WEBVTT 00:00.589 --> 00:03.640 All right , I just get settled here . 00:03.650 --> 00:06.500 Sorry . Ok , good afternoon , everyone . 00:06.510 --> 00:08.621 I just have a few items to pass along 00:08.621 --> 00:10.621 at the top and then I'd be happy to 00:10.621 --> 00:12.843 take your questions . So first , I just 00:12.843 --> 00:14.454 wanna say that our heartfelt 00:14.454 --> 00:14.239 condolences go out to the people of 00:14.250 --> 00:16.620 Hawaii and the community there . As of 00:16.629 --> 00:19.290 this morning , us Army Pacific as the 00:19.299 --> 00:21.299 theater Joint Forest Land Component 00:21.299 --> 00:23.579 Command . The organization designated 00:23.590 --> 00:25.719 by the Commander of us Indo Pacific 00:25.729 --> 00:28.540 Command as the headquarters to oversee 00:28.549 --> 00:30.327 all defense support to civilian 00:30.327 --> 00:32.950 authorities in the Pacific is executing 00:32.959 --> 00:35.070 six approved mission assignments from 00:35.070 --> 00:37.720 FEMA . These assignments include inter 00:37.750 --> 00:40.599 island air and sea transportation for 00:40.610 --> 00:42.499 the movement of cargo personnel , 00:42.499 --> 00:44.919 supplies and equipment . Setting up a 00:44.930 --> 00:46.930 defense coordinating element office 00:46.930 --> 00:49.990 including liaison officers , use of 00:50.000 --> 00:52.159 Schofield barracks to support 00:52.169 --> 00:54.229 facilities for building life support 00:54.240 --> 00:56.184 and hygiene facilities for federal 00:56.184 --> 00:58.970 emergency responders , standby for 00:58.979 --> 01:01.330 aerial fire suppression , strategic 01:01.340 --> 01:03.284 transportation of personnel and or 01:03.284 --> 01:05.900 cargo and setting up additional staging 01:05.910 --> 01:09.800 areas on Maui and Oahu . Additionally , 01:09.809 --> 01:11.865 Secretary Austin has designated Army 01:11.865 --> 01:13.698 National Guard Brigadier General 01:13.698 --> 01:15.531 Stephen Logan as the dual status 01:15.531 --> 01:18.370 commander of the joint task force . 50 01:18.760 --> 01:21.050 joint task force 50 will synchronize 01:21.059 --> 01:24.080 all dod support to operations . United 01:24.089 --> 01:26.033 States Army Pacific has deployed a 01:26.033 --> 01:28.330 deputy dual status commander forward to 01:28.339 --> 01:30.959 embed with the JTF 50 with the Hawaii 01:30.970 --> 01:33.629 National Guard on Maui . The Hawaii 01:33.639 --> 01:35.250 National Guard has activated 01:35.250 --> 01:38.330 approximately 258 Army National Guard 01:38.339 --> 01:40.339 and air National Guard personnel on 01:40.339 --> 01:42.250 state active duty . This includes 01:42.260 --> 01:44.610 liaison support to the Hawaii emergency 01:44.620 --> 01:46.870 management agency , command and control 01:46.879 --> 01:48.768 elements and support to local law 01:48.768 --> 01:51.059 enforcement . The US Army Corps of 01:51.069 --> 01:53.125 Engineers are currently managing two 01:53.125 --> 01:55.180 operational fema mission assignments 01:55.180 --> 01:57.779 for debris removal and temporary power . 01:58.139 --> 02:00.750 The Corps currently has 27 personnel 02:00.760 --> 02:03.080 deployed a mix of both active duty and 02:03.089 --> 02:05.589 civilians as well as 14 personnel 02:05.599 --> 02:07.760 providing virtual reach back support 02:07.769 --> 02:10.279 from off site locations . In addition , 02:10.289 --> 02:12.500 the Army Corps of Engineers has 41 02:12.509 --> 02:14.565 contractor personnel deployed to the 02:14.565 --> 02:17.360 scene . Our Coast Guard partners have 02:17.369 --> 02:19.480 shifted their focus of their response 02:19.480 --> 02:21.536 to minimizing maritime environmental 02:21.536 --> 02:23.369 impacts while remaining ready to 02:23.369 --> 02:25.036 respond to any new reports of 02:25.036 --> 02:27.360 individuals in the water . Coast Guard , 02:27.369 --> 02:29.369 maritime safety and security team . 02:29.369 --> 02:31.520 Honolulu and the Coast Guard National 02:31.529 --> 02:33.696 Strike Force have established a safety 02:33.696 --> 02:35.529 zone extending one nautical mile 02:35.529 --> 02:37.751 seaward from the shoreline and deployed 02:37.751 --> 02:39.918 pollution response teams and equipment 02:39.918 --> 02:42.990 to affected locations to include a 100 02:43.000 --> 02:45.056 ft boom placed at the mouth of Laina 02:45.160 --> 02:47.520 Harbor to contain any potentially 02:47.529 --> 02:50.600 hazardous contaminants and material in 02:50.610 --> 02:52.850 total . Approximately 140 Coast Guard 02:52.860 --> 02:54.971 men and women are currently assisting 02:54.971 --> 02:57.027 with response efforts in Maui And of 02:57.027 --> 02:58.693 course , moving forward , the 02:58.693 --> 03:00.916 department and the JTF 50 will continue 03:00.916 --> 03:03.082 to work closely with state officials , 03:03.082 --> 03:05.193 fema and other supporting agencies to 03:05.193 --> 03:06.971 support the people of Hawaii in 03:06.971 --> 03:09.027 response to this incredibly terrible 03:09.027 --> 03:11.339 disaster . Separately , as an update to 03:11.350 --> 03:13.294 our response following the volcano 03:13.294 --> 03:15.239 eruption in Papua New Guinea , the 03:15.239 --> 03:17.339 amphibious assault ship us S America 03:17.350 --> 03:19.820 and the 31st marine expeditionary unit 03:19.850 --> 03:21.990 have supported us government efforts 03:22.000 --> 03:23.722 for foreign disaster relief in 03:23.722 --> 03:25.667 Bougainville at the request of the 03:25.667 --> 03:27.667 government of Papua New Guinea . In 03:27.667 --> 03:29.500 consultation with the autonomous 03:29.500 --> 03:31.722 Bougainville government over the course 03:31.722 --> 03:33.833 of the 10 day humanitarian assistance 03:33.833 --> 03:36.000 operation , sailors and marines sailed 03:36.000 --> 03:37.778 to the Solomon Sea and provided 03:37.778 --> 03:40.470 transport via CH 53 and MV . 