WEBVTT 00:03.380 --> 00:05.730 All right . Um So good afternoon , 00:05.739 --> 00:08.039 everyone . Um Just a few items to pass 00:08.050 --> 00:10.161 along at the top here and then I'd be 00:10.161 --> 00:12.383 happy to take your questions . So first 00:12.383 --> 00:14.161 on Hawaii , consistent with our 00:14.161 --> 00:16.050 previous updates , the department 00:16.050 --> 00:18.383 continues to support the island of Maui . 00:18.383 --> 00:20.870 As of this morning , approximately 674 00:20.879 --> 00:24.709 dod personnel including 567 national 00:24.719 --> 00:26.830 guardsmen are actively engaged in the 00:26.830 --> 00:28.830 coordinated response to the Western 00:28.830 --> 00:31.659 Maui wildfire . Us army Pacific is 00:31.670 --> 00:33.503 executing eight approved mission 00:33.503 --> 00:35.670 assignments and forces remain postured 00:35.670 --> 00:37.337 to support additional mission 00:37.337 --> 00:39.392 assignments if requested . Since our 00:39.392 --> 00:41.400 last update , fuel distribution 00:41.409 --> 00:43.576 operations and the show field barracks 00:43.576 --> 00:45.298 support facility missions have 00:45.298 --> 00:48.080 concluded . The JTF 50 continues to 00:48.090 --> 00:50.380 focus on search and recovery activities 00:50.389 --> 00:52.959 with Hawaii National Guard . The FBI 00:53.240 --> 00:55.979 anthropologist from the defense powm I 00:55.990 --> 00:58.689 accounting mi A accounting agency and 00:58.700 --> 01:01.360 mortuary affairs . Technicians . Hawaii 01:01.369 --> 01:03.202 National Guard continues 24 hour 01:03.202 --> 01:05.419 traffic control and area security 01:05.430 --> 01:07.374 support to local law enforcement . 01:07.819 --> 01:10.769 Since August 25th , potable water teams 01:10.779 --> 01:13.290 have distributed over 4000 gallons of 01:13.300 --> 01:16.120 water within the area . Additionally , 01:16.129 --> 01:18.073 us army Corps of Engineer advanced 01:18.073 --> 01:20.360 teams are on Maui right now preparing 01:20.370 --> 01:22.203 to establish a long term forward 01:22.203 --> 01:24.259 command and control center for their 01:24.259 --> 01:27.000 future debris removal mission . The 01:27.010 --> 01:28.954 County of Maui is the lead on this 01:28.954 --> 01:31.150 mission and they are targeting a 01:31.160 --> 01:33.389 November 1st start date for the debris 01:33.400 --> 01:36.059 removal effort . Us army Corps of 01:36.069 --> 01:38.125 engineer teams are also working with 01:38.125 --> 01:40.347 local officials on design plans for the 01:40.347 --> 01:42.347 establishment of a temporary school 01:42.347 --> 01:44.569 site for local Children . And our coast 01:44.569 --> 01:46.625 guard partners are maintaining their 01:46.625 --> 01:48.458 focus and response on minimizing 01:48.458 --> 01:50.739 maritime environmental impacts . Moving 01:50.750 --> 01:52.639 on to today . Earlier today , the 01:52.639 --> 01:54.849 secretary held a trilateral call with 01:54.860 --> 01:56.749 the , with with Japan Minister of 01:56.750 --> 02:00.650 Defense Hamada um Yau and 02:00.660 --> 02:02.860 Republic of Korea Minister of National 02:02.870 --> 02:05.680 Defense Lee . So the secretary affirmed 02:05.690 --> 02:07.910 the ironclad us extended deterrence 02:07.919 --> 02:10.141 commitment to Japan and the Republic of 02:10.141 --> 02:12.570 Korea . The leaders also discussed and 02:12.580 --> 02:14.839 strongly condemned North Korea's August 02:14.850 --> 02:16.979 24 attempted space launch using 02:16.990 --> 02:19.020 ballistic missile technology as a 02:19.029 --> 02:20.940 violation of multiple un security 02:20.949 --> 02:23.610 resolutions . Also today , the 02:23.619 --> 02:25.619 department announced a new security 02:25.619 --> 02:27.786 assistance package through the Ukraine 02:27.786 --> 02:29.675 security assistance initiative to 02:29.675 --> 02:31.786 support Ukraine's battlefield needs . 02:31.786 --> 02:33.730 This $600 million package includes 02:33.730 --> 02:35.675 equipment to augment Ukraine's air 02:35.675 --> 02:37.619 defenses , artillery munitions and 02:37.619 --> 02:39.286 other capabilities . For more 02:39.286 --> 02:41.397 information you can visit defense dot 02:41.397 --> 02:43.563 gov to see the complete details of the 02:43.563 --> 02:46.029 package today , Lieutenant General Mark 02:46.190 --> 02:48.246 Saville , Vice Chief of the National 02:48.246 --> 02:50.301 Guard Bureau is in Madison Wisconsin 02:50.301 --> 02:52.869 for the F-35 mission arrival ceremony 02:53.039 --> 02:55.610 at the 115th fighter wing of the 02:55.619 --> 02:58.029 Wisconsin Air National Guard . Today's 02:58.039 --> 03:00.169 ceremony coincides with the 75th 03:00.179 --> 03:02.770 anniversary of the 115th Fighter Wing 03:02.949 --> 03:05.171 and marks the second Air National Guard 03:05.171 --> 03:07.589 Wing in the nation to receive the F-35 . 03:08.500 --> 03:11.149 And finally , as of Monday , there are 03:11.160 --> 03:14.419 now 319 nominations that are impacted 03:14.429 --> 03:16.540 because of Senator Tuberville's holds 03:16.540 --> 03:19.229 on our general and flag officers for 03:19.240 --> 03:21.296 the first time in history . Three of 03:21.296 --> 03:23.462 our military branches , the army , the 03:23.462 --> 03:25.351 Navy and the Marine Corps have no 03:25.351 --> 03:27.684 Senate confirmed service chief in place . 