1066
01:00:27,840 --> 01:00:30,230
Mm hmm mm hmm . Okay 

1067
01:00:32,910 --> 01:00:34,854
good afternoon everybody . And and 

1068
01:00:34,854 --> 01:00:37,260
before I begin I would just like to 

1069
01:00:37,270 --> 01:00:39,960
thank the uh the commandant zone and 

1070
01:00:39,960 --> 01:00:42,182
provided the music for today . I'd like 

1071
01:00:42,182 --> 01:00:44,404
to thank all of the , all of the people 

1072
01:00:44,404 --> 01:00:46,627
here at centcom who worked very hard to 

1073
01:00:46,627 --> 01:00:48,682
get this ceremony off the ground . A 

1074
01:00:48,682 --> 01:00:50,738
lot of work went in here many of the 

1075
01:00:50,738 --> 01:00:50,630
people are in this room , many of the 

1076
01:00:50,630 --> 01:00:52,852
people are still in other places around 

1077
01:00:52,852 --> 01:00:55,019
the building carrying on activities to 

1078
01:00:55,019 --> 01:00:57,130
make sure that we are safe and secure 

1079
01:00:57,130 --> 01:00:59,019
here . We can command from here . 

1080
01:00:59,019 --> 01:01:01,241
Should it become necessary to do so all 

1081
01:01:01,241 --> 01:01:00,920
of those things . I just want to make 

1082
01:01:00,920 --> 01:01:02,900
sure I thank those people before I 

1083
01:01:02,910 --> 01:01:04,370
begin my remarks 

1084
01:01:14,610 --> 01:01:17,190
About 44,000 people in us central 

1085
01:01:17,190 --> 01:01:19,980
command and uh goes up and down day to 

1086
01:01:19,980 --> 01:01:23,310
day About 6000 more or less who live in 

1087
01:01:23,310 --> 01:01:26,070
the who live in the Tampa area . And so 

1088
01:01:26,070 --> 01:01:28,410
a lot of people is a large organization , 

1089
01:01:28,420 --> 01:01:30,560
a large organization that does a that 

1090
01:01:30,560 --> 01:01:32,930
has a large has a very large job to do 

1091
01:01:32,940 --> 01:01:34,884
as it's been described by both the 

1092
01:01:34,884 --> 01:01:37,200
secretary and the and the chairman and 

1093
01:01:37,200 --> 01:01:40,150
they're in their remarks . I'd like to 

1094
01:01:40,160 --> 01:01:42,160
recognize some of the people in the 

1095
01:01:42,160 --> 01:01:44,271
room here but I'm not gonna go down a 

1096
01:01:44,271 --> 01:01:46,493
list of people but I would like to just 

1097
01:01:46,493 --> 01:01:48,716
call out , I would like to first of all 

1098
01:01:48,716 --> 01:01:48,590
recognize the Secretary and the 

1099
01:01:48,590 --> 01:01:50,590
Chairman for your kind and generous 

1100
01:01:50,590 --> 01:01:53,830
remarks very much at home and there 

1101
01:01:55,610 --> 01:01:57,960
so so on that Senator trouble I would 

1102
01:01:57,960 --> 01:02:00,182
recommend that you remember that remark 

1103
01:02:00,182 --> 01:02:03,020
on Tuesday in the sask and and also who 

1104
01:02:03,020 --> 01:02:06,290
said war Eagle . Just just saying 

1105
01:02:06,900 --> 01:02:10,430
I will be watching actually . 

1106
01:02:11,550 --> 01:02:14,890
Yeah but the leadership of this 

1107
01:02:14,890 --> 01:02:16,946
secretary and this chairman has been 

1108
01:02:16,946 --> 01:02:19,168
remarkable during my time in command of 

1109
01:02:19,168 --> 01:02:21,223
U . S . Central command particularly 

1110
01:02:21,223 --> 01:02:23,279
Secretary Austin's deep knowledge of 

1111
01:02:23,279 --> 01:02:25,446
the theater has been very helpful as a 

1112
01:02:25,446 --> 01:02:27,334
as a former centcom commander and 

1113
01:02:27,334 --> 01:02:29,279
General Milley as I made it talked 

1114
01:02:29,279 --> 01:02:31,501
about in remarks earlier today , I just 

1115
01:02:31,501 --> 01:02:33,723
could not have been could not have been 

1116
01:02:33,723 --> 01:02:33,400
a better friend to us Central Command 

1117
01:02:33,400 --> 01:02:35,567
as we go through it . I'd also like to 

1118
01:02:35,567 --> 01:02:38,390
take a minute to pilon about the Gold 

1119
01:02:38,390 --> 01:02:40,660
Star families . We are honored to have 

1120
01:02:40,660 --> 01:02:42,700
you here with us with your presence 

1121
01:02:42,700 --> 01:02:44,756
here and the presence of the wounded 

1122
01:02:44,756 --> 01:02:46,867
warriors who are here to remind us of 

1123
01:02:46,867 --> 01:02:49,089
the cost of this business , the cost of 

1124
01:02:49,089 --> 01:02:51,256
the profession that we have chosen and 

1125
01:02:51,256 --> 01:02:53,089
what it costs actually to defend 

1126
01:02:53,089 --> 01:02:55,256
America that is not a cheap cost . And 

1127
01:02:55,256 --> 01:02:57,478
you are a visual memory of of that , of 

1128
01:02:57,478 --> 01:02:59,478
the depth of that cost . And I just 

1129
01:02:59,478 --> 01:03:01,589
want to make sure I talk about that a 

1130
01:03:01,589 --> 01:03:03,700
little bit . I'm also honored to have 

1131
01:03:03,700 --> 01:03:06,070
the Joint Chiefs here today and a long 

1132
01:03:06,070 --> 01:03:08,237
way from D . C . A lot of things going 

1133
01:03:08,237 --> 01:03:10,237
on . But I'm honored that that they 

1134
01:03:10,237 --> 01:03:12,403
were able to get down here and join us 

1135
01:03:12,403 --> 01:03:14,626
today . As I said this morning and I do 

1136
01:03:14,626 --> 01:03:16,681
want to mention again very briefly , 

1137
01:03:17,200 --> 01:03:19,144
there's a I look at the world as a 

1138
01:03:19,144 --> 01:03:21,311
combatant commander which means I look 

1139
01:03:21,311 --> 01:03:23,533
at the world I need to be able to fight 

1140
01:03:23,533 --> 01:03:25,589
tonight . I need to be able to fight 

1141
01:03:25,589 --> 01:03:25,000
tomorrow . I need to be able to fight 

1142
01:03:25,000 --> 01:03:27,540
next week . So I'm a consumer of forces 

1143
01:03:27,550 --> 01:03:29,606
and my view of the world is pretty , 

1144
01:03:29,606 --> 01:03:31,772
pretty straight straight forward . The 

1145
01:03:31,772 --> 01:03:33,550
chiefs actually have a far more 

1146
01:03:33,550 --> 01:03:35,772
difficult view . They have to build the 

1147
01:03:35,772 --> 01:03:37,994
force that that we employ in the in the 

1148
01:03:37,994 --> 01:03:39,939
combatant commands where there's a 

1149
01:03:39,939 --> 01:03:42,161
geographic or or a functional combatant 

1150
01:03:42,161 --> 01:03:41,820
command . They have to build that force . 