22 03:40.479 --> 03:43.399 aircraft of 100 and 18 pallets , almost 03:43.410 --> 03:45.889 35 tons of disaster relief and supplies 03:45.899 --> 03:48.259 to remote aid centers . The team also 03:48.270 --> 03:50.270 provided sailors , sorry . The team 03:50.270 --> 03:52.326 also provided sailors and marines to 03:52.326 --> 03:54.103 assist in loading and unloading 03:54.103 --> 03:55.826 supplies . Demonstrating their 03:55.826 --> 03:57.714 commitment to serving as a crisis 03:57.714 --> 03:59.437 response team to the people of 03:59.437 --> 04:01.548 Bougainville . And with that , I'd be 04:01.548 --> 04:03.659 happy to take some questions . I know 04:03.659 --> 04:03.309 we don't have a P in the room so I can 04:03.320 --> 04:05.376 go ahead and get started with anyone 04:05.376 --> 04:07.740 else who's wants to ask . Ok , Dan , 04:07.750 --> 04:09.806 I'll go to Dan and then I'll come to 04:09.806 --> 04:12.028 Janie . Thank you . I know you just put 04:12.028 --> 04:13.972 out uh some numbers and , and some 04:13.972 --> 04:15.972 facts but just to be clear how many 04:15.972 --> 04:17.806 active duty troops are currently 04:17.806 --> 04:20.149 engaged in the effort in Maui . And are 04:20.160 --> 04:22.216 there other other plans , additional 04:22.216 --> 04:24.820 plans to send uh more active duty 04:24.829 --> 04:27.051 personnel ? I don't have an exact count 04:27.051 --> 04:29.218 for you right now , of how many active 04:29.218 --> 04:31.385 duty are currently assisting with um , 04:31.385 --> 04:33.619 operations in Maui right now , the 04:33.630 --> 04:36.660 focus is of course on um search and 04:36.670 --> 04:40.029 rescue . So our active duty teams will , 04:40.040 --> 04:43.600 our active duty personnel will be um uh 04:44.480 --> 04:46.702 the command and control will be through 04:46.702 --> 04:48.790 the joint task force . Uh 50 , but I 04:48.799 --> 04:50.855 just don't have specific numbers for 04:50.855 --> 04:53.077 you yet . I just have what the National 04:53.077 --> 04:55.299 Guard is providing . And then are there 04:55.299 --> 04:57.132 any plans or being considered to 04:57.132 --> 04:59.132 airdrop supplies or is that already 04:59.132 --> 05:01.132 happened to some areas ? Well , the 05:01.132 --> 05:04.429 good thing about um some of the search 05:04.440 --> 05:06.273 and recovery efforts and also um 05:06.273 --> 05:08.660 efforts to get help to the community is 05:08.670 --> 05:10.959 that FEMA did have a lot of 05:10.970 --> 05:13.399 prepositioned assets . So we haven't 05:13.410 --> 05:16.059 had to airdrop or air lift anything yet 05:16.070 --> 05:19.670 in terms of um supplies . Uh I 05:19.679 --> 05:21.750 believe in a 48 hour period , there 05:21.760 --> 05:25.239 were about 100 80,080 100 89,000 05:25.250 --> 05:28.109 gallons um dropped by Air Army National 05:28.119 --> 05:30.209 Guard air crews um to help with 05:30.220 --> 05:32.649 firefighting efforts . But we will , I 05:32.660 --> 05:34.771 mean , as I mentioned at the top , we 05:34.771 --> 05:36.938 will be conducting one of our , one of 05:36.938 --> 05:38.771 the assignments that um approved 05:38.771 --> 05:40.993 assignments that we are doing with FEMA 05:40.993 --> 05:43.160 is conducting Inter Island Air and sea 05:43.160 --> 05:45.382 transportation . So for the movement of 05:45.382 --> 05:47.493 cargo , if there needs to be , um you 05:47.493 --> 05:49.549 know , more bottled water brought in 05:49.549 --> 05:51.660 additional personnel and supplies and 05:51.660 --> 05:53.771 equipment , we'll be providing that , 05:54.119 --> 05:56.589 Jenny . Thank you . I have two 05:56.600 --> 05:59.510 questions North Korea leader Kim Jong 05:59.519 --> 06:02.929 Un recently visited the , their 06:02.940 --> 06:06.739 military Tank Union and ordered the 06:06.750 --> 06:10.570 offensive war preparations . What is 06:10.579 --> 06:13.359 the US reaction to this ? So , we've 06:13.369 --> 06:15.536 been very clear about the threat posed 06:15.536 --> 06:18.799 by North Korea . Um And we've been very 06:18.809 --> 06:21.790 clear in our defense to uh South Korea 06:21.799 --> 06:23.799 and Japan and our commitment to the 06:23.799 --> 06:26.160 region in order to ensure stability . 06:26.450 --> 06:29.109 Um We're going to continue to work with 06:29.119 --> 06:31.420 South Korea and Japan to address the 06:31.429 --> 06:33.485 threats posed by D Pr K . But I just 06:33.485 --> 06:35.899 don't have anything more um additional 06:35.910 --> 06:38.359 to provide on , on that specific visit 06:38.369 --> 06:41.299 that you mentioned . Um we don't harbor 06:41.309 --> 06:44.429 any hostile or ill will towards the D 06:44.440 --> 06:48.415 Pr K , but we do support inner dialogue 06:48.424 --> 06:50.464 and support and engagement as we 06:50.475 --> 06:52.364 continue to work through with our 06:52.364 --> 06:54.434 partners . And the Russian Defense 06:54.445 --> 06:57.644 Minister , Sergei said 06:57.654 --> 07:00.255 military cooperation between North 07:00.265 --> 07:03.734 Korea and Russia . He did not pose a 07:03.744 --> 07:07.325 threat to other countries . How can you 07:07.334 --> 07:09.945 comment on this ? I'm sorry . And who , 07:09.954 --> 07:12.255 who did you cite saying that the 07:12.265 --> 07:16.220 Russian Defense Minister ? So I 07:16.230 --> 07:18.341 mean , I wouldn't be able to speak on 07:18.341 --> 07:20.790 behalf of Russia , but from our 07:20.799 --> 07:23.760 standpoint , of course , any aid that 07:23.769 --> 07:25.769 North Korea or any country gives to 07:25.769 --> 07:29.540 Russia is continuing an unjust and 07:29.549 --> 07:32.130 unprovoked war within Ukraine . So 07:32.140 --> 07:33.918 we've been very clear about our 07:33.918 --> 07:36.350 position . We've made , um , concerns 07:36.359 --> 07:38.581 to other countries that want to provide 07:38.581 --> 07:40.748 support to Russia that , you know , we 07:40.748 --> 07:42.692 certainly discourage that . Um , I 07:42.692 --> 07:44.803 think what's important is that we are 07:44.803 --> 07:46.692 going to continue our support for 07:46.692 --> 07:48.915 Ukraine , as you've heard the president 07:48.915 --> 07:48.579 say for as long as it takes and I'll 07:48.589 --> 07:50.739 just leave it at that . Great . Hey , 07:50.750 --> 07:54.290 Brandy , can you share an assessment ? 07:54.299 --> 07:56.899 Um So far of the impacts the wildfires 07:56.910 --> 07:59.429 have had on Dod S um Maui high 07:59.440 --> 08:01.799 performance computing center and the 08:01.809 --> 08:03.799 associated powerful supercomputing 08:03.809 --> 08:06.089 assets there . Um What's the status 08:06.100 --> 08:08.989 operationally um of that resource ? I 08:09.000 --> 08:11.111 don't have a status update . I direct 08:11.111 --> 08:12.944 you to the Air Force for uh more 08:12.944 --> 08:14.889 details on that . I just don't , I 08:14.889 --> 08:17.222 don't have that right now . Our efforts , 08:17.222 --> 08:19.278 as I mentioned at the top are really 08:19.278 --> 08:21.278 focused on search and rescue and um 08:21.278 --> 08:23.500 working within the community to , to um 08:23.500 --> 08:26.130 whether it's flowing and supplies or um 08:26.140 --> 08:28.140 getting , I mean , knitting closely 08:28.140 --> 08:30.196 together with FEMA to make sure that 08:30.196 --> 08:32.196 they have everything that they need 08:32.196 --> 08:34.362 when they're conducting the search and 08:34.362 --> 08:34.260 rescue operations . That's really our 08:34.270 --> 08:36.830 focus right now . Um a follow up on 08:36.840 --> 08:39.062 that and then a separate question um or 08:39.090 --> 08:41.257 maybe take the question for me because 08:41.257 --> 08:42.979 the Air Force doesn't run that 08:42.979 --> 08:44.812 Supercomputing center . It's the 08:44.812 --> 08:46.979 defense Supercomputing resource center 08:46.979 --> 08:49.146 in Maui . It's associated with the Air 08:49.146 --> 08:51.423 Force , but that's a question for OS D , 08:51.423 --> 08:53.535 um , and then separately , when did , 08:53.535 --> 08:57.205 um , OS D last update its account for 08:57.215 --> 08:59.635 all of its personnel or employees that 08:59.645 --> 09:02.054 are currently based in Maui or based in 09:02.065 --> 09:04.315 Maui before the fires ? Do you have an 09:04.325 --> 09:07.015 update on if there were any , um , 09:07.025 --> 09:09.025 anything that happened to the , the 09:09.025 --> 09:11.539 personnel ? Um , in terms of personnel , 09:11.549 --> 09:14.119 I , I don't have an update in terms of , 09:14.130 --> 09:16.352 uh , anything to read on in terms of if 09:16.352 --> 09:18.574 someone was injured or , or uh lost due 09:18.574 --> 09:21.020 to the fires . Um That's something that 09:21.030 --> 09:22.863 I would direct you more to inter 09:22.863 --> 09:24.808 Pacific command to address , but I 09:24.808 --> 09:26.752 don't have any specific numbers on 09:26.752 --> 09:28.974 personnel impacted . And , um , I would 09:28.974 --> 09:31.030 again direct , direct you to the air 09:31.030 --> 09:30.940 Force on that one . That's not an OS D 09:30.950 --> 09:32.950 question . I would still direct you 09:32.950 --> 09:35.117 there and not gonna take it . Warren . 09:35.117 --> 09:37.117 Did you have a question ? Uh Yeah , 09:37.117 --> 09:39.117 yesterday in , the Military Council 09:39.117 --> 09:41.117 that toppled President Bazo said he 09:41.117 --> 09:43.228 could face the death penalty if found 09:43.228 --> 09:45.283 guilty of treason . Is it still your 09:45.283 --> 09:47.450 position that this isn't a coup ? So , 09:47.450 --> 09:49.672 as you know , we continue to assess the 09:49.672 --> 09:51.729 ongoing situation in , um , we are 09:51.739 --> 09:53.572 hoping that this can be resolved 09:53.572 --> 09:55.906 peacefully and through diplomatic means . 09:55.906 --> 09:58.580 Um uh we've come very close to say 09:58.590 --> 10:00.757 again that this is an attempted coup , 10:00.757 --> 10:03.969 I think , uh by all means from state 10:03.979 --> 10:07.590 department , from dod from other levels 10:07.599 --> 10:09.710 of government . We are trying to work 10:09.710 --> 10:11.988 through this in a peaceful manner , as , 10:11.988 --> 10:14.099 you know , is , um , quite a critical 10:14.099 --> 10:16.266 partner to us in the region . And so , 10:16.266 --> 10:18.488 um , we are hopeful that we can resolve 10:18.488 --> 10:20.710 this in a diplomatic way . But why does 10:20.710 --> 10:22.932 it seem like you're almost bending over 10:22.932 --> 10:25.155 backwards , not to call it a coup ? And 10:25.155 --> 10:27.321 we've seen France the eu and just come 10:27.321 --> 10:29.543 out and call it what it appears to be . 