03:27.684 --> 03:29.684 Instead , these jobs and other jobs 03:29.684 --> 03:31.907 across the department and the force are 03:31.907 --> 03:34.073 being performed by acting officials as 03:34.073 --> 03:36.407 this list of nominees continues to grow . 03:36.407 --> 03:38.629 We are continuing to see the impacts on 03:38.629 --> 03:40.740 our readiness , our national security 03:40.740 --> 03:42.518 and our military families as we 03:42.518 --> 03:44.518 continue to do so , we urge Senator 03:44.518 --> 03:46.629 Tuberville to lift his ho these holds 03:46.629 --> 03:48.851 and confirm these qualified leaders who 03:48.851 --> 03:50.962 have served their country proudly and 03:50.962 --> 03:53.240 selflessly for decades . And with that , 03:53.240 --> 03:55.351 I'd be happy to take your questions . 03:55.351 --> 03:57.184 Uh Welcome back . Thank you . Um 03:57.184 --> 03:59.351 Sabrina on the depleted uranium rounds 03:59.351 --> 04:01.899 that were announced . Um The Kremlin 04:02.270 --> 04:04.381 criticized , it has now criticized it 04:04.381 --> 04:07.160 as a bad move , discussing the cancer 04:07.169 --> 04:10.399 causing nature of of the product . A 04:10.410 --> 04:12.632 criticism that others have brought up . 04:12.632 --> 04:14.688 Obviously in the past , what is your 04:14.688 --> 04:16.632 response to people who are greatly 04:16.632 --> 04:18.720 concerned about that aspect of this 04:18.730 --> 04:22.359 weapon ? And secondly , can you address 04:22.369 --> 04:25.959 what the US thinks is uh the 04:25.970 --> 04:28.026 benefit that these rounds will bring 04:28.026 --> 04:29.899 and how soon will they be on the 04:29.910 --> 04:31.966 battlefield . Sure . So on the first 04:31.966 --> 04:34.256 question , um in terms of uh the health 04:34.265 --> 04:36.355 impacts of the depleted depleted 04:36.365 --> 04:39.126 uranium rounds , um I would push back 04:39.135 --> 04:41.425 on the assertion from um Russian 04:41.436 --> 04:44.205 officials here , the CDC has stated 04:44.216 --> 04:46.327 that there is no evidence that the uh 04:46.327 --> 04:48.496 depleted uranium rounds rounds cause 04:48.506 --> 04:50.776 cancer . The World Health Organization 04:50.786 --> 04:53.008 reports that there has been no increase 04:53.008 --> 04:55.691 of loop heia or other cancers . Um and 04:55.701 --> 04:57.757 that have been established following 04:57.757 --> 04:59.902 any exposure to uranium or DU . And 04:59.911 --> 05:02.941 even the IAE A has stated unequivocally 05:02.951 --> 05:05.291 that there is no proven link between DU 05:05.302 --> 05:07.761 exposure and increases in cancers or 05:07.772 --> 05:09.772 significant health or environmental 05:09.772 --> 05:12.050 impacts . So I would push back on that . 05:12.050 --> 05:14.231 Um In terms of your second question , 05:14.799 --> 05:17.519 these are anti uh tank rounds . They're 05:17.529 --> 05:21.269 meant to pierce um uh tanks and they're 05:21.279 --> 05:23.335 meant to be used , they will be used 05:23.335 --> 05:25.446 very effectively on the battlefield . 05:25.446 --> 05:27.390 These are standard issued rounds . 05:27.390 --> 05:29.446 These are what um these Abrams tanks 05:29.446 --> 05:32.994 will use and um many militaries across 05:33.005 --> 05:35.234 the world use depleted uranium in their 05:35.244 --> 05:37.964 tanks . So we feel that these will be 05:37.975 --> 05:41.454 the most effective um rounds to 05:41.464 --> 05:44.295 counter Russian tanks and will help 05:44.304 --> 05:46.774 continue , will help the Ukrainians to 05:46.785 --> 05:48.674 defend their , the battlefield to 05:48.674 --> 05:51.820 defend their territory . Um So I can't , 05:51.829 --> 05:53.940 I I would let the Ukrainians announce 05:53.940 --> 05:56.260 when these um when the rounds will 05:56.269 --> 05:58.709 arrive . We've said pretty publicly 05:58.720 --> 06:00.942 that we expect the tanks to be arriving 06:00.942 --> 06:03.053 in Ukraine sometime in the fall but I 06:03.053 --> 06:05.387 just don't have more specifics to offer . 06:05.387 --> 06:07.609 I'd refer you to the Ukrainians to , to 06:07.609 --> 06:07.260 announce when they actually arrive . 06:07.269 --> 06:09.420 But the goal is to have the rounds 06:09.429 --> 06:12.950 there specifically in time for when the 06:12.959 --> 06:14.959 tanks arrive . Is that , that's the 06:14.959 --> 06:17.179 goal . Yes . Yeah . Hey , Matt , in , 06:17.839 --> 06:19.783 we've heard from officials that us 06:19.783 --> 06:22.380 troops will be moved , repositioned 06:22.390 --> 06:24.612 within the country and that some number 06:24.612 --> 06:26.612 of troops will be removed . Can you 06:26.612 --> 06:28.834 speak to that ? And is there any threat 06:28.834 --> 06:31.001 perceived for us troops at this time ? 06:31.001 --> 06:33.168 Sure . So , um in terms of , there's , 06:33.168 --> 06:35.390 there's no perceived threat uh in terms 06:35.390 --> 06:37.934 of any threat to us troops and no 06:37.945 --> 06:40.167 threat of violence on the ground , this 06:40.167 --> 06:42.445 is simply a precautionary measure . So , 06:42.445 --> 06:44.334 what we're doing right now is the 06:44.334 --> 06:46.556 department is repositioning some of our 06:46.556 --> 06:49.500 personnel and some of our assets from 06:49.510 --> 06:52.450 Air Base 101 in to air Base 06:52.459 --> 06:56.230 20201 in Agadez . Um But 06:56.239 --> 06:58.572 that's just , it's simply precautionary . 