1151
01:03:41,820 --> 01:03:43,876
They have to train it . They have to 

1152
01:03:43,876 --> 01:03:46,042
equip it , have to recruit it and then 

1153
01:03:46,042 --> 01:03:47,931
they have to also think about the 

1154
01:03:47,931 --> 01:03:50,153
future And working with the secretary . 

1155
01:03:50,153 --> 01:03:52,320
Where do we want to be ? 10 years from 

1156
01:03:52,320 --> 01:03:54,487
now ? What is the great threat against 

1157
01:03:54,487 --> 01:03:56,709
the United States ? How do we configure 

1158
01:03:56,709 --> 01:03:56,680
that force ? So it's natural that there 

1159
01:03:56,680 --> 01:03:58,624
would be tension between combatant 

1160
01:03:58,624 --> 01:04:00,847
commanders and the service chiefs . But 

1161
01:04:00,847 --> 01:04:02,791
I will say the chiefs in this room 

1162
01:04:02,791 --> 01:04:04,958
today have handled that responsibility 

1163
01:04:04,958 --> 01:04:06,958
with enormous grace and character . 

1164
01:04:06,958 --> 01:04:06,860
They have worked very hard to give 

1165
01:04:06,860 --> 01:04:08,804
central command what it needs . We 

1166
01:04:08,804 --> 01:04:10,749
don't always get what we want . No 

1167
01:04:10,749 --> 01:04:12,971
commander ever gets what he wants , but 

1168
01:04:12,971 --> 01:04:15,193
it's not because they and the secretary 

1169
01:04:15,193 --> 01:04:17,304
haven't been over backwards uh to try 

1170
01:04:17,304 --> 01:04:19,249
to get what we need to perform our 

1171
01:04:19,249 --> 01:04:21,360
duties on a daily basis . So I'd just 

1172
01:04:21,360 --> 01:04:23,360
like to thank thank thank thank the 

1173
01:04:23,360 --> 01:04:25,304
Chiefs for that . I'd also like to 

1174
01:04:25,304 --> 01:04:27,260
recognize all of the international 

1175
01:04:27,260 --> 01:04:29,427
partners who are in the room today and 

1176
01:04:29,427 --> 01:04:31,593
I'll talk a little bit more about that 

1177
01:04:31,593 --> 01:04:33,704
in a minute . But in particular , I'd 

1178
01:04:33,704 --> 01:04:33,260
like to recognize the Chiefs of Defense 

1179
01:04:33,260 --> 01:04:34,982
of Qatar and the hashtag royal 

1180
01:04:34,982 --> 01:04:37,038
Hashemite kingdom of Jordan who have 

1181
01:04:37,038 --> 01:04:39,204
traveled here to be physically with us 

1182
01:04:39,204 --> 01:04:40,816
today . There are many other 

1183
01:04:40,816 --> 01:04:42,927
representatives of all the nations in 

1184
01:04:42,927 --> 01:04:45,090
centcom as well as the many nations 

1185
01:04:45,090 --> 01:04:46,979
that are in our various coalition 

1186
01:04:46,979 --> 01:04:49,034
frameworks there , there chief joint 

1187
01:04:49,034 --> 01:04:51,070
officers or their senior national 

1188
01:04:51,070 --> 01:04:53,110
representatives or in many cases 

1189
01:04:53,110 --> 01:04:55,277
they're attaches from up in Washington 

1190
01:04:55,277 --> 01:04:57,499
have all come down and that's important 

1191
01:04:57,499 --> 01:04:59,443
because as I mentioned in a minute 

1192
01:04:59,443 --> 01:05:02,600
sitcom actually depends depends on our 

1193
01:05:02,600 --> 01:05:04,489
international partners to a great 

1194
01:05:04,489 --> 01:05:07,390
degree and that and that degree of 

1195
01:05:07,390 --> 01:05:10,230
cooperation coordination is only going 

1196
01:05:10,230 --> 01:05:12,397
to grow in the in the weeks months and 

1197
01:05:12,397 --> 01:05:14,508
years ahead . And I know that eric is 

1198
01:05:14,508 --> 01:05:16,674
going to be well poised to actually uh 

1199
01:05:16,674 --> 01:05:18,897
to do that as we go forward . And again 

1200
01:05:18,897 --> 01:05:20,730
I just like to recognize Senator 

1201
01:05:20,730 --> 01:05:22,730
Tuberville is good to have you here 

1202
01:05:22,730 --> 01:05:22,090
with us today from the great state of 

1203
01:05:22,090 --> 01:05:24,580
Alabama and uh I won't say war eagle 

1204
01:05:24,580 --> 01:05:26,691
again , I think it's been said enough 

1205
01:05:26,691 --> 01:05:28,913
but we're honored to have you here with 

1206
01:05:28,913 --> 01:05:31,136
us this morning and today it's a lot of 

1207
01:05:31,136 --> 01:05:33,358
your time down here in Tampa . But um I 

1208
01:05:33,358 --> 01:05:35,524
really my family and all of sitcom . I 

1209
01:05:35,524 --> 01:05:35,430
really appreciate you being down here 

1210
01:05:35,430 --> 01:05:37,597
sir . So thanks thanks for coming . So 

1211
01:05:37,597 --> 01:05:39,652
there are many here in this audience 

1212
01:05:39,652 --> 01:05:41,486
that I can recognize my name but 

1213
01:05:41,486 --> 01:05:43,486
there's really not anybody out here 

1214
01:05:43,486 --> 01:05:45,708
who's not a V . I . P . In some way and 

1215
01:05:45,708 --> 01:05:47,930
many of you have been very important to 

1216
01:05:47,930 --> 01:05:50,097
Maryland . I and this command over the 

1217
01:05:50,097 --> 01:05:52,097
last three years and much longer in 

1218
01:05:52,097 --> 01:05:54,152
many cases . And we're very grateful 

1219
01:05:54,152 --> 01:05:56,374
that you're able to share this day here 

1220
01:05:56,374 --> 01:05:58,263
with us today . You know , so the 

1221
01:05:58,263 --> 01:06:00,319
accomplishments the chairman and the 

1222
01:06:00,319 --> 01:06:02,374
secretary of have talked about don't 

1223
01:06:02,374 --> 01:06:04,374
belong to me or to any one person . 

1224
01:06:04,480 --> 01:06:06,313
They wouldn't have been possible 

1225
01:06:06,313 --> 01:06:07,980
without the contributions and 

1226
01:06:07,980 --> 01:06:10,147
assistance of many people in this room 

1227
01:06:10,147 --> 01:06:12,258
and many people who could not be here 

1228
01:06:12,258 --> 01:06:14,369
today . Many people who are right now 

1229
01:06:14,369 --> 01:06:16,647
either flying an airplane in the A . O . 

1230
01:06:16,647 --> 01:06:18,980
R . In a fighting position in the A . R . 

