WEBVTT 00:02.150 --> 00:03.970 Hello , I'm Lloyd Austin , the 00:03.980 --> 00:06.760 Secretary of Defense . You know , one 00:06.769 --> 00:08.936 of the best decisions that I ever made 00:08.936 --> 00:11.800 was to join the US army in 1975 00:13.020 --> 00:15.242 I served alongside some of the greatest 00:15.242 --> 00:17.709 people that I've ever met from all 00:17.719 --> 00:20.899 walks of life as a part of a great team , 00:20.909 --> 00:24.420 keeping our country safe and I loved 00:24.430 --> 00:28.079 every minute of it for 41 years 00:30.110 --> 00:32.110 now . As Secretary of Defense , I'm 00:32.110 --> 00:34.166 honored to lead our men and women in 00:34.166 --> 00:36.340 uniform and we're committed to taking 00:36.349 --> 00:38.293 care of our outstanding troops and 00:38.293 --> 00:41.380 their families . That's a sacred trust . 00:42.389 --> 00:44.167 Today , military service offers 00:44.167 --> 00:46.959 incredible opportunities and generous 00:46.970 --> 00:49.790 benefits . You have unparalleled 00:49.799 --> 00:52.720 opportunities to learn , grow and lead 00:53.110 --> 00:56.400 and to see the world . Now , I've made 00:56.409 --> 00:58.742 it a priority to do right by our people . 00:59.770 --> 01:01.937 So we are focused on ensuring that our 01:01.937 --> 01:04.989 troops and families have adequate pay , 01:05.639 --> 01:09.519 housing , food , and health care and 30 01:09.529 --> 01:12.709 days of leave and benefits like 12 01:12.720 --> 01:15.370 weeks of paid leave for new parents in 01:15.379 --> 01:19.099 uniform , plus dependent care and 01:19.110 --> 01:21.054 flexible spending accounts to make 01:21.054 --> 01:23.166 childcare more affordable . And we're 01:23.166 --> 01:25.160 phasing in universal pre K in our 01:25.169 --> 01:27.629 superb dod run schools . And when the 01:27.639 --> 01:30.669 time comes for the transition to 01:30.680 --> 01:33.620 civilian life . We'll have your back . 01:35.290 --> 01:37.123 Veterans get a range of benefits 01:37.123 --> 01:39.669 including health care and education 01:39.680 --> 01:41.791 assistance under the G I Bill just to 01:41.791 --> 01:44.410 name a few . So America offers our 01:44.419 --> 01:46.586 troops a pretty good deal . You know , 01:46.586 --> 01:48.697 we've got an all volunteer military , 01:48.697 --> 01:50.660 which means we rely on selfless 01:50.669 --> 01:53.269 American patriots who are proud of what 01:53.279 --> 01:55.900 they do and who take an oath to defend 01:55.910 --> 01:59.620 our constitution and our country and 01:59.629 --> 02:01.851 who are a part of something bigger than 02:01.851 --> 02:04.919 themselves every day . I'm proud that I 02:04.930 --> 02:08.070 join and I hope that you'll think of 02:08.080 --> 02:09.300 joining us as well .