06:58.572 --> 07:00.683 Our force posture hasn't changed in . 07:00.683 --> 07:02.795 Our position remains the same that we 07:02.795 --> 07:04.906 hope that the situation on the ground 07:04.906 --> 07:07.017 gets resolved diplomatically . But um 07:07.017 --> 07:09.290 would just re emphasize that there's no 07:09.299 --> 07:11.529 immediate threat to us personnel or , 07:11.540 --> 07:14.489 or violence on the ground . Is the US 07:14.500 --> 07:16.667 conducting counter terror missions out 07:16.667 --> 07:19.000 of the country at this point out of the , 07:19.000 --> 07:21.200 at this time , we're still really 07:21.209 --> 07:24.329 confined to the base . Um We are again 07:24.339 --> 07:26.561 moving personnel and assets , but we're 07:26.561 --> 07:30.359 not conducting joint um operations or 07:30.369 --> 07:32.559 training with the Nigerian military at 07:32.570 --> 07:35.720 this time . Yeah . Yeah . Or a follow 07:35.730 --> 07:37.897 on and then another question . So , so 07:37.899 --> 07:40.066 why do this , what , what changed that 07:40.066 --> 07:43.220 the US decided to move personnel and 07:43.230 --> 07:45.119 equipment if there's no perceived 07:45.119 --> 07:47.341 threat or no threat to us troops ? What 07:47.341 --> 07:48.952 prompted six weeks after the 07:48.952 --> 07:51.063 democratically elected government was 07:51.063 --> 07:53.230 overthrown the US to move to make this 07:53.230 --> 07:55.397 decision ? It was again just out of an 07:55.397 --> 07:57.397 abundance of caution . We felt that 07:57.397 --> 07:59.695 because our force posture is not 07:59.704 --> 08:02.015 changing within the country , but we 08:02.024 --> 08:03.802 felt that it was just out of an 08:03.802 --> 08:05.968 abundance of caution for our personnel 08:05.968 --> 08:07.968 and for our assets in the area that 08:07.968 --> 08:10.274 rather than keeping them close uh in ma 08:10.285 --> 08:12.507 that it would be safer to move them out 08:12.507 --> 08:14.452 to air base 201 in Agadez . And so 08:14.452 --> 08:18.160 that's exactly why um we took , I would 08:18.170 --> 08:20.003 say prudent military planning to 08:20.003 --> 08:22.670 safeguard our US assets and just to um 08:22.880 --> 08:25.989 protect our US personnel . Is this tied 08:26.000 --> 08:28.679 to the resistance the French are seeing 08:28.690 --> 08:30.857 to their forces being there . There is 08:30.857 --> 08:32.968 no tie to this . Um I would again , I 08:32.968 --> 08:35.429 this is out of a complete abundance of 08:35.440 --> 08:37.799 caution . There is no tie to um what 08:37.809 --> 08:40.087 the French military is doing right now . 08:40.087 --> 08:43.419 Um We are , we are confident that um or 08:43.429 --> 08:46.359 we are hopeful that diplomatic talks 08:46.369 --> 08:48.591 will continue and that the situation in 08:48.591 --> 08:50.702 will be resolved diplomatically . But 08:50.702 --> 08:52.536 right now out of an abundance of 08:52.536 --> 08:54.758 caution . We are just moving our , um , 08:54.758 --> 08:56.980 some of our personnel and our assets to 08:56.980 --> 08:59.036 Air Base 201 . And then just another 08:59.036 --> 09:01.258 topic , uh , a Florida man attempted to 09:01.258 --> 09:03.313 cross the Atlantic Ocean . The human 09:03.313 --> 09:05.536 wheel was brought in by the coast guard 09:05.536 --> 09:07.591 after five days and it is his fourth 09:07.591 --> 09:09.813 time attempting this . I know you don't 09:09.813 --> 09:09.460 speak for the coast guard . Will there 09:09.469 --> 09:11.691 be imagery ? And how frequently has the 09:11.691 --> 09:13.691 Coast Guard or the navy intercepted 09:13.691 --> 09:15.802 human hamster wheels off the coast of 09:15.802 --> 09:18.270 the US ? You know , 09:19.390 --> 09:21.390 really didn't have that on my bingo 09:21.390 --> 09:24.340 card today . Um I would refer you to 09:24.349 --> 09:26.500 the Coast Guard and thank you for the 09:26.510 --> 09:28.580 question . Um I'm gonna go to the 09:28.590 --> 09:31.099 phones on that note , uh Laura Seligman 09:31.109 --> 09:31.820 Politico 09:40.559 --> 09:43.000 or did Oren's Oren's uh question just , 09:43.010 --> 09:46.849 you know , kick you off the phone about 09:46.859 --> 09:49.840 uh Tony Capac of Bloomberg . Hi , I 09:49.849 --> 09:52.809 have a non coast guard question . Do d 09:52.820 --> 09:54.764 last night issued a statement on a 09:54.764 --> 09:56.820 canceled key test of the army's long 09:56.820 --> 09:59.400 range hypersonic weapons . Sabrina , 09:59.609 --> 10:01.720 the army was hoping to clear the , to 10:01.720 --> 10:03.609 declare the weapon operational on 10:03.609 --> 10:05.720 September 30th . It was also supposed 10:05.720 --> 10:07.553 to be the US S first operational 10:07.553 --> 10:09.609 hypersonic missile to counter Russia 10:09.609 --> 10:12.640 and China . What's the view of the dod 10:12.650 --> 10:14.872 S research and development leadership ? 