1231
01:06:18,980 --> 01:06:21,147
Manning A ship in the AO are doing all 

1232
01:06:21,147 --> 01:06:20,920
those things that are young men and 

1233
01:06:20,920 --> 01:06:23,120
women do forward to protect the United 

1234
01:06:23,120 --> 01:06:25,520
States . As I look out over the crowd 

1235
01:06:25,520 --> 01:06:27,730
in front of me , I can't even begin to 

1236
01:06:27,740 --> 01:06:29,970
calculate the collective experience 

1237
01:06:30,100 --> 01:06:32,322
both in the headquarters and in the A . 

1238
01:06:32,322 --> 01:06:34,322
O . R . That's assembled here . But 

1239
01:06:34,322 --> 01:06:36,100
when I see in the audience some 

1240
01:06:36,100 --> 01:06:37,933
familiar well worn faces who can 

1241
01:06:37,933 --> 01:06:40,044
account for decades by themselves . I 

1242
01:06:40,044 --> 01:06:42,267
can't help but think that we're talking 

1243
01:06:42,267 --> 01:06:44,322
about many centuries of experience , 

1244
01:06:44,322 --> 01:06:46,322
particularly in the centcom kor but 

1245
01:06:46,322 --> 01:06:48,489
also broader than that . Suffice it to 

1246
01:06:48,489 --> 01:06:50,100
say this . Everyone here has 

1247
01:06:50,100 --> 01:06:51,822
contributed either directly or 

1248
01:06:51,822 --> 01:06:53,767
indirectly to the sitcom's story . 

1249
01:06:54,280 --> 01:06:56,391
Whether you're the author of a recent 

1250
01:06:56,391 --> 01:06:58,790
line or two or you have entire early 

1251
01:06:58,790 --> 01:07:00,720
volumes to yourself . Your 

1252
01:07:00,720 --> 01:07:02,887
contributions have been very important 

1253
01:07:02,887 --> 01:07:04,942
As most of you know , the history of 

1254
01:07:04,942 --> 01:07:07,200
centcom stretches back 40 years and in 

1255
01:07:07,200 --> 01:07:09,530
that time , 17 officers now including 

1256
01:07:09,530 --> 01:07:11,610
me have had the opportunity and the 

1257
01:07:11,620 --> 01:07:13,842
privilege of serving as its commander . 

1258
01:07:14,380 --> 01:07:16,602
These past commanders represent a who's 

1259
01:07:16,602 --> 01:07:19,160
who in recent american military history . 

1260
01:07:19,170 --> 01:07:21,003
It includes household names like 

1261
01:07:21,003 --> 01:07:23,460
Schwartz , cough , Mattis , Abizaid , 

1262
01:07:23,470 --> 01:07:26,230
Dempsey and Austin and general votel , 

1263
01:07:26,240 --> 01:07:28,630
joe votel I know who's out here today . 

1264
01:07:28,640 --> 01:07:30,990
I'm humbled to have my name added to 

1265
01:07:30,990 --> 01:07:33,046
that list . But there are some great 

1266
01:07:33,046 --> 01:07:35,046
leaders in the in the first half of 

1267
01:07:35,046 --> 01:07:37,379
that list before you get to me . Anyway , 

1268
01:07:37,379 --> 01:07:39,601
so commanding sitcom has been without a 

1269
01:07:39,601 --> 01:07:41,712
doubt the greatest honor of my career 

1270
01:07:42,180 --> 01:07:44,170
as I got to the end of my previous 

1271
01:07:44,170 --> 01:07:46,392
assignment as the director of the joint 

1272
01:07:46,392 --> 01:07:48,448
staff . This was the job I hoped I'd 

1273
01:07:48,448 --> 01:07:50,614
have an opportunity to compete for and 

1274
01:07:50,614 --> 01:07:52,726
and and and be named too . And it and 

1275
01:07:52,726 --> 01:07:54,837
it certainly worked out that way . So 

1276
01:07:54,837 --> 01:07:56,781
I've recently described centcom to 

1277
01:07:56,781 --> 01:07:58,448
congress and testimony as the 

1278
01:07:58,448 --> 01:08:00,781
quintessential economy of force theater . 

1279
01:08:00,781 --> 01:08:02,948
And I stand by that characterization . 

1280
01:08:02,948 --> 01:08:04,670
We are a geographic combat , a 

1281
01:08:04,670 --> 01:08:06,680
geographical combat command almost 

1282
01:08:06,680 --> 01:08:08,958
entirely dependent on allocated forces . 

1283
01:08:08,958 --> 01:08:11,180
We don't own forces in centcom . We get 

1284
01:08:11,180 --> 01:08:13,347
them , they come to us for a period of 

1285
01:08:13,347 --> 01:08:15,513
time and go home or their past that we 

1286
01:08:15,513 --> 01:08:17,680
use them as they pass through on their 

1287
01:08:17,680 --> 01:08:19,847
way to or from Endo pay com or Yukon . 

1288
01:08:19,847 --> 01:08:19,630
And that's that's the unique thing 

1289
01:08:19,630 --> 01:08:23,470
about about central command over my 

1290
01:08:23,470 --> 01:08:25,470
time in command . Central command , 

1291
01:08:25,470 --> 01:08:27,526
we've been successful in getting the 

1292
01:08:27,526 --> 01:08:29,748
forces that we've needed to execute the 

1293
01:08:29,748 --> 01:08:31,803
task that we've had . And for that I 

1294
01:08:31,803 --> 01:08:33,803
need to thank the joint staff and I 

1295
01:08:33,803 --> 01:08:33,120
need to thank the two gentlemen who 

1296
01:08:33,120 --> 01:08:35,009
preceded me on the platform , the 

1297
01:08:35,009 --> 01:08:37,064
Secretary and the chairman . Both of 

1298
01:08:37,064 --> 01:08:39,120
those , both of those gentlemen have 

1299
01:08:39,120 --> 01:08:41,231
always understood the requirements of 

1300
01:08:41,231 --> 01:08:43,342
Central Command . They understand the 

1301
01:08:43,342 --> 01:08:45,231
mission and when they can they'll 

1302
01:08:45,231 --> 01:08:47,176
they'll provide the forces never , 

1303
01:08:47,176 --> 01:08:49,287
never , always what you want . But we 

1304
01:08:49,287 --> 01:08:51,176
have to think of the problem as a 

1305
01:08:51,176 --> 01:08:53,342
global problem . We no longer have the 

1306
01:08:53,342 --> 01:08:55,342
luxury of considering problems in a 

1307
01:08:55,342 --> 01:08:57,287
stovepipe or in a regional focus , 

1308
01:08:57,287 --> 01:08:59,398
particularly the secretary must think 

1309
01:08:59,398 --> 01:09:01,453
about the entire globe when he talks 

1310
01:09:01,453 --> 01:09:03,676
about forces . When you put an aircraft 

1311
01:09:03,676 --> 01:09:05,787
carrier in centcom , there's probably 

1312
01:09:05,787 --> 01:09:07,842
two other places . It needs to be in 

1313
01:09:07,842 --> 01:09:10,064
good places where it needs to be so you 

1314
01:09:10,064 --> 01:09:12,120
can't make those decisions based off 

1315
01:09:12,120 --> 01:09:14,176
just one combatant commanders need . 