10:29.543 --> 10:29.005 Well , again , I mean , I think we've 10:29.015 --> 10:30.737 been very clear that it's , it 10:30.737 --> 10:32.904 certainly looks like an attempted coup 10:32.904 --> 10:35.085 here . Uh We have assets and , um , 10:35.094 --> 10:37.155 interests in the region and our main 10:37.164 --> 10:39.331 priority is protecting those interests 10:39.331 --> 10:41.664 and protecting those of our allies . So , 10:41.674 --> 10:44.424 um , a designation like , like what 10:44.434 --> 10:46.434 you're suggesting certainly changes 10:46.434 --> 10:48.545 what we'd be able to do in the region 10:48.545 --> 10:50.601 and how we'd be able to partner with 10:50.601 --> 10:52.700 Nigerian military . Um , as you are 10:52.710 --> 10:55.669 well aware , we've conducted training 10:55.679 --> 10:57.901 with the Nigerian military . We conduct 10:57.901 --> 11:00.210 counter , um , our ct operations from 11:00.219 --> 11:03.890 there . Um We have , we continue to 11:03.900 --> 11:05.989 press and we continue to push for a 11:06.000 --> 11:09.890 diplomatic resolve . Um Ecowas has also 11:09.900 --> 11:12.011 said that they don't want to see this 11:12.011 --> 11:14.233 end , um , militarily , they don't want 11:14.233 --> 11:16.233 to see this , um , an escalation in 11:16.233 --> 11:18.456 violence . They want to see this end in 11:18.456 --> 11:20.344 a diplomatic way . So we , we are 11:20.344 --> 11:22.456 supportive of those measures . Yeah , 11:22.456 --> 11:22.090 Laura , and then I'll go to the phones 11:22.099 --> 11:25.049 just to follow up on that . Um If , if , 11:25.059 --> 11:27.226 um , it is designated a what is , what 11:27.226 --> 11:29.115 is the backup plan sort of in the 11:29.115 --> 11:31.820 meantime and going forward for CT in 11:31.830 --> 11:33.941 the region ? And I understand there's 11:33.941 --> 11:36.108 no , no operations out of the , out of 11:36.108 --> 11:38.219 the base right now . Um I assume that 11:38.219 --> 11:40.108 is hindering the counterterrorism 11:40.108 --> 11:42.108 operations in the region . What's , 11:42.108 --> 11:44.386 what's the backup plan ? Yeah . So , I , 11:44.386 --> 11:46.552 I mean , great question , I think as , 11:46.552 --> 11:45.539 you know , we won't engage in 11:45.549 --> 11:47.630 hypotheticals right now . Uh We're 11:47.640 --> 11:50.080 certainly a planning organization . So , 11:50.090 --> 11:53.059 um while we plan for um different 11:53.070 --> 11:55.237 scenarios and different outcomes , I'm 11:55.237 --> 11:57.403 not gonna preview those right now from 11:57.403 --> 11:59.626 here , um what we are hopeful of and we 11:59.626 --> 12:01.792 continue to push for is the diplomatic 12:01.792 --> 12:05.039 resolution um for , for this to end , 12:05.229 --> 12:07.929 um in terms of how we conduct our , our 12:07.940 --> 12:10.162 counter terrorism operations , I mean , 12:10.162 --> 12:12.107 we still maintain over the horizon 12:12.107 --> 12:14.162 capabilities and not just from , but 12:14.162 --> 12:16.496 just from other places around the world . 12:16.650 --> 12:20.070 Um And so we will still be able to have 12:20.080 --> 12:22.302 capabilities within the region , but is 12:22.302 --> 12:24.524 a partner and we don't want to see that 12:24.524 --> 12:26.950 partnership go . Um We've invested um 12:27.179 --> 12:29.123 you know , hundreds of millions of 12:29.123 --> 12:31.659 dollars into uh bases there , trained 12:31.669 --> 12:33.760 with the military there . Um So we 12:33.770 --> 12:35.437 really want to see a peaceful 12:35.437 --> 12:38.119 resolution to um Niger's hard earned 12:38.130 --> 12:40.352 democracy and we're hopeful that we can 12:40.352 --> 12:42.574 come to that . Can you be more specific 12:42.574 --> 12:44.741 though ? What are the over the horizon 12:44.741 --> 12:46.852 options ? Because my understanding is 12:46.852 --> 12:49.074 is the over the horizon option for much 12:49.074 --> 12:51.408 of the region . Yeah , that's certainly , 12:51.408 --> 12:53.686 um , that's certainly true . But again , 12:53.686 --> 12:55.852 if we do need to adjust or shift for a 12:55.852 --> 12:58.019 different scenario that would change . 12:58.019 --> 12:57.159 Right . And I'm not going to preview 12:57.169 --> 12:59.169 that from here on what exactly that 12:59.169 --> 13:01.391 would look like . Um , but as you saw , 13:01.391 --> 13:03.002 when we , uh , withdrew from 13:03.002 --> 13:05.058 Afghanistan , we still maintain over 13:05.058 --> 13:07.169 horizon capabilities there . Um , and 13:07.169 --> 13:09.280 so I just , again , don't want to get 13:09.280 --> 13:11.447 too far ahead of something that hasn't 13:11.447 --> 13:13.447 happened . So I'll just leave it at 13:13.447 --> 13:12.869 that respectfully . It's not a 13:12.880 --> 13:14.602 hypothetical though , if those 13:14.602 --> 13:16.713 operations are not happening from the 13:16.713 --> 13:18.936 drone base and they haven't for several 13:18.936 --> 13:20.936 weeks that , you know , what are we 13:20.936 --> 13:23.158 doing in the meantime , right now , all 13:23.158 --> 13:22.409 I can say is that our activity is 13:22.419 --> 13:24.475 constrained to the base . We're just 13:24.475 --> 13:26.808 gonna , I'm just gonna leave it at that . 13:26.808 --> 13:29.141 Great . I'm gonna go to the phones here . 13:29.141 --> 13:31.363 Um I'm sorry , I do have a phone list . 13:31.363 --> 13:33.630 Just give me one sec . Um MEREDITH Roon 13:33.809 --> 13:34.619 Janes . 