10:14.872 --> 10:17.369 Right . How big a setback was this non 10:17.380 --> 10:19.960 test to meeting the September 30th 10:19.969 --> 10:22.830 operational date ? Thanks Tony for the 10:22.840 --> 10:24.896 question . Um As you mentioned , the 10:24.896 --> 10:27.062 department planned to conduct a flight 10:27.062 --> 10:30.140 test um in Florida to just inform the 10:30.150 --> 10:32.630 department's um hypersonic tech 10:32.640 --> 10:34.820 technology development . But as a 10:34.830 --> 10:37.520 result of uh preflight checks , the 10:37.530 --> 10:40.440 test did not occur . Um The department 10:40.450 --> 10:43.440 was able to successfully collect data 10:43.450 --> 10:45.500 on the performance of the ground 10:45.510 --> 10:47.700 hardware and software that will inform 10:47.710 --> 10:50.299 the continued progress toward fielding 10:50.309 --> 10:52.710 offensive hypersonic weapons . But for 10:52.719 --> 10:55.359 further details on , you know why this 10:55.369 --> 10:57.313 didn't happen or why it failed . I 10:57.313 --> 10:59.580 would refer you to the army . Um , I'll 10:59.590 --> 11:01.770 take one more from the phone . Uh , 11:01.780 --> 11:05.679 Jeff task and purpose . Uh Thank 11:05.690 --> 11:08.919 you on . Are any us personnel 11:08.929 --> 11:11.020 leaving the country ? Reuters had 11:11.030 --> 11:13.270 reported that personnel deemed 11:13.280 --> 11:17.150 non-essential will soon leave . Thanks 11:17.159 --> 11:19.280 Jeff for the question . Um Yes , some 11:19.289 --> 11:21.750 non essential personnel and contractors 11:21.760 --> 11:23.950 did leave the country . I want to say 11:23.960 --> 11:26.789 around July . So we are , we have about 11:26.799 --> 11:30.690 1100 people in right now . Again , 11:30.739 --> 11:33.130 our force posture has not changed . Um 11:33.140 --> 11:35.650 We are continuing to have a , have a 11:35.659 --> 11:39.539 presence at , um , the air base 101 11:39.549 --> 11:43.349 and air base 201 . but the only thing 11:43.359 --> 11:45.470 that's happening right now is that we 11:45.470 --> 11:47.659 have personnel moving , um , from 101 11:47.669 --> 11:50.200 to 201 along with our , um , some of 11:50.210 --> 11:52.432 our assets . Ok . I'll come back in the 11:52.432 --> 11:56.049 room . Yeah . Hi . Hello , has spoken 11:56.109 --> 11:59.770 to his newly confirmed counterpart . Uh 11:59.780 --> 12:02.130 Not yet . There has not been a call set 12:02.140 --> 12:04.359 up but we just saw that um the UK 12:04.390 --> 12:06.390 Parliament did confirm him . So I'm 12:06.390 --> 12:08.599 sure they will be speaking very soon . 12:08.679 --> 12:10.679 I just don't have a call to preview 12:10.679 --> 12:12.790 just yet . And of course , we , we do 12:12.790 --> 12:14.957 have the Ukraine defense contact group 12:14.957 --> 12:16.957 coming up later this month . So I'm 12:16.957 --> 12:19.068 sure they'll also be meeting there on 12:19.068 --> 12:21.290 Ukraine . There are reports that Russia 12:21.290 --> 12:23.179 is a sing troops near Kan in your 12:23.179 --> 12:25.520 region to like launch an attack . Do 12:25.530 --> 12:27.363 you observe any movements of the 12:27.363 --> 12:29.419 Russian troops in that area ? Well , 12:29.419 --> 12:31.641 look , I'd let Ukraine speak to more of 12:31.641 --> 12:33.919 what's happening on on the battlefield . 12:33.919 --> 12:35.974 Um , we just announced another USA I 12:35.974 --> 12:38.190 package today . We announced um , a PD 12:38.200 --> 12:40.380 A package earlier this week . So our 12:40.390 --> 12:42.400 focus right now is making sure that 12:42.409 --> 12:44.559 Ukraine has what it needs on the 12:44.570 --> 12:46.792 battlefield and that's flowing security 12:46.792 --> 12:48.903 assistance and , um , when we can and 12:48.903 --> 12:51.409 as much as we can . Um , and so again , 12:51.419 --> 12:53.641 this , this last package that we rolled 12:53.641 --> 12:55.697 out , I think was our 46th package . 12:55.697 --> 12:58.419 The Ukrainians are , are incredibly 12:58.429 --> 13:00.485 effective on the battlefield . We're 13:00.485 --> 13:02.707 seeing some progress already being made 13:02.707 --> 13:04.818 in their counter offensive . And so , 13:04.818 --> 13:06.818 um , I'll just leave it at that the 13:06.818 --> 13:08.985 effectiveness of the cluster munitions 13:08.985 --> 13:10.985 that Ukraine uh is using . Now , we 13:10.985 --> 13:13.207 feel that the Ukrainians are using them 13:13.207 --> 13:15.318 effectively . Um , they are , they're 13:15.318 --> 13:17.262 certainly , you know , in terms of 13:17.262 --> 13:19.429 tracking how they're using the cluster 13:19.429 --> 13:21.651 munitions and , and locations , we feel 13:21.651 --> 13:23.540 that they're , they're using them 13:23.540 --> 13:25.762 effectively and responsibly . Yeah . In 13:25.762 --> 13:27.985 the back , I'm with German follow up to 13:27.985 --> 13:30.207 that because , um , on September 19th , 13:30.207 --> 13:32.318 that's the next Ukraine contact group 13:32.318 --> 13:34.540 meeting in Sin . Um , will there be the 13:34.540 --> 13:36.707 question of long range missiles on the 13:36.707 --> 13:38.929 agenda ? I'm asking because today there 13:38.929 --> 13:40.818 was reports that Secretary Linton 13:40.818 --> 13:42.710 talked about that