1316
01:09:14,176 --> 01:09:14,110
And Secretary Austin has been a master 

1317
01:09:14,110 --> 01:09:16,054
of making those decisions over the 

1318
01:09:16,054 --> 01:09:18,166
period of time , I've been associated 

1319
01:09:18,166 --> 01:09:20,388
him with with with him as the Secretary 

1320
01:09:20,388 --> 01:09:22,610
and with and with Mark Milley as the as 

1321
01:09:22,610 --> 01:09:24,554
the chairman . So despite being an 

1322
01:09:24,554 --> 01:09:26,721
economy of force theater , centcom has 

1323
01:09:26,721 --> 01:09:28,832
been for the past 21 years , the only 

1324
01:09:28,832 --> 01:09:31,054
combatant command that's really been in 

1325
01:09:31,054 --> 01:09:32,888
close and during combat with our 

1326
01:09:32,888 --> 01:09:34,832
nation's enemies . Put simply it's 

1327
01:09:34,832 --> 01:09:36,832
where the fight has been , which is 

1328
01:09:36,832 --> 01:09:39,054
where every combat arms commander wants 

1329
01:09:39,054 --> 01:09:40,943
to be since since its inception , 

1330
01:09:40,943 --> 01:09:43,490
nearly 6000 brave americans lost their 

1331
01:09:43,490 --> 01:09:45,657
lives while serving in the centcom kor 

1332
01:09:45,657 --> 01:09:47,712
and many more thousands of young men 

1333
01:09:47,712 --> 01:09:49,823
and women have been injured in combat 

1334
01:09:49,823 --> 01:09:51,890
while serving in the A . R the vast 

1335
01:09:51,890 --> 01:09:53,890
majority of these made the ultimate 

1336
01:09:53,890 --> 01:09:55,890
sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan . 

1337
01:09:57,180 --> 01:09:59,620
Since I assumed command last in March 

1338
01:09:59,620 --> 01:10:02,780
of 2019 . Centcom has suffered 43 

1339
01:10:02,780 --> 01:10:05,630
killed And 468 wounded in action . 

1340
01:10:06,260 --> 01:10:08,316
Every one of these lives altered . A 

1341
01:10:08,316 --> 01:10:10,538
lost in the line of duty has profoundly 

1342
01:10:10,538 --> 01:10:12,930
affected me . And how could they not ? 

1343
01:10:13,000 --> 01:10:14,944
Again ? There's a very steep price 

1344
01:10:14,944 --> 01:10:17,000
associated with the task that we set 

1345
01:10:17,000 --> 01:10:19,111
before ourselves here when you served 

1346
01:10:19,111 --> 01:10:21,222
as long as those of us up here in the 

1347
01:10:21,222 --> 01:10:23,278
platform has sometimes it's easy for 

1348
01:10:23,278 --> 01:10:25,500
others to assume that we've always been 

1349
01:10:25,500 --> 01:10:27,700
generals and that the rows of ribbons 

1350
01:10:27,710 --> 01:10:29,740
that we're wearing signify so much 

1351
01:10:29,750 --> 01:10:31,790
insulation from the dangerous and 

1352
01:10:31,790 --> 01:10:34,100
sometimes desperate reality of the 

1353
01:10:34,100 --> 01:10:36,322
business that we're in . It couldn't be 

1354
01:10:36,322 --> 01:10:38,489
further from the truth . For those who 

1355
01:10:38,489 --> 01:10:40,600
know how to read them . These ribbons 

1356
01:10:40,600 --> 01:10:42,950
tell stories about where we've been , 

1357
01:10:42,960 --> 01:10:45,127
what we've born over the course of our 

1358
01:10:45,127 --> 01:10:46,960
professional lives , profoundly 

1359
01:10:46,960 --> 01:10:50,130
meaningful to those who have bled and 

1360
01:10:50,130 --> 01:10:53,790
she and sweat on the same soil or ships . 

1361
01:10:53,930 --> 01:10:55,597
The ribbons also carry deeper 

1362
01:10:55,597 --> 01:10:57,708
connotations that only the individual 

1363
01:10:57,708 --> 01:11:00,670
wearing them can fully comprehend . But 

1364
01:11:00,670 --> 01:11:02,990
not one of these decorations represents 

1365
01:11:03,180 --> 01:11:05,069
something accomplished or endured 

1366
01:11:05,069 --> 01:11:07,510
entirely by an individual . Indeed , 

1367
01:11:07,520 --> 01:11:09,464
it's ironic that sometimes we talk 

1368
01:11:09,464 --> 01:11:11,353
about individual awards . There's 

1369
01:11:11,353 --> 01:11:13,670
really no such thing read as a personal 

1370
01:11:13,670 --> 01:11:16,003
history . They tell the story of others , 

1371
01:11:16,460 --> 01:11:19,810
of steadfast compatriots of inspired 

1372
01:11:19,810 --> 01:11:22,560
leaders of determined foes and above 

1373
01:11:22,560 --> 01:11:25,490
all of those brothers and sisters in 

1374
01:11:25,500 --> 01:11:27,840
arms who have given what Lincoln called 

1375
01:11:27,850 --> 01:11:30,080
the last full measure of devotion . 

1376
01:11:30,660 --> 01:11:32,716
Beneath these decorations up on this 

1377
01:11:32,716 --> 01:11:34,604
stage , our hearts that have been 

1378
01:11:34,604 --> 01:11:37,290
bruised by everyone of these sacrifices . 

1379
01:11:37,660 --> 01:11:40,270
But it also pulses with pride for their 

1380
01:11:40,270 --> 01:11:42,214
legacies of selfless service , for 

1381
01:11:42,214 --> 01:11:44,326
those who have gone before us and the 

1382
01:11:44,326 --> 01:11:46,381
enduring contributions of those that 

1383
01:11:46,381 --> 01:11:48,548
are in this room and in other places , 

1384
01:11:48,548 --> 01:11:50,548
who made all the contributions that 

1385
01:11:50,548 --> 01:11:52,881
have been made to our national security , 

1386
01:11:52,881 --> 01:11:55,048
their families and every single person 

1387
01:11:55,048 --> 01:11:57,103
who has served and sacrificed in the 

1388
01:11:57,103 --> 01:11:59,214
centcom kor deserve credit for all of 

1389
01:11:59,214 --> 01:12:01,270
the commands , accomplishments going 

1390
01:12:01,270 --> 01:12:03,492
back to its establishment and certainly 

1391
01:12:03,492 --> 01:12:05,659
over the past three years , time won't 

1392
01:12:05,659 --> 01:12:07,659
permit me to recount for all of you 

1393
01:12:07,659 --> 01:12:09,770
what we've endured together . But I'm 

1394
01:12:09,770 --> 01:12:09,370
gonna talk a little bit just about the 

1395
01:12:09,370 --> 01:12:12,140
last three years . We have maintained a 

1396
01:12:12,140 --> 01:12:15,020
relentless pressure on ISIS depriving 

1397
01:12:15,020 --> 01:12:17,131
it of any truly safe haven in Iraq or 

1398
01:12:17,131 --> 01:12:19,030
Syria and we have compelled it to 

1399
01:12:19,030 --> 01:12:21,880
prioritize its own survival over all 

1400
01:12:21,880 --> 01:12:23,991
other concerns . And let me say right 

1401
01:12:23,991 --> 01:12:26,047
there , the officer who has done the 

1402
01:12:26,047 --> 01:12:28,269
majority of that work was joe votel and 

1403
01:12:28,269 --> 01:12:30,230
before him General Austin Now , 

1404
01:12:30,230 --> 01:12:32,390
Secretary Austin , they set the stage 

1405
01:12:32,390 --> 01:12:34,612
for the success that we have now had in 

1406
01:12:34,612 --> 01:12:36,723
Iraq and particularly particularly in 

1407
01:12:36,723 --> 01:12:38,946
Iraq , but also in Syria against ISIS . 