13:37.539 --> 13:40.210 Hi . Thanks for doing this . Um I just 13:40.219 --> 13:42.289 wanted to ask , can you say any more 13:42.299 --> 13:44.355 about the types of tactical vehicles 13:44.355 --> 13:46.669 that were sent in the aid package 13:46.679 --> 13:49.250 yesterday ? Um And if they were all the 13:49.260 --> 13:52.880 same type of tactical vehicle ? Uh 13:52.890 --> 13:55.112 Yes . Thanks for the question . I would 13:55.112 --> 13:57.223 direct you . I'm sorry , I just don't 13:57.223 --> 13:59.390 have the full breakdown in front of me 13:59.390 --> 14:01.390 in terms of , um , the PD A package 14:01.390 --> 14:03.612 that went out I would direct you to our 14:03.612 --> 14:05.489 website for more , um , for more 14:05.500 --> 14:07.667 specifics on that . You can find it on 14:07.667 --> 14:09.889 defense dot gov . We're happy to circle 14:09.889 --> 14:09.669 off with you off offline , but I just 14:09.679 --> 14:11.735 don't have that in front of me right 14:11.735 --> 14:14.890 now . Um , Great Heather Us and I hi , 14:14.900 --> 14:16.989 also a question on a package . Um , 14:17.169 --> 14:19.225 they mentioned that there were water 14:19.225 --> 14:21.280 trailers being sent to Ukraine . Can 14:21.280 --> 14:23.280 you say what water trailers are and 14:23.280 --> 14:25.391 what the expected use is gonna be for 14:25.391 --> 14:27.391 them ? I wouldn't go beyond what we 14:27.391 --> 14:30.729 have specified , um , online . Uh , but 14:30.739 --> 14:32.850 I can , I'm sure I could probably get 14:32.850 --> 14:34.961 you more information just on , on , I 14:34.961 --> 14:37.072 think you said water trailers . I'm , 14:37.072 --> 14:39.183 I'm sure I'd be happy to get you more 14:39.183 --> 14:41.406 information on that . So , um I'll take 14:41.406 --> 14:43.572 that question and , and have to circle 14:43.572 --> 14:45.572 back with you . Ok , great . Dean . 14:45.572 --> 14:48.099 Yeah , Serena following up on Hawaii . 14:48.109 --> 14:50.165 Um You mentioned that you don't have 14:50.165 --> 14:52.331 specific active duty numbers . Can you 14:52.331 --> 14:54.109 say that active duty troops are 14:54.109 --> 14:56.220 participating in the response efforts 14:56.220 --> 14:58.590 though ? Yes , they are . Um , and they 14:58.599 --> 15:00.710 were from the beginning . I think the 15:00.710 --> 15:02.710 White House actually put out a uh a 15:02.710 --> 15:04.766 pretty extensive fact sheet , but it 15:04.766 --> 15:06.877 detailed some of the Navy assets that 15:06.877 --> 15:09.043 were used at the very beginning , some 15:09.043 --> 15:11.266 of the army assets . So active duty was 15:11.266 --> 15:13.919 involved at the beginning . But as with 15:13.929 --> 15:16.580 um a crisis or disaster like this , the 15:16.590 --> 15:18.830 coordinating agency is fema and so 15:18.840 --> 15:22.030 everything that , um , needs to be 15:22.039 --> 15:25.830 searched into Maui for help um , within 15:25.840 --> 15:27.896 the community or fire suppression is 15:27.896 --> 15:29.784 gonna be coordinated through . So 15:29.784 --> 15:32.719 that's why now you have the JTF 50 15:32.729 --> 15:34.507 that's going to help with those 15:34.507 --> 15:36.729 coordination efforts . But yes , active 15:36.729 --> 15:36.510 duty is gonna be part of that and 15:36.520 --> 15:38.520 active duty has been part of that . 15:38.530 --> 15:40.697 Thank you . And just to follow up real 15:40.697 --> 15:42.586 quick , I , I know you don't have 15:42.586 --> 15:44.752 specific numbers . Can you give a uh a 15:44.752 --> 15:46.752 rough sense of how many active duty 15:46.752 --> 15:48.919 service members have been involved ? I 15:48.919 --> 15:51.030 don't want to give a rough sense just 15:51.030 --> 15:53.197 yet because I don't want to misspeak . 15:53.197 --> 15:55.141 Um And you know , we do have a big 15:55.141 --> 15:57.474 presence on the island . Um This is our , 15:57.474 --> 15:59.474 this is one of our biggest military 15:59.474 --> 16:01.697 installations or uh a home to , to many 16:01.697 --> 16:03.808 um uh in Hawaii . And so I just don't 16:03.808 --> 16:05.808 want to get ahead of uh any numbers 16:05.808 --> 16:07.808 because , and they're gonna ebb and 16:07.808 --> 16:10.840 flow as um fema , you know , continues 16:10.849 --> 16:13.559 to request uh service and support or 16:13.570 --> 16:15.799 does not as um you know , the fires 16:15.809 --> 16:18.770 mitigate as there's a need for less um 16:19.000 --> 16:21.820 uh infrastructure , whatever it is that 16:21.830 --> 16:24.052 the community needs , it's going to ebb 16:24.052 --> 16:27.210 and flow . Yeah . Um On Senator Tommy 16:27.219 --> 16:29.770 Tuberville's hold , uh will the 16:29.780 --> 16:32.002 Pentagon , is there any possibility the 16:32.002 --> 16:34.224 Pentagon would change its policy in any 16:34.224 --> 16:37.969 way to compromise with Tuberville ? Ok . 16:37.979 --> 16:41.409 I , I follow up . Yeah . Um Sorry , I 16:41.419 --> 16:43.641 don't mean to be flippant . But uh just 16:43.641 --> 16:46.409 to , just to be more , I guess , a 16:46.419 --> 16:48.590 little bit more uh helpful to your 16:48.599 --> 16:51.919 question . Um No , we're not gonna 16:51.929 --> 16:55.030 change our policy on ensuring that 16:55.429 --> 16:57.840 every single service member has 16:57.849 --> 16:59.960 equitable access to , to reproductive 16:59.960 --> 17:02.340 health care . Um If you are a service 17:02.349 --> 17:04.405 member stationed in a state that has 17:04.405 --> 17:06.516 rolled back or restricted health care 17:06.516 --> 17:08.810 access , um you are often stationed 17:08.819 --> 17:10.763 there uh because you were assigned 17:10.763 --> 17:12.930 there , it is not that you chose to go 17:12.930 --> 17:14.875 there . And so a service member in 17:14.875 --> 17:16.763 Alabama deserves to have the same 17:16.763 --> 17:18.708 access to health care as a service 17:18.708 --> 17:20.597 member in California as a service 17:20.597 --> 17:22.541 member stationed in Korea . And so 17:22.541 --> 17:24.875 that's what that policy does . It's not , 17:24.875 --> 17:26.938 um , it's not a , it's not a uh 17:26.948 --> 17:29.359 abortion policy . The department does 17:29.369 --> 17:31.591 not have an abortion policy . We have , 17:31.591 --> 17:34.609 um , we have a health care policy and 17:34.619 --> 17:36.841 we have a travel policy that allows for 17:36.841 --> 17:38.952 our service members to take advantage 17:38.952 --> 17:40.619 of health care that should be 17:40.619 --> 17:42.841 accessible to them . Uh So my follow up 17:42.841 --> 17:45.390 is then how , how does this end ? I 17:45.400 --> 17:47.733 think you should ask Senator Tuberville . 