with Cole of 13:42.719 --> 13:45.359 providing Ukraine with long range 13:45.369 --> 13:47.369 missiles . I don't have anything to 13:47.369 --> 13:49.536 preview today and I wouldn't get ahead 13:49.536 --> 13:51.702 of the contact group . Certainly , the 13:51.702 --> 13:53.647 Ukrainians already have long range 13:53.647 --> 13:55.702 missiles with the storm shadows that 13:55.702 --> 13:57.980 they've been using effectively as well , 13:57.980 --> 14:00.202 but I just don't have anything today to 14:00.202 --> 14:02.425 preview . Yeah . Hey , uh you mentioned 14:02.425 --> 14:04.536 the nominations that have been put on 14:04.536 --> 14:06.536 hold and some of the impact uh that 14:06.536 --> 14:09.429 that's having is that um putting at 14:09.440 --> 14:12.020 risk any modernization initiatives or 14:12.030 --> 14:13.974 is it more of a concern just about 14:13.974 --> 14:15.863 general readiness and some of the 14:15.863 --> 14:18.030 hardships on personnel that are in ? I 14:18.030 --> 14:20.409 think it's both um when you don't have 14:20.419 --> 14:22.909 a confirmed leader in that position 14:22.919 --> 14:24.890 that would oversee a modernization 14:24.900 --> 14:26.929 effort , um You're talking about 14:26.940 --> 14:29.107 someone that's going to set the vision 14:29.107 --> 14:31.440 for that command or for that department . 14:31.440 --> 14:33.551 Um , when you have someone on hold or 14:33.551 --> 14:35.662 in a limbo state , of course , that's 14:35.662 --> 14:37.884 going to impact um the mission . Um But 14:37.884 --> 14:39.996 absolutely , it's having an impact on 14:39.996 --> 14:39.934 our readiness . It has an impact when 14:39.945 --> 14:41.905 we engage with allies and partners 14:41.914 --> 14:44.205 around the world . And um , as you 14:44.215 --> 14:46.364 probably saw recently , three of our 14:46.375 --> 14:49.255 secretaries wrote in an op ed of just 14:49.265 --> 14:51.432 about some of the impacts that they're 14:51.432 --> 14:53.543 seeing on each of their services . Um 14:53.543 --> 14:56.190 And one of the things is , is you , 14:56.200 --> 14:58.299 we're not the , the message that is 14:58.309 --> 15:00.531 being sent to allies and partners , but 15:00.531 --> 15:02.642 also to our adversaries . We know our 15:02.642 --> 15:04.865 adversaries are watching this right now 15:04.865 --> 15:06.900 and at a time when we have um a war 15:06.909 --> 15:09.520 raging in Ukraine at a time when we 15:09.530 --> 15:11.650 have the rising challenge of China 15:11.659 --> 15:14.369 growing in the east . Um We need our 15:14.380 --> 15:16.436 Senate confirmed military leaders in 15:16.436 --> 15:18.269 place to , to meet those , those 15:18.269 --> 15:20.380 threats and challenges all around the 15:20.380 --> 15:22.658 world . Great . Yeah . Hey , well , um , 15:22.658 --> 15:24.880 do you have any , can you provide any , 15:24.880 --> 15:26.880 any figures on the number of forces 15:26.880 --> 15:29.047 that were repositioned or , or the non 15:29.047 --> 15:31.380 essential personnel who left even rough ? 15:31.380 --> 15:33.602 Um , I , I don't have exact numbers for 15:33.602 --> 15:33.500 you . I can just tell you that there 15:33.510 --> 15:37.010 are about 1100 folks remaining in 15:37.320 --> 15:39.264 right now . I don't have the exact 15:39.264 --> 15:41.320 numbers of when folks were leaving , 15:41.320 --> 15:43.487 but it was non-essential personnel and 15:43.487 --> 15:45.950 contractors . Um So I , yeah , I would , 15:45.960 --> 15:48.127 I would direct you to a for , for more 15:48.127 --> 15:51.210 information on that one . Yeah , I said 15:51.799 --> 15:54.021 just a few minutes ago that you want to 15:54.021 --> 15:56.188 say , I want to say around July , that 15:56.188 --> 15:58.243 was when the non essential personnel 15:58.243 --> 16:00.466 and contractors left . Yet , we've been 16:00.466 --> 16:02.466 told repeatedly including this past 16:02.466 --> 16:04.355 Tuesday throughout August by both 16:04.355 --> 16:06.577 General Ryder and yourself , that there 16:06.577 --> 16:08.743 had been no change to force posture or 16:08.743 --> 16:10.632 presence within . Why are you not 16:10.632 --> 16:12.966 telling us that forces came out in July ? 16:12.966 --> 16:12.760 And we've been told repeatedly that 16:12.770 --> 16:14.992 there have been no changes , there have 16:14.992 --> 16:17.159 been no changes to our force posture . 16:17.159 --> 16:19.270 There's been no changes . Nothing has 16:19.270 --> 16:18.947 change , change in terms of our force 16:18.958 --> 16:21.687 posture or presence within . Clearly , 16:21.697 --> 16:23.475 if you're pulling personnel and 16:23.475 --> 16:25.586 contractors , there has been a change 16:25.586 --> 16:25.547 that we should have been told about 16:25.557 --> 16:27.613 when we were asking . Well , I guess 16:27.613 --> 16:29.724 maybe I should have been a little bit 16:29.724 --> 16:31.835 more clear when some of these changes 16:31.835 --> 16:33.890 were being made . But again , it was 16:33.890 --> 16:36.113 non essential personnel and contractors 16:36.113 --> 16:36.018 that were , I'm just gonna leave that , 16:36.237 --> 16:39.478 that were leaving . Um , some folks I 16:39.487 --> 16:41.377 know left earlier in the , uh , I 16:41.388 --> 16:43.528 believe in July for medical reasons . 