1408
01:12:39,050 --> 01:12:41,217
There's nothing now that ISIS can take 

1409
01:12:41,217 --> 01:12:43,439
for granted . As two successive leaders 

1410
01:12:43,439 --> 01:12:45,550
of that organization might be able to 

1411
01:12:45,550 --> 01:12:47,717
attest or are they alive , but they're 

1412
01:12:47,717 --> 01:12:49,772
not alive because there , because we 

1413
01:12:49,772 --> 01:12:51,530
took them out pursuant to the 

1414
01:12:51,530 --> 01:12:53,697
President's direction , we completed a 

1415
01:12:53,697 --> 01:12:55,530
swift and safe withdrawal of all 

1416
01:12:55,530 --> 01:12:57,530
american forces from Afghanistan in 

1417
01:12:57,530 --> 01:12:59,697
close coordination with our allies and 

1418
01:12:59,697 --> 01:13:01,752
partners . Subsequently , we rapidly 

1419
01:13:01,752 --> 01:13:03,919
flowed forces back into the theatre to 

1420
01:13:03,919 --> 01:13:05,530
conduct the largest airborne 

1421
01:13:05,530 --> 01:13:07,586
noncombatant evacuation operation in 

1422
01:13:07,586 --> 01:13:09,586
history as it has already been well 

1423
01:13:09,586 --> 01:13:11,586
discussed bringing out over 124,000 

1424
01:13:11,586 --> 01:13:13,863
people to the promise of a better life . 

1425
01:13:13,863 --> 01:13:16,030
General Carrillo's 18th Airborne Court 

1426
01:13:16,030 --> 01:13:18,280
played a major indeed decisive role in 

1427
01:13:18,280 --> 01:13:20,224
this and might have played an even 

1428
01:13:20,224 --> 01:13:22,502
bigger role had circumstances dictated . 