17:47.733 --> 17:49.956 Um , we've certainly asked him how this 17:49.956 --> 17:53.209 ends . The secretary has , um , had , I 17:53.219 --> 17:55.670 think three calls with him . Um , uh , 17:55.680 --> 17:59.390 this year , uh , early on when the 17:59.400 --> 18:01.511 department was going through , how we 18:01.511 --> 18:03.789 were going to address the dos decision . 18:03.789 --> 18:06.122 One of the things that we did was brief , 18:06.122 --> 18:08.178 uh , members of the committee . Um , 18:08.178 --> 18:10.400 our team went up , there was very clear 18:10.400 --> 18:12.750 about how and why we needed to ensure 18:12.760 --> 18:14.982 that our service members all across the 18:14.982 --> 18:17.239 board have access to health care . And 18:17.250 --> 18:19.194 um we were very clear with Senator 18:19.194 --> 18:21.361 Tuberville's staff about how um how we 18:21.361 --> 18:23.417 could do that , how we could achieve 18:23.417 --> 18:25.417 that end goal . And so , um we were 18:25.420 --> 18:27.587 very clear from the beginning , um , a 18:27.587 --> 18:30.510 few weeks ago , I mid July , our um 18:30.520 --> 18:33.010 policy experts went up there and also 18:33.020 --> 18:35.187 briefed the members again to give them 18:35.187 --> 18:37.609 more information on the policy . Um So 18:37.619 --> 18:39.730 we've been very clear , we don't have 18:39.730 --> 18:42.609 anything to negotiate with here . Um We 18:42.619 --> 18:44.786 continue to urge the Senate to confirm 18:44.786 --> 18:46.920 our outstanding nominees . These are 18:46.930 --> 18:49.430 nominees that have enjoyed bipartisan 18:49.439 --> 18:51.959 support in , in multiple 18:51.969 --> 18:54.619 administrations . Um So I would really 18:54.630 --> 18:57.050 pose that question to the senator , uh 18:57.060 --> 18:59.004 you know , right there in his home 18:59.004 --> 19:01.004 state . We have the defense missile 19:01.004 --> 19:02.893 agency that right now um is being 19:02.893 --> 19:04.939 dutifully commanded by a one star 19:04.949 --> 19:07.280 general , but he's filling the role of 19:07.290 --> 19:09.346 a three star . It's right in Senator 19:09.346 --> 19:12.060 Tuberville's backyard . Um He really 19:12.069 --> 19:14.869 has the , the power . Um And , and I 19:14.880 --> 19:17.380 would say , you know , uh his party has 19:17.390 --> 19:19.390 the power to end these holes and we 19:19.390 --> 19:21.630 would urge him to do that . Great . 19:21.800 --> 19:24.119 Yeah , thank you . I want to ask you 19:24.130 --> 19:26.410 about the trilateral cooperation with 19:26.420 --> 19:29.280 Japan and Australia uh earlier this 19:29.290 --> 19:31.630 week , the defense agreement between 19:31.640 --> 19:34.119 Japan and Australia known as the 19:34.130 --> 19:37.430 reciprocal access agreement came into 19:37.439 --> 19:39.599 force . The agreement is intending to 19:39.609 --> 19:42.229 facilitate the combined training and 19:42.239 --> 19:44.645 joint exercises in the two countries . 19:44.844 --> 19:48.645 I wonder how helpful such bilateral 19:48.655 --> 19:51.305 defense arrangement would be for the US 19:51.314 --> 19:53.584 to advance a trilateral defense 19:53.594 --> 19:55.761 cooperation . The secretary is working 19:55.761 --> 19:58.094 on now . Yeah , thanks for the question . 19:58.094 --> 20:00.038 I mean , in terms of the agreement 20:00.038 --> 20:02.150 between Japan and Australia , I would 20:02.150 --> 20:04.205 refer you to those countries to , to 20:04.205 --> 20:06.427 speak more to their own agreement . But 20:06.427 --> 20:08.650 um this agreement certainly shows us as 20:08.650 --> 20:10.816 the department , the desire for a free 20:10.816 --> 20:13.349 and open Indo Pacific and it's clearly 20:13.359 --> 20:15.359 one that's shared by our allies and 20:15.359 --> 20:18.270 partners . So um agreements like this 20:18.280 --> 20:20.447 will help us enforce the international 20:20.447 --> 20:22.558 rule based order and will continue to 20:22.558 --> 20:24.724 provide security and prosperity to the 20:24.724 --> 20:26.724 region . So we welcome it . But for 20:26.724 --> 20:28.780 more details , I would direct you to 20:28.780 --> 20:31.058 those two countries to speak to . Yeah , 20:31.058 --> 20:30.780 I'll go to Tom and then over to you . 20:31.589 --> 20:33.849 Thank you . Um Could you share with us 20:33.859 --> 20:36.170 some of the uh some of the criteria the 20:36.180 --> 20:39.640 Pentagon has to designate a coup when 20:39.650 --> 20:41.790 it moves from attempted coup to an 20:41.800 --> 20:44.030 actual coup . What what is the criteria 20:44.040 --> 20:46.270 the Pentagon uses to differentiate 20:46.280 --> 20:48.890 between an attempted coup and when it 20:48.900 --> 20:50.956 comes to coup , I asked that because 20:51.939 --> 20:55.890 has had coups in 74 96 99 2010 , 20:55.900 --> 20:59.560 2021 a coup attempt . And now this and 20:59.569 --> 21:01.513 so at some point in the past , the 21:01.513 --> 21:03.847 Pentagon has designated coups . And now , 21:03.847 --> 21:06.180 so what's some of the criteria , please ? 