16:43.538 --> 16:45.482 So again , we're talking about non 16:45.482 --> 16:47.482 essential personnel and contractors 16:47.482 --> 16:50.685 that left , um , at a time when again , 16:50.695 --> 16:53.216 we still have an incredible presence 16:53.226 --> 16:55.635 within the country with over 1100 folks 16:55.645 --> 16:58.106 or about approximately 1100 folks still 16:58.116 --> 17:00.172 there . We're not pulling people out 17:00.172 --> 17:02.005 right now . We're just moving us 17:02.005 --> 17:04.255 personnel and assets to air base 201 . 17:04.265 --> 17:06.209 So our force posture still remains 17:06.209 --> 17:09.265 intact . Um , and , you know , I would 17:09.276 --> 17:11.463 just leave it at that personnel left 17:11.473 --> 17:13.640 the country regardless of whether they 17:13.640 --> 17:15.806 were us military or not . They're part 17:15.806 --> 17:17.973 of the US presence there . But again , 17:17.973 --> 17:20.140 it's non essential personnel , again , 17:20.144 --> 17:22.477 non essential personnel and contractors . 17:22.477 --> 17:24.477 Next time , I think if there , when 17:24.477 --> 17:26.644 there are departures , we will be more 17:26.644 --> 17:28.644 cognizant of letting you know . But 17:28.644 --> 17:30.477 right now , like there , there , 17:30.477 --> 17:32.477 whenever there's , whenever we have 17:32.477 --> 17:34.673 troops , there are levels that change 17:34.683 --> 17:36.683 at a period of time , that does not 17:36.683 --> 17:38.905 mean our force posture has changes just 17:38.905 --> 17:41.127 like on the eastern flank in Europe and 17:41.127 --> 17:43.183 in Poland , we have troops that come 17:43.183 --> 17:45.183 back and forth . And sometimes that 17:45.183 --> 17:47.016 posture could be around 80,000 . 17:47.016 --> 17:49.127 Sometimes it could be around 78,000 . 17:49.127 --> 17:51.350 That doesn't mean our force posture has 17:51.350 --> 17:53.461 changed . There's a movement of folks 17:53.461 --> 17:55.627 going back and forth . So I just wanna 17:55.627 --> 17:57.794 leave it at that and , um , you know , 17:57.794 --> 17:57.322 next time we can be a little bit more 17:57.332 --> 17:59.982 specific , but again , nothing in terms 17:59.991 --> 18:02.213 of our force posture has changed . In , 18:04.550 --> 18:07.000 I want to , I want to follow up about 18:07.010 --> 18:09.177 the secretary's call with the Japanese 18:09.177 --> 18:11.359 and South Korean counterparts . The , 18:11.369 --> 18:13.920 the three ministers discussed a 18:13.930 --> 18:16.699 multiyear exercise plan in the call . 18:16.709 --> 18:19.369 So what domains are you going to focus 18:19.380 --> 18:21.885 on ? Japanese and South Koreans moving 18:21.895 --> 18:24.064 forward ? And what is the timeline to 18:24.074 --> 18:27.864 draft such ? Sure . Well , I won't get 18:27.875 --> 18:31.425 ahead of anything that was discussed 18:31.464 --> 18:33.575 right now . We're still building that 18:33.575 --> 18:36.619 multi exercise plan and , um , we don't 18:36.630 --> 18:38.852 have a timeline of when that's going to 18:38.852 --> 18:40.963 happen or when exercises are going to 18:40.963 --> 18:43.130 take place , but that's something that 18:43.130 --> 18:45.352 certainly was discussed . Um , and they 18:45.352 --> 18:47.241 did highlight the effort to fully 18:47.241 --> 18:49.297 operationalize early warning missile 18:49.297 --> 18:51.352 data information sharing this year . 18:51.352 --> 18:53.352 But that's a , that's as far as I'm 18:53.352 --> 18:55.819 gonna go on that . Yeah . Hi , Aaron . 18:56.030 --> 18:59.670 Hi . So , as you were telling Oren that 18:59.680 --> 19:01.791 it says we have troops that come back 19:01.791 --> 19:04.500 and forth and sometimes , uh , postures 19:04.510 --> 19:06.566 could change . Well , posture hasn't 19:06.566 --> 19:08.843 changed but levels could change . Yeah . 19:09.300 --> 19:11.411 Where are they going back and forth ? 19:11.411 --> 19:13.578 Is it just back and forth from base to 19:13.578 --> 19:15.689 base ? Where are they going for ? The 19:15.689 --> 19:18.300 folks that left , like non-essential 19:18.310 --> 19:20.532 personnel or contractors ? Is that what 19:20.532 --> 19:22.643 you're referring to ? Just any number 19:22.643 --> 19:24.866 that is there ? Are they coming back in 19:24.866 --> 19:26.866 the country where right now they're 19:26.866 --> 19:29.032 just moving out of the country . Don't 19:29.032 --> 19:31.254 have specifics of where they're going . 19:31.254 --> 19:33.199 Um , contractors obviously working 19:33.199 --> 19:35.421 under a contract would go back to their 19:35.421 --> 19:37.477 company . Um , but I just don't have 19:37.477 --> 19:37.369 more specifics of where folks are 19:37.380 --> 19:41.349 moving . I'm still lost 19:41.359 --> 19:44.989 of the , the number change . So , 19:45.000 --> 19:47.780 even if they're personnel , I think we 19:47.790 --> 19:50.010 shouldn't focus so much on , um , the 19:50.020 --> 19:52.310 numbers fluctuating , but more on the 19:52.319 --> 19:54.750 posture itself . Our force posture , 19:54.760 --> 19:56.816 hold on one sec . Let me just answer 19:56.816 --> 20:00.150 our force posture within hasn't changed . 