1429
01:13:22,950 --> 01:13:24,839
We should all be thankful that we 

1430
01:13:24,839 --> 01:13:27,006
didn't need to use them for that . But 

1431
01:13:27,006 --> 01:13:29,061
I can tell you eric that what little 

1432
01:13:29,061 --> 01:13:31,228
sleep I got in august was sounded with 

1433
01:13:31,228 --> 01:13:32,894
the knowledge that you had my 

1434
01:13:32,894 --> 01:13:34,894
operational reserve and it would be 

1435
01:13:34,894 --> 01:13:36,950
there if it were needed . It's worth 

1436
01:13:36,950 --> 01:13:39,172
remembering that we went to Afghanistan 

1437
01:13:39,172 --> 01:13:41,339
to prevent another terrorist attack on 

1438
01:13:41,339 --> 01:13:43,450
our homeland and we have done so That 

1439
01:13:43,450 --> 01:13:45,561
there has not been another 911 in the 

1440
01:13:45,561 --> 01:13:47,728
21 years since it's no accident . It's 

1441
01:13:47,728 --> 01:13:49,728
a testament to the perseverance and 

1442
01:13:49,728 --> 01:13:51,561
devotion of the men and women of 

1443
01:13:51,561 --> 01:13:53,728
centcom as well as to the perseverance 

1444
01:13:53,728 --> 01:13:55,950
and devotion of our allies and partners 

1445
01:13:55,950 --> 01:13:55,890
that have served with us in that 

1446
01:13:55,890 --> 01:13:58,420
country . On that note , let me take 

1447
01:13:58,420 --> 01:14:00,420
this opportunity to acknowledge and 

1448
01:14:00,420 --> 01:14:02,364
thank those allies and partners on 

1449
01:14:02,364 --> 01:14:04,531
behalf of the United States , but also 

1450
01:14:04,531 --> 01:14:06,753
from the bottom of my heart , there's a 

1451
01:14:06,753 --> 01:14:09,250
line in a famous robert Redford movie , 

1452
01:14:09,260 --> 01:14:11,620
Jeremiah johnson and it goes that a 

1453
01:14:11,620 --> 01:14:14,000
tribe's greatness is figured on how 

1454
01:14:14,000 --> 01:14:17,170
mighty its enemies be . Maybe so . But 

1455
01:14:17,170 --> 01:14:19,114
among members of this community of 

1456
01:14:19,114 --> 01:14:21,059
nations , a country's greatness is 

1457
01:14:21,059 --> 01:14:23,281
measured by the fidelity of its friends 

1458
01:14:23,281 --> 01:14:25,503
and by this measure , the United States 

1459
01:14:25,503 --> 01:14:27,614
may indeed be the greatest country in 

1460
01:14:27,614 --> 01:14:29,837
the world . We can never forget that we 

1461
01:14:29,837 --> 01:14:31,670
owe this to our devoted allies , 

1462
01:14:31,670 --> 01:14:33,820
partners and friends . We deter our 

1463
01:14:33,820 --> 01:14:36,200
foes . When we associate an alliance 

1464
01:14:36,200 --> 01:14:38,470
and coalition structures , we also 

1465
01:14:38,470 --> 01:14:40,630
fight better if required to fight 

1466
01:14:40,640 --> 01:14:43,000
within those structures . Maintenance 

1467
01:14:43,000 --> 01:14:45,167
of these relationships and friendships 

1468
01:14:45,167 --> 01:14:47,333
requires constant attention and we are 

1469
01:14:47,333 --> 01:14:50,020
prepared to do that . One country 

1470
01:14:50,020 --> 01:14:52,680
apparently does not , does gauge its 

1471
01:14:52,680 --> 01:14:54,902
own greatness by the mighty nous of its 

1472
01:14:54,902 --> 01:14:56,847
foes . Just when it seems that the 

1473
01:14:56,847 --> 01:14:58,680
United States is on the verge of 

1474
01:14:58,680 --> 01:15:00,902
shifting its sights to concerns outside 

1475
01:15:00,902 --> 01:15:02,847
the centcom kor Iran can always be 

1476
01:15:02,847 --> 01:15:04,847
counted upon to draw our collective 

1477
01:15:04,847 --> 01:15:06,736
attention back to the Middle East 

1478
01:15:06,736 --> 01:15:08,680
undertaking malign activities that 

1479
01:15:08,680 --> 01:15:10,791
undermine the stability of the region 

1480
01:15:10,791 --> 01:15:12,847
and ironically their own interests , 

1481
01:15:12,847 --> 01:15:14,958
Centcom doesn't relish this unhealthy 

1482
01:15:14,958 --> 01:15:17,013
relationship , but we've always been 

1483
01:15:17,013 --> 01:15:18,847
equal to the task by maintaining 

1484
01:15:18,847 --> 01:15:21,069
capabilities and demonstrating the will 

1485
01:15:21,069 --> 01:15:23,291
to hold Iran accountable for its malign 

1486
01:15:23,291 --> 01:15:25,291
activities . We have maintained the 

1487
01:15:25,291 --> 01:15:27,236
upper hand in our present state of 

1488
01:15:27,236 --> 01:15:29,347
contested deterrence and the addition 

1489
01:15:29,347 --> 01:15:31,236
of Israel to the centcom kor last 

1490
01:15:31,236 --> 01:15:32,958
september has opened promising 

1491
01:15:32,958 --> 01:15:34,791
opportunities to achieve greater 

1492
01:15:34,791 --> 01:15:36,958
collective security in the region with 

1493
01:15:36,958 --> 01:15:39,013
with the nations that we worked with 

1494
01:15:39,013 --> 01:15:40,840
very closely now . Ultimately , 

1495
01:15:40,850 --> 01:15:43,830
certainly we all hope that a diplomatic 

1496
01:15:43,830 --> 01:15:46,070
agreement with Iran holds out the 

1497
01:15:46,070 --> 01:15:47,848
prospect for enduring peace and 

1498
01:15:47,848 --> 01:15:49,681
stability in the region . In the 

1499
01:15:49,681 --> 01:15:52,100
meantime , centcom continues to stand 

1500
01:15:52,110 --> 01:15:54,332
with our allies and partners and we are 

1501
01:15:54,332 --> 01:15:56,780
ready for any challenge . So it's now 

1502
01:15:56,780 --> 01:15:59,280
time for me to exit the stage . And I 

1503
01:15:59,280 --> 01:16:01,502
would just like before I do it to thank 

1504
01:16:01,502 --> 01:16:03,580
my wife Marilyn of 38 years for all 

1505
01:16:03,580 --> 01:16:05,650
that you've done and meant to me um 

1506
01:16:05,660 --> 01:16:08,360
more than a lot of sacrifices sent our 

1507
01:16:08,360 --> 01:16:11,430
son to war twice . Um and I and I am 

1508
01:16:11,440 --> 01:16:14,030
delightful that now after today , I 

1509
01:16:14,030 --> 01:16:16,252
promise we're gonna get out of the boat 

1510
01:16:16,252 --> 01:16:18,363
and and I bought a boat and I haven't 

1511
01:16:18,363 --> 01:16:20,419
been on it since december , which is 

1512
01:16:20,419 --> 01:16:22,419
probably not what I should be doing 

1513
01:16:22,419 --> 01:16:24,530
here in Tampa but but we are going to 

1514
01:16:24,530 --> 01:16:24,230
get out on the boat Maryland . Thank 

1515
01:16:24,230 --> 01:16:26,119
you so much for everything you've 

1516
01:16:26,119 --> 01:16:27,286
you've done . So now 

1517
01:16:37,210 --> 01:16:38,988
I can't think of anybody better 

1518
01:16:38,988 --> 01:16:41,300
qualified the lead centcom's next 

1519
01:16:41,300 --> 01:16:43,510
chapter and eric Carella . The 

1520
01:16:43,510 --> 01:16:45,732
secretary and the chairman have already 

1521
01:16:45,732 --> 01:16:47,954
talked about his accomplishments . He's 

1522
01:16:47,954 --> 01:16:50,121
no stranger to the centcom bor he's no 

1523
01:16:50,121 --> 01:16:53,110
stranger to the headquarters When I 

1524
01:16:53,110 --> 01:16:55,277
assumed command of centcom three years 

1525
01:16:55,277 --> 01:16:57,443
ago . Eric was my first chief of staff 

1526
01:16:57,443 --> 01:16:59,388
as you all know and he was a great 

1527
01:16:59,388 --> 01:17:01,300
chief of staff . Before that he 

1528
01:17:01,300 --> 01:17:03,411
commanded the army's Premier Division 

1529
01:17:03,411 --> 01:17:05,578
and he went on to command its premiere 

1530
01:17:05,578 --> 01:17:07,633
core . It's only fitting now that he 

1531
01:17:07,633 --> 01:17:09,744
should return to Tampa to command the 

1532
01:17:09,744 --> 01:17:11,578
Joint Forces . Premier combatant 

1533
01:17:11,578 --> 01:17:13,800
command . So the prodigal son returns , 

1534
01:17:14,030 --> 01:17:16,141
ladies and gentlemen and particularly 

1535
01:17:16,141 --> 01:17:17,974
service members and civilians of 

1536
01:17:17,974 --> 01:17:20,140
centcom . The chief of the people is 

1537
01:17:20,140 --> 01:17:22,196
with us again and he has returned as 

1538
01:17:22,196 --> 01:17:24,307
your commander . You are in very good 

1539
01:17:24,307 --> 01:17:26,362
hands . Eric , I'm proud to pass the 

1540
01:17:26,362 --> 01:17:28,584
guide unto you . God bless you and good 

1541
01:17:28,584 --> 01:17:28,560
luck . 

1542
01:17:34,130 --> 01:17:37,340
Yeah , yeah , 

1543
01:17:42,050 --> 01:17:46,480
thank 

1544
01:17:46,840 --> 01:17:47,840
you . 

1545
01:17:52,630 --> 01:17:54,840
Thank you . General Mackenzie . Ladies 

1546
01:17:54,840 --> 01:17:57,062
& Gentlemen , The 18th Commander of the 

1547
01:17:57,062 --> 01:17:59,284
United States , Centric A Man , General 

1548
01:17:59,284 --> 01:18:01,340
Michael E . Carrillo , United States 

1549
01:18:01,340 --> 01:18:02,340
Army . 

1550
01:18:09,300 --> 01:18:12,080
Okay , good afternoon , ladies and 

1551
01:18:12,080 --> 01:18:14,590
gentlemen , Senator Tuberville , I am 

1552
01:18:14,590 --> 01:18:16,757
going to go on the record . My wife is 

1553
01:18:16,757 --> 01:18:20,390
an auburn grad war Eagle . I am shocked 

1554
01:18:20,430 --> 01:18:22,652
that the chairman made the comment roll 

1555
01:18:22,652 --> 01:18:25,440
tide . I look forward to watching his 

1556
01:18:25,440 --> 01:18:29,400
testimony with you next week . So there 

1557
01:18:29,400 --> 01:18:31,350
are so many dignitaries and very 

1558
01:18:31,350 --> 01:18:34,230
important people in this room . But all 

1559
01:18:34,230 --> 01:18:36,480
of us can agree that stability in the 

1560
01:18:36,480 --> 01:18:38,920
centcom region and the security of our 

1561
01:18:38,920 --> 01:18:41,420
national interests in the region have 

1562
01:18:41,430 --> 01:18:43,540
always been earned by the sweat and 

1563
01:18:43,540 --> 01:18:46,020
blood of the young men and women who 

1564
01:18:46,020 --> 01:18:48,440
are not in this room . They are the 

1565
01:18:48,440 --> 01:18:51,030
sergeant's , the petty officers , the 

1566
01:18:51,030 --> 01:18:53,490
senior airman who led our troops in the 

1567
01:18:53,490 --> 01:18:55,940
region . There are those that gave 

1568
01:18:55,940 --> 01:18:58,051
their last full measure of devotion . 