21:06.180 --> 21:08.291 Yeah , I actually would direct you to 21:08.291 --> 21:08.250 state department more for that because 21:08.260 --> 21:10.427 they would be the ones to . Can I just 21:10.427 --> 21:12.593 actually finish Tom really quick . The 21:12.593 --> 21:14.871 State Department because we don't , we , 21:14.871 --> 21:16.982 this is an interagency effort . We're 21:16.982 --> 21:18.927 coordinating with , um , our State 21:18.927 --> 21:18.725 Department , colleagues with the White 21:18.735 --> 21:20.846 House on this as well . But the State 21:20.846 --> 21:23.013 Department would actually be the one I 21:23.013 --> 21:26.416 think to um officially change a country 21:26.426 --> 21:28.648 status or the US relationship with that 21:28.648 --> 21:30.870 country . And therefore that would kick 21:30.870 --> 21:32.426 into effect um The dod s uh 21:32.426 --> 21:34.482 relationship , I hear what you say . 21:34.482 --> 21:36.426 However , the State Department has 21:36.426 --> 21:38.962 never used the language attempted coup 21:38.972 --> 21:41.250 in regards to the current situation as , 21:41.250 --> 21:43.305 as the Department of Defense , as if 21:43.305 --> 21:45.361 you have personally . So therefore , 21:45.361 --> 21:47.583 it's incumbent upon you who's using the 21:47.583 --> 21:49.694 term to describe how you move it from 21:49.694 --> 21:51.861 attempted coup to coup , not the state 21:51.861 --> 21:53.916 department which has not uttered the 21:53.916 --> 21:55.861 word coup in any form or fashion . 21:55.861 --> 21:57.861 Appreciate the comment . Was that a 21:57.861 --> 21:59.916 question ? Was there a question ? So 21:59.916 --> 22:01.972 again , I think I've answered that , 22:01.972 --> 22:04.139 I'm not gonna go into more details . I 22:04.139 --> 22:06.194 would again , not gonna get ahead of 22:06.194 --> 22:08.416 any decisions that this department that 22:08.416 --> 22:10.639 the State Department or the White House 22:10.639 --> 22:12.750 makes right now . I can tell you that 22:12.750 --> 22:14.916 our force posture has not changed in . 22:14.916 --> 22:17.028 Um We are certainly hopeful that this 22:17.028 --> 22:19.028 is resolved in a diplomatic way and 22:19.028 --> 22:21.250 while I appreciate your frustration . I 22:21.250 --> 22:23.739 hopefully , I , I hope you understand 22:23.964 --> 22:27.454 that um we are hoping for a peaceful 22:27.464 --> 22:29.824 and a diplomatic outcome here . And um 22:29.834 --> 22:33.145 if that doesn't happen , I will some 22:33.155 --> 22:35.266 one of us will be back at this podium 22:35.266 --> 22:37.044 and would be happy to take your 22:37.044 --> 22:39.295 questions , but I'm gonna go ahead and 22:39.305 --> 22:42.974 move on . Yeah , there are reports said 22:42.984 --> 22:46.175 that the US now is in talks with Turkey 22:46.185 --> 22:49.729 and Ukraine and other partners to 22:49.739 --> 22:52.400 increase the use of alternative export 22:52.410 --> 22:54.930 routes for Ukraine and grain . So do 22:54.939 --> 22:57.540 you um confirm that and with your 22:57.550 --> 22:59.550 assessment , does the Black Sea now 22:59.550 --> 23:02.040 become like a bot of ground and how 23:02.050 --> 23:04.400 much your concerns have about that ? 23:05.030 --> 23:07.197 I'm sorry , I just have not seen those 23:07.197 --> 23:09.197 reports . So um I just can't really 23:09.197 --> 23:11.308 comment on , on any more specifics on 23:11.308 --> 23:14.180 that . I'm I'm sorry . Well , the Black 23:14.189 --> 23:16.245 Sea in terms of , in terms of what's 23:16.245 --> 23:18.467 happening in the Black Sea , you know , 23:18.467 --> 23:20.633 there's no us assets there operating . 23:20.633 --> 23:22.911 Um We have certainly urged Russia both , 23:23.359 --> 23:26.599 I mean , pretty publicly but also 23:26.609 --> 23:29.130 through different agencies to return to 23:29.140 --> 23:32.479 the grain deal . Um The the risk that 23:32.489 --> 23:34.739 Russia is taking is starving other 23:34.750 --> 23:37.010 countries out of , of needed grain that 23:37.020 --> 23:39.890 that they depend on Ukraine for . So 23:39.900 --> 23:41.900 we've urged Russia to return to the 23:41.900 --> 23:44.011 grain deal to honor its commitment to 23:44.011 --> 23:46.011 ensure safe passage of grain out of 23:46.011 --> 23:48.011 Ukraine and into the countries that 23:48.079 --> 23:50.630 need it the most . Um But we don't have 23:50.640 --> 23:52.862 any US assets within the Black Sea . So 23:52.862 --> 23:54.918 I I just don't have more to share on 23:54.918 --> 23:57.069 that . Yeah , of course , Dan kind of 23:57.079 --> 24:00.770 related . So in , in the Gulf , the US 24:00.780 --> 24:03.189 has deployed as you've described 24:03.199 --> 24:06.500 additional assets , troops to ensure 24:06.510 --> 24:08.859 the safety of commercial shipping in 24:08.869 --> 24:12.089 the strait of Hormuz . So , so far , 24:12.160 --> 24:15.219 have you seen a decline in , in kind of 24:15.229 --> 24:17.795 hostile acts or threats to commercial 24:17.805 --> 24:20.944 shipping in that region over weeks 24:20.954 --> 24:23.214 since like since the last incident , or 24:23.224 --> 24:25.335 like since we last positioned marines 24:25.335 --> 24:27.502 there over the past several weeks . Um 24:27.502 --> 24:29.704 I don't have specific updates on like 24:29.714 --> 24:32.520 any um interactions or unsafe , 24:32.530 --> 24:34.641 unprofessional behavior . But I think 24:34.641 --> 24:37.550 the fact that we did surge in , um I , 24:37.569 --> 24:40.699 I think it was 3000 sailors and marines . 