20:00.160 --> 20:01.910 Yes , we are moving assets and 20:01.920 --> 20:04.109 personnel to a different air base 20:04.119 --> 20:07.199 further outside of NIA in Agadez . But 20:07.209 --> 20:11.069 in terms of , um , our , our mission 20:11.079 --> 20:13.023 there right now , of course , some 20:13.023 --> 20:15.246 things are put on pause right now , but 20:15.246 --> 20:17.280 overall our force posture hasn't 20:17.290 --> 20:19.512 changed . We did have some people leave 20:19.512 --> 20:21.623 in July . I believe that was before . 20:21.623 --> 20:23.859 Um , uh , there was the military 20:23.869 --> 20:25.869 takeover so some folks did leave in 20:25.869 --> 20:28.609 July for medical reasons . Um , I think 20:28.619 --> 20:30.730 we had some contractors that had left 20:30.730 --> 20:32.563 but in terms of like where other 20:32.563 --> 20:34.786 personnel are going and leaving , I , I 20:34.786 --> 20:36.952 don't have more information for you on 20:36.952 --> 20:39.175 that . Um , our essential personnel are 20:39.175 --> 20:41.479 still in the country right now in . Um , 20:41.489 --> 20:44.439 that's 1100 people . Um , and so 20:44.520 --> 20:46.742 they're still there and I'll just leave 20:46.742 --> 20:48.798 it at that I can go back to and then 20:48.798 --> 20:50.798 just take the questions , Sabrina , 20:50.798 --> 20:52.687 because I think on , on the total 20:52.687 --> 20:55.030 number of contractors and non essential 20:55.040 --> 20:58.859 personnel who left and was it before , 20:58.869 --> 21:01.609 was it before after , during , was it 21:01.619 --> 21:05.439 as a result of the impending or coup ? 21:05.449 --> 21:07.449 Can you just give us that ? I think 21:07.550 --> 21:09.772 what has been mentioned in the past was 21:09.772 --> 21:12.089 that some troops did have a very small 21:12.099 --> 21:14.321 number of troops left due to health and 21:14.321 --> 21:16.488 other issues . I think that's been out 21:16.488 --> 21:18.599 there . We've knew that . But I think 21:18.599 --> 21:20.710 what people didn't , hadn't known was 21:20.710 --> 21:22.488 the non essential personnel and 21:22.488 --> 21:24.432 contractors if you could give us a 21:24.432 --> 21:26.488 number on those . And I think , uh , 21:26.488 --> 21:28.821 just because it's late in the day for a , 21:28.821 --> 21:30.988 you all must have it if you can just , 21:30.988 --> 21:33.210 I can , I can , I can definitely take , 21:33.210 --> 21:33.010 I'm happy to take the question but 21:33.020 --> 21:35.609 again , I just want to read here that 21:35.619 --> 21:39.540 it is . It is not a , um , with 21:39.550 --> 21:42.160 some folks leaving in and out our 21:42.170 --> 21:44.059 mission , our force posture still 21:44.059 --> 21:46.170 hasn't changed . So I'm happy to take 21:46.170 --> 21:48.114 on the question on like , how many 21:48.114 --> 21:50.670 folks have left ? Sure . I , if I'm not 21:51.489 --> 21:53.390 confusing , this is the number of 21:53.400 --> 21:55.622 active duty troops has remained largely 21:55.622 --> 21:57.844 the same . Is that accurate ? That is . 21:57.844 --> 21:59.900 But I think we're talking about , if 21:59.900 --> 22:02.122 you give us those other numbers , we're 22:02.122 --> 22:01.680 talking about non-essential personnel 22:01.689 --> 22:03.420 and contractors , active duty 22:03.430 --> 22:05.597 essentially remains intact . I'm gonna 22:05.597 --> 22:07.763 go to the phones real quick and then I 22:07.763 --> 22:09.930 can come back in the room for just two 22:09.930 --> 22:12.219 more . Um , Heather us and I , hi , 22:12.229 --> 22:14.062 thanks so much . Um , I was just 22:14.062 --> 22:16.285 wondering if you have any update on the 22:16.285 --> 22:19.209 situation with Iran and if you're 22:19.219 --> 22:22.660 continuing to see the , uh , forces out 22:22.670 --> 22:25.890 there deter any , uh , tanker seizures 22:25.900 --> 22:28.067 or if there's any plans for marines to 22:28.067 --> 22:30.233 start going on to commercial vessels . 22:30.329 --> 22:32.440 Thanks Heather . There's no , there's 22:32.440 --> 22:34.662 no plan right now for marines to , um , 22:34.662 --> 22:36.949 go on commercial vessels . I don't have 22:36.959 --> 22:40.099 an update on , um , anything in regards 22:40.109 --> 22:42.479 to Iran . Uh , nothing , no major 22:42.489 --> 22:44.969 update since we last briefed . But , um , 22:45.199 --> 22:47.459 yeah , thanks for the question . Uh , I 22:47.469 --> 22:49.691 will . Yeah , coming back in the room . 22:49.691 --> 22:52.380 Yeah , sure . The , the move from , um , 22:52.390 --> 22:54.446 from the , is that , is that ongoing 22:54.446 --> 22:56.446 now ? Has it been completed or it's 22:56.446 --> 22:58.668 ongoing right now ? Yeah , Missy . Just 22:58.668 --> 23:00.168 to also , um , maybe add a 23:00.168 --> 23:01.946 clarification . Um , so the non 23:01.946 --> 23:04.000 essential personnel is nonmilitary 23:04.010 --> 23:06.121 personnel , non uniformed personnel . 