1569
01:18:59,010 --> 01:19:01,440
We owe several lifetimes of gratitude 

1570
01:19:01,450 --> 01:19:03,860
to our Gold Star families and to our 

1571
01:19:03,860 --> 01:19:07,080
wounded warriors . I'm incredibly 

1572
01:19:07,080 --> 01:19:09,440
humbled by your presence here today . 

1573
01:19:15,220 --> 01:19:19,060
They are the 

1574
01:19:19,060 --> 01:19:21,380
ensign's , the captains and the majors 

1575
01:19:21,390 --> 01:19:23,860
who continue to meet our objectives in 

1576
01:19:23,860 --> 01:19:27,090
Centcom Today's ceremony is a testament 

1577
01:19:27,090 --> 01:19:29,350
to their incredible work , hard work 

1578
01:19:29,350 --> 01:19:33,010
that will persist frank . McKenzie has 

1579
01:19:33,010 --> 01:19:35,660
done a remarkable service in commanding 

1580
01:19:35,660 --> 01:19:38,450
these service members frank is among 

1581
01:19:38,450 --> 01:19:40,172
our nation's most accomplished 

1582
01:19:40,172 --> 01:19:42,470
warfighting generals . His work here in 

1583
01:19:42,470 --> 01:19:44,790
saint calm , widening the circle of 

1584
01:19:44,790 --> 01:19:46,840
cooperation at a critical moment . 

1585
01:19:47,420 --> 01:19:49,587
Safeguarding american interests in the 

1586
01:19:49,587 --> 01:19:51,870
region , sharpening the organization's 

1587
01:19:51,870 --> 01:19:53,900
culture of war fighting is an 

1588
01:19:53,900 --> 01:19:56,200
appropriate final act to close the 

1589
01:19:56,200 --> 01:19:59,150
curtain on a remarkable military career . 

1590
01:20:01,010 --> 01:20:02,940
Mhm . Yeah . 

1591
01:20:06,310 --> 01:20:09,820
Mr Secretary Chairman Milley , 

1592
01:20:10,210 --> 01:20:12,210
thank you for your leadership . The 

1593
01:20:12,210 --> 01:20:14,321
Department of Defense and our service 

1594
01:20:14,321 --> 01:20:16,266
members and thank you for the kind 

1595
01:20:16,266 --> 01:20:18,488
comments . Thank you for your continued 

1596
01:20:18,488 --> 01:20:20,599
support to centcom . I'm appreciative 

1597
01:20:20,599 --> 01:20:22,543
of the attendance of all my fellow 

1598
01:20:22,543 --> 01:20:24,877
combatant commanders are service chiefs , 

1599
01:20:24,877 --> 01:20:26,877
retired and current flag officers , 

1600
01:20:26,877 --> 01:20:28,543
members of our government and 

1601
01:20:28,543 --> 01:20:30,820
interagency team . And a sincere thank 

1602
01:20:30,820 --> 01:20:32,931
you to all of our allies and partners 

1603
01:20:32,931 --> 01:20:35,250
from the region . A Special Shout Out 

1604
01:20:35,250 --> 01:20:37,370
to the West Point Class of 88 . I 

1605
01:20:37,380 --> 01:20:41,850
think 

1606
01:20:41,850 --> 01:20:44,420
we're about 130 strong today in a class 

1607
01:20:44,420 --> 01:20:46,364
that are common on our senior year 

1608
01:20:46,364 --> 01:20:49,010
declared the worst West Point class 

1609
01:20:49,020 --> 01:20:49,540
ever . 

1610
01:20:50,810 --> 01:20:53,620
Yeah , 

1611
01:20:55,910 --> 01:20:57,854
alright , so the city of Tampa has 

1612
01:20:57,854 --> 01:20:59,966
always embraced centcom and returning 

1613
01:20:59,966 --> 01:21:02,188
here to this beautiful bass and city is 

1614
01:21:02,188 --> 01:21:04,354
like returning home for us . Of course 

1615
01:21:04,354 --> 01:21:06,521
I would not be here without my amazing 

1616
01:21:06,521 --> 01:21:08,577
wife mary page and our two wonderful 

1617
01:21:08,577 --> 01:21:10,850
daughters , Michelle and Sophie mary 

1618
01:21:10,850 --> 01:21:11,530
pages . My 

1619
01:21:17,910 --> 01:21:20,190
mary pages , my strongest supporter and 

1620
01:21:20,190 --> 01:21:22,530
trust me , she is my fiercest critic 

1621
01:21:22,790 --> 01:21:24,679
and has always kept me grounded . 

1622
01:21:25,110 --> 01:21:26,888
Michela Sofia are soon going to 

1623
01:21:26,888 --> 01:21:28,610
graduate from college and I am 

1624
01:21:28,610 --> 01:21:30,777
confident they are going to change the 

1625
01:21:30,777 --> 01:21:32,943
world for the better . My family is my 

1626
01:21:32,943 --> 01:21:34,888
greatest achievement and I want to 

1627
01:21:34,888 --> 01:21:36,943
publicly thank them today and I look 

1628
01:21:36,943 --> 01:21:38,888
forward to continuing this journey 

1629
01:21:38,888 --> 01:21:41,054
together . While this is a celebratory 

1630
01:21:41,054 --> 01:21:43,110
occasion , I recognize the weight of 

1631
01:21:43,110 --> 01:21:45,110
this command and the challenges and 

1632
01:21:45,110 --> 01:21:47,290
expectations of me . Centcom was 

1633
01:21:47,290 --> 01:21:49,410
critical on its formation . It is 

1634
01:21:49,410 --> 01:21:51,910
critical now and it will be into the 

1635
01:21:51,910 --> 01:21:55,110
future . We owe those sergeants , lance 

1636
01:21:55,110 --> 01:21:57,140
corporals , Technical sergeants and 

1637
01:21:57,140 --> 01:21:59,360
petty officers the best strategic 

1638
01:21:59,360 --> 01:22:01,940
decisions . We must always put them in 

1639
01:22:01,940 --> 01:22:04,830
a position to win the regions that 

1640
01:22:04,830 --> 01:22:06,840
comprise centcom , the levant , the 

1641
01:22:06,840 --> 01:22:08,920
Middle East , South and Central Asia 

1642
01:22:09,600 --> 01:22:11,767
are home to some of the most important 

1643
01:22:11,767 --> 01:22:14,350
and extraordinary scientific , artistic 

1644
01:22:14,360 --> 01:22:16,249
and social contributions to human 

1645
01:22:16,249 --> 01:22:18,220
history . These lands are rich in 

1646
01:22:18,220 --> 01:22:20,331
culture and heritage and have so much 

1647
01:22:20,331 --> 01:22:22,420
to offer the world . Their natural 

1648
01:22:22,420 --> 01:22:24,198
resources have enabled economic 

1649
01:22:24,198 --> 01:22:26,610
expansion throughout the planet . And 

1650
01:22:26,610 --> 01:22:29,030
yet they are home to violence , 

1651
01:22:29,390 --> 01:22:32,070
instability and conflict . There are 

1652
01:22:32,070 --> 01:22:34,180
areas of great suffering abuse and 

1653
01:22:34,180 --> 01:22:36,560
human misery . A set of lands of the 

1654
01:22:36,560 --> 01:22:38,560
strategic nexus of the world's most 

1655
01:22:38,560 --> 01:22:41,190
important corridors of trade . Without 

1656
01:22:41,190 --> 01:22:43,134
american diplomatic leadership and 

1657
01:22:43,134 --> 01:22:45,610
military might . Regional threats there 

1658
01:22:46,000 --> 01:22:48,111
may jeopardize our interests not only 

1659
01:22:48,111 --> 01:22:50,930
abroad but here at home . We cannot we 

1660
01:22:50,930 --> 01:22:54,060
will not allow that to happen . We 

1661
01:22:54,060 --> 01:22:56,282
therefore must remain fiercely actively 

1662
01:22:56,282 --> 01:22:58,449
engaged in the 21 countries of central 

1663
01:22:58,449 --> 01:23:00,504
command . We must ensure a favorable 

1664
01:23:00,504 --> 01:23:02,338
balance of power in the region . 