24:40.709 --> 24:43.042 I think that helps serve as a deterrent . 24:43.042 --> 24:45.265 Um , but I don't have any thing to read 24:45.265 --> 24:47.376 out in terms of any actions that have 24:47.376 --> 24:49.431 been taken . Would , would something 24:49.431 --> 24:51.765 similar be considered for the Black Sea ? 24:51.765 --> 24:54.910 Isn't , isn't the a blockade or 24:54.920 --> 24:57.810 disruption and grain shipments really a 24:57.819 --> 25:00.709 threat to international commerce in the 25:00.719 --> 25:02.775 same way that Iranian actions in the 25:02.775 --> 25:04.775 state of Hormuz would be . Yeah , I 25:04.775 --> 25:06.997 don't have any decision or announcement 25:06.997 --> 25:09.108 to make on that . It's something that 25:09.108 --> 25:11.275 we can , we need to monitor . Um , you 25:11.275 --> 25:13.441 know , we're not , we , we are , we've 25:13.441 --> 25:15.441 been very clear , we don't seek war 25:15.441 --> 25:17.441 with Russia and that this is um you 25:17.441 --> 25:17.150 know , a fight that we are helping 25:17.160 --> 25:19.493 support Ukraine in . But at this moment , 25:19.493 --> 25:21.660 I don't have any announcements to make 25:21.660 --> 25:23.827 when it comes to the Black Sea or , or 25:23.827 --> 25:26.049 any secure of um helping shipments move 25:26.049 --> 25:28.939 out . And then I'm gonna go to one last 25:28.949 --> 25:31.869 question , a different angle on . So 25:32.140 --> 25:34.560 take it . Uh what about U uh 25:35.219 --> 25:38.910 Defense Department consultations with 25:38.920 --> 25:40.864 the West African countries and eco 25:41.449 --> 25:43.569 because even though all sides are 25:43.579 --> 25:45.746 saying they want a peaceful solution , 25:45.746 --> 25:47.801 as you know , those governments have 25:47.801 --> 25:49.635 also held out the possibility of 25:49.635 --> 25:52.260 military intervention is the US in 25:52.270 --> 25:54.560 consultation with those countries and 25:54.569 --> 25:56.849 have they made requests for any kind of 25:56.859 --> 25:59.900 us military assistance , secondary or 25:59.910 --> 26:02.077 logistical support in any way ? Um I'm 26:02.077 --> 26:03.910 not aware of any requests for us 26:03.910 --> 26:07.114 military support , but the countries 26:07.125 --> 26:09.765 that are part of ecowas have , have all 26:09.775 --> 26:11.831 said that military intervention is a 26:11.831 --> 26:13.886 last resort . They don't want to see 26:13.886 --> 26:15.942 that happen . So we're supportive of 26:15.942 --> 26:18.053 that stance . We , we also don't want 26:18.053 --> 26:19.775 to see um this end in military 26:19.775 --> 26:22.025 intervention . We want to see a 26:22.045 --> 26:24.635 peaceful resolution to , to this ending . 26:24.645 --> 26:27.724 And um we certainly have not closed any 26:27.734 --> 26:31.599 doors to diplomacy . Um I 26:31.609 --> 26:33.831 think , you know , the State Department 26:33.831 --> 26:36.053 had a representative in the country . I 26:36.053 --> 26:38.220 want to say it was a week or two ago . 26:38.220 --> 26:40.109 Um So we're continuing to explore 26:40.109 --> 26:42.310 avenues of diplomacy . Um But , you 26:42.319 --> 26:44.430 know , and we're going to continue to 26:44.430 --> 26:46.763 explore all options that we can . Great . 26:46.763 --> 26:48.819 I'll take one last question and then 26:48.819 --> 26:50.930 we'll wrap it up . Thanks . Um , it's 26:50.930 --> 26:50.510 been two years since the Taliban 26:50.520 --> 26:52.631 returned to power and the US withdrew 26:52.631 --> 26:54.742 from Afghanistan . So I wanted to ask 26:54.742 --> 26:56.798 you if you can provide any update on 26:56.798 --> 26:58.909 the , uh , 7 $7 billion worth of us , 26:58.909 --> 27:00.576 weapons and equipment left in 27:00.576 --> 27:02.687 Afghanistan . And can you share where 27:02.687 --> 27:02.479 we have seen these weapons in the 27:02.489 --> 27:04.390 region as well ? I don't have any 27:04.400 --> 27:07.469 update on , um , any specifics from the 27:07.479 --> 27:10.760 region . Um It's a pretty somber and 27:10.770 --> 27:13.770 solemn day and month . Of course , as 27:13.780 --> 27:15.947 we remember the two year anniversary , 27:16.310 --> 27:18.939 I think it's something that , um , you 27:18.949 --> 27:20.949 know , of course , we , we remember 27:20.949 --> 27:23.060 those who paid the ultimate sacrifice 27:23.060 --> 27:25.171 and not just in the time that we were 27:25.171 --> 27:27.227 um conducting an evacuation but also 27:27.227 --> 27:31.119 throughout the 20 year war . Um And so 27:31.130 --> 27:33.270 we , you know , we wanna honor those 27:33.280 --> 27:36.140 service members and we wanna also honor 27:36.150 --> 27:38.039 the fact that our service members 27:38.039 --> 27:40.239 performed an evacuation like no other 27:40.250 --> 27:42.417 military in the world could because we 27:42.417 --> 27:44.306 were able to use our partners and 27:44.306 --> 27:46.528 allies . Um I don't have more specifics 27:46.528 --> 27:48.750 beyond that . We submitted , you know , 27:48.750 --> 27:50.750 our after action review that was um 27:50.750 --> 27:52.806 classified , but we did give that to 27:52.806 --> 27:55.028 Congress . And I , you know , I think , 27:55.028 --> 27:57.028 I think we've been pretty outspoken 27:57.028 --> 27:59.083 about our efforts in Afghanistan and 27:59.083 --> 28:01.417 I'll just leave it at that . Ok , great . 28:01.417 --> 28:01.640 Thanks . All