23:06.121 --> 23:08.343 When you're saying you say you said the 23:08.343 --> 23:10.566 nonmilitary personnel and contractors , 23:10.566 --> 23:12.510 so the non essential personnel are 23:12.510 --> 23:14.621 uniformed or not uniform . I mean , I 23:14.621 --> 23:16.677 think non essential personnel is not 23:16.677 --> 23:18.788 essential to the mission itself and , 23:18.788 --> 23:20.732 and security and protection of our 23:20.732 --> 23:22.899 troops . I think it can encompass many 23:22.899 --> 23:25.066 things including uniform or civilian . 23:25.066 --> 23:27.121 So I wouldn't lump it as just , it's 23:27.121 --> 23:29.121 not non uniform or not , you know , 23:29.121 --> 23:31.121 only uniform personally . I can get 23:31.121 --> 23:33.232 clarification on that . Yeah , sure . 23:33.232 --> 23:35.288 No problem . Jeez . Ok . I'll take , 23:35.288 --> 23:37.288 yes , right here and then I'll come 23:37.288 --> 23:39.510 back around . Thanks , uh , with regard 23:39.510 --> 23:41.343 to the new Ukraine uh , security 23:41.343 --> 23:41.180 assistance package . Are you able to 23:41.189 --> 23:43.133 provide any more details about the 23:43.133 --> 23:44.856 electronic warfare and counter 23:44.856 --> 23:46.856 electronic warfare systems that are 23:46.856 --> 23:48.522 included in that or these new 23:48.522 --> 23:50.522 capabilities or ? Um , I don't have 23:50.522 --> 23:52.745 more details to provide again . I would 23:52.745 --> 23:54.911 just direct you to the website and our 23:54.911 --> 23:56.800 fact sheet we've provided um , on 23:56.800 --> 23:56.619 online , but I just don't have more 23:56.630 --> 24:00.239 specifics to add to that . Yeah , after 24:00.250 --> 24:02.510 these developments in the countries in 24:02.520 --> 24:05.839 West Africa like Nigeria , then Gabon 24:05.989 --> 24:08.579 before that mali how much these 24:08.589 --> 24:10.760 developments effect on the US 24:10.770 --> 24:13.660 operations against the terrorist groups 24:13.670 --> 24:17.500 and organizations in this area ? And 24:17.510 --> 24:20.359 does the US or do they , or do they 24:20.369 --> 24:22.160 keep the same numbers of these 24:22.170 --> 24:24.449 operations or it's getting decreased 24:24.459 --> 24:26.626 because of these developments in these 24:26.626 --> 24:28.792 countries . Um , well , it's certainly 24:28.792 --> 24:31.015 something that is concerning , um , the 24:31.015 --> 24:33.126 United States and this administration 24:33.126 --> 24:36.089 continues to advocate for democracy and 24:36.099 --> 24:39.319 peacefully elected leaders . Um And so 24:39.329 --> 24:42.209 that's why you're seeing a commitment 24:42.219 --> 24:45.510 in right now . Um , and the hope that 24:45.520 --> 24:47.409 the situation there gets resolved 24:47.409 --> 24:49.631 peacefully and through diplomatic means 24:49.631 --> 24:51.742 and not to sound like a broken record 24:51.742 --> 24:53.964 here , but that's why you have not seen 24:53.964 --> 24:56.187 a change to our force posture . You are 24:56.187 --> 24:58.076 seeing a movement um to out of an 24:58.076 --> 25:01.079 abundance of caution to uh move some 25:01.089 --> 25:03.256 personnel and , and some of our assets 25:03.256 --> 25:05.145 into a different area . But we're 25:05.145 --> 25:07.256 hopeful , um We're hopeful that there 25:07.256 --> 25:10.530 can be some diplomatic way to resolve 25:10.540 --> 25:12.651 what's happening . Um We're certainly 25:12.651 --> 25:14.479 not supportive of , of military 25:14.489 --> 25:16.600 takeovers of a democratically elected 25:16.600 --> 25:19.540 leader or government concerned about 25:19.550 --> 25:22.760 maybe these developments may impact the 25:22.880 --> 25:25.369 these operations against this group . 25:26.160 --> 25:29.079 We still maintain the ability to 25:29.089 --> 25:33.020 protect and um protect our 25:33.030 --> 25:35.252 interests here at home and our partners 25:35.252 --> 25:37.419 and allies in the region . Do you have 25:37.419 --> 25:39.586 one ? I'll take this as the last one . 25:39.586 --> 25:41.808 So um on , is there an expectation that 25:41.808 --> 25:44.089 additional precautionary repositioning 25:44.099 --> 25:46.266 are going to be taking place like this 25:46.266 --> 25:48.432 ongoing one that you mentioned like an 25:48.432 --> 25:50.760 additional to like uh like a different 25:50.770 --> 25:54.160 movement . Air base 101 to 201 in the 25:54.170 --> 25:56.281 future . After this one concludes , I 25:56.281 --> 25:59.030 think we're , we're , we have an a 25:59.560 --> 26:01.616 personnel that are going to continue 26:01.616 --> 26:03.671 moving . I don't know that it's like 26:03.671 --> 26:05.838 one movement or like multiple um it is 26:05.838 --> 26:07.989 precautionary again and we're moving 26:08.000 --> 26:10.111 just our personnel and assets over to 26:10.111 --> 26:12.439 that to air base 201 once that is in 26:12.449 --> 26:16.250 place , um we will , you know , stop uh 26:16.260 --> 26:18.427 what that it will be concluded , but I 26:18.427 --> 26:20.260 don't have like more missions to 26:20.260 --> 26:22.093 announce or any other additional 26:22.093 --> 26:24.316 movements at this time . Yeah , sorry . 26:25.250 --> 26:28.250 No , there will be a uh a small group 26:28.260 --> 26:30.400 that is , remains at air base . 101 . 26:30.750 --> 26:32.917 Ok , great . Thanks . I'll leave it at 26:32.917 --> 26:34.459 that . Great . Thank you .