1665
01:23:02,700 --> 01:23:05,280
Centcom must maintain the requisite 

1666
01:23:05,280 --> 01:23:07,930
resources to find fix and finish 

1667
01:23:07,930 --> 01:23:10,097
threats to the homeland . Before those 

1668
01:23:10,097 --> 01:23:12,097
threats developed the capability to 

1669
01:23:12,097 --> 01:23:14,390
conduct external operations to secure 

1670
01:23:14,390 --> 01:23:16,390
maritime straights and global trade 

1671
01:23:16,390 --> 01:23:18,390
routes . To ensure the free flow of 

1672
01:23:18,390 --> 01:23:20,470
commerce through the region . Our 

1673
01:23:20,470 --> 01:23:22,526
adversaries are watching closely for 

1674
01:23:22,526 --> 01:23:24,637
any sign that America's commitment to 

1675
01:23:24,637 --> 01:23:26,748
the collective security of the region 

1676
01:23:26,748 --> 01:23:28,637
is wavering . Our adversaries are 

1677
01:23:28,637 --> 01:23:30,192
poised to capitalize on any 

1678
01:23:30,192 --> 01:23:32,414
opportunities that emerge . We must not 

1679
01:23:32,414 --> 01:23:35,200
grant them any . For the past 39 years , 

1680
01:23:35,440 --> 01:23:37,662
young Americans in uniform have carried 

1681
01:23:37,662 --> 01:23:39,773
out the strategic decisions that come 

1682
01:23:39,773 --> 01:23:41,829
out of this organization . They have 

1683
01:23:41,829 --> 01:23:43,829
underwritten national policy . They 

1684
01:23:43,829 --> 01:23:45,773
have done so without measures with 

1685
01:23:45,773 --> 01:23:47,829
measures of dignity , discipline and 

1686
01:23:47,829 --> 01:23:49,829
decency that represent the american 

1687
01:23:49,829 --> 01:23:51,996
character to this critical part of the 

1688
01:23:51,996 --> 01:23:54,960
world . We owe them so much so to 

1689
01:23:54,960 --> 01:23:57,360
today's centcom sailors , soldiers , 

1690
01:23:57,360 --> 01:23:59,304
sailors , airmen , marines , coast 

1691
01:23:59,304 --> 01:24:01,416
guardsmen and guardians . I'm honored 

1692
01:24:01,416 --> 01:24:03,471
to serve alongside you . You are our 

1693
01:24:03,471 --> 01:24:06,110
nation's best . You are the guarantors 

1694
01:24:06,120 --> 01:24:08,342
of american interests in this vibrant , 

1695
01:24:08,342 --> 01:24:10,750
dynamic , complex and often dangerous 

1696
01:24:10,750 --> 01:24:13,200
and challenging region in this effort . 

1697
01:24:13,590 --> 01:24:15,860
So much is at stake for the nation and 

1698
01:24:15,860 --> 01:24:18,082
the world . We will meet this challenge 

1699
01:24:18,082 --> 01:24:19,360
together . Thank you . 

1700
01:24:29,290 --> 01:24:31,900
Yeah . Yeah . 

1701
01:24:36,090 --> 01:24:37,620
Mhm . Okay . Mhm . 

1702
01:24:40,290 --> 01:24:42,346
Thank you . General gorilla . Ladies 

1703
01:24:42,346 --> 01:24:44,457
and gentlemen remain standing for the 

1704
01:24:44,457 --> 01:24:46,512
playing of the armed forces medley . 

1705
01:24:56,390 --> 01:24:59,620
Mm hmm . Mhm . 

1706
01:25:03,490 --> 01:25:03,910
Mhm 

1707
01:25:15,490 --> 01:25:19,060
mm hmm , mm hmm . 

1708
01:25:39,090 --> 01:25:40,090
Mhm 

1709
01:25:44,690 --> 01:25:45,690
mm hmm , 

1710
01:26:03,680 --> 01:26:06,470
mm hmm . Mhm . Thank you . 

1711
01:26:28,580 --> 01:26:29,580
Thank you . 

1712
01:26:58,180 --> 01:26:59,400
Oh no , no , no , 

1713
01:26:59,400 --> 01:27:05,500
no . 

1714
01:27:32,280 --> 01:27:33,280
Mm hmm , 

1715
01:28:23,070 --> 01:28:23,690
mm hmm . 

1716
01:28:33,070 --> 01:28:34,590
Okay . Yeah . 

1717
01:28:41,470 --> 01:28:43,637
Ladies and gentlemen , as the official 

1718
01:28:43,637 --> 01:28:45,748
party remains standing , you may take 

1719
01:28:45,748 --> 01:28:49,490
your seats . The 

1720
01:28:49,490 --> 01:28:52,150
official party will now depart . We ask 

1721
01:28:52,150 --> 01:28:54,206
that you remain in your seating area 

1722
01:28:54,206 --> 01:28:56,500
until the official party has departed . 

1723
01:29:25,070 --> 01:29:27,237
Again we ask that you please remain in 

1724
01:29:27,237 --> 01:29:29,292
your seating area until the official 

1725
01:29:29,292 --> 01:29:30,890
party has departed . 

1726
01:30:02,170 --> 01:30:04,281
Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 

1727
01:30:04,281 --> 01:30:06,940
today's ceremony escorts will direct 

1728
01:30:06,940 --> 01:30:08,940
you to General Mackenzie's farewell 

1729
01:30:08,940 --> 01:30:10,900
line which will form center of the 

1730
01:30:10,900 --> 01:30:13,970
ballroom . Additionally escorts will 

1731
01:30:13,970 --> 01:30:15,692
direct you to General Gorillas 

1732
01:30:15,692 --> 01:30:18,150
receiving line and reception located in 

1733
01:30:18,150 --> 01:30:22,000
rooms 14 through 17 on behalf of the 

1734
01:30:22,000 --> 01:30:23,944
United States Central Command . We 

1735
01:30:23,944 --> 01:30:26,770
thank you for your attendance . Army 

1736
01:30:26,770 --> 01:30:29,710
Strong . Yeah . 

1737
01:30:31,370 --> 01:30:35,190
Mm hmm , mm hmm mm hmm 

1738
01:30:35,870 --> 01:30:36,590
mm hmm