WEBVTT 00:02.340 --> 00:06.280 mm now proudly serving those 00:06.280 --> 00:09.520 who serve . Yeah , this is around the 00:09.520 --> 00:13.470 services . Hello and welcome . I'm 00:13.470 --> 00:15.550 Petty Officer Michael Wilkin , the 00:15.550 --> 00:17.830 army's top leaders testified before the 00:17.830 --> 00:19.774 Senate Armed Services Committee on 00:19.774 --> 00:22.140 capitol Hill thursday Chief of Staff of 00:22.140 --> 00:24.140 the Army , General Ray Odierno , an 00:24.140 --> 00:26.480 army Secretary john Mccue spoke about 00:26.480 --> 00:29.120 the army's future fiscal plans . Both 00:29.120 --> 00:30.842 men say the army is looking to 00:30.842 --> 00:32.910 transform into a leaner , more agile 00:32.910 --> 00:35.220 force while maintaining the commitment 00:35.220 --> 00:37.109 to meet the needs of soldiers and 00:37.109 --> 00:39.660 family members . I believe in the army 00:39.660 --> 00:41.493 today , we have a great military 00:41.493 --> 00:43.604 civilian team that will help the army 00:43.700 --> 00:45.700 navigate these very difficult times 00:45.700 --> 00:47.922 that we have in the future . By the end 00:47.922 --> 00:50.240 of fiscal year 17 will decrease our end 00:50.240 --> 00:52.680 strength in the active component from 00:52.680 --> 00:55.500 1,060,000 00:56.140 --> 01:00.100 From 358,000 , 353,500 01:00.100 --> 01:02.400 and the National Guard and from 01:02.400 --> 01:05.950 206,205,000 in the Army Reserves . 01:06.540 --> 01:09.370 It is imperative for us to sustain a 01:09.370 --> 01:12.700 gradual ramp over the next six years to 01:12.700 --> 01:14.950 include this year that will allow us to 01:14.950 --> 01:17.410 take care of our soldiers and our 01:17.410 --> 01:19.540 families continue provide forces for 01:19.540 --> 01:21.980 Afghanistan and facilitate reverse 01:21.980 --> 01:24.910 ability if necessary . We believe this 01:24.910 --> 01:26.966 budget that's been placed before you 01:26.966 --> 01:29.030 supports these goals by laying the 01:29.030 --> 01:31.280 foundation for a gradual reduction of 01:31.280 --> 01:33.447 our military and civilian and strength 01:33.640 --> 01:36.000 while at the same time supporting the 01:36.000 --> 01:38.960 vital modernization and training 01:38.970 --> 01:41.540 soldier programs and family support 01:41.550 --> 01:44.660 initiatives so necessary for the army , 01:45.040 --> 01:47.410 an army , those smaller that will 01:47.410 --> 01:49.530 remain the strongest and most capable 01:49.530 --> 01:52.360 land force in the world as it is today . 01:53.140 --> 01:55.251 Here's a quick look at where the army 01:55.251 --> 01:57.362 stands today in terms of size , there 01:57.362 --> 02:00.130 are 1.1 million soldiers comprising the 02:00.130 --> 02:02.970 army and an additional 1.4 million 02:02.970 --> 02:05.026 family members . There are currently 02:05.026 --> 02:08.100 about 95,000 soldiers deployed to some 02:08.100 --> 02:10.800 150 countries around the world . The 02:10.800 --> 02:13.380 army also relies on a huge civilian 02:13.380 --> 02:16.980 workforce of roughly 278,000 people . 02:17.840 --> 02:20.062 Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was also 02:20.062 --> 02:22.640 on Capitol hill to caution lawmakers on 02:22.640 --> 02:24.620 the risk of taking military action 02:24.620 --> 02:26.450 against Syria without thorough 02:26.450 --> 02:28.506 knowledge of the mission and without 02:28.506 --> 02:31.130 support from allies . As Secretary of 02:31.130 --> 02:34.690 Defense . Before I recommend that we 02:34.690 --> 02:37.990 put our sons and daughters in uniform 02:38.060 --> 02:40.720 in harm's way . I've got to make very 02:40.720 --> 02:43.150 sure that we know what the mission is . 02:43.640 --> 02:45.807 I've got to I've got to make very sure 02:45.807 --> 02:47.807 that we know whether we can achieve 02:47.807 --> 02:50.450 that mission at what price and whether 02:50.450 --> 02:52.450 or not it'll make matters better or 02:52.450 --> 02:55.130 worse , the secretary said the US is 02:55.130 --> 02:57.230 building an international consensus 02:57.230 --> 02:59.770 that the Syrian regime must end at the 02:59.770 --> 03:01.714 same time , the U . S . Is sending 03:01.714 --> 03:03.937 millions of dollars in humanitarian aid 03:03.937 --> 03:05.381 to help the Syrian people 03:09.940 --> 03:12.107 Protecting the base against any threat 03:12.107 --> 03:14.440 is critical for mission success . U . S . 03:14.440 --> 03:16.551 Army Corps of Engineers , soldiers at 03:16.551 --> 03:18.662 Fort Belvoir Virginia recently tested 03:18.662 --> 03:20.773 the largest security tool of its kind 03:20.773 --> 03:22.940 to protect the base against high speed 03:22.940 --> 03:24.996 vehicle threats . The active vehicle 03:24.996 --> 03:27.051 barrier system is employed at nearly 03:27.051 --> 03:29.162 100 bases around the country . As you 03:29.162 --> 03:31.329 just saw , it's able to stop a vehicle 03:31.329 --> 03:33.900 almost instantly . The system helps 03:33.900 --> 03:37.580 protect people by ensuring that 03:37.590 --> 03:40.610 if if there is a threat approaching the 03:40.610 --> 03:42.480 installation that the guard has 03:42.480 --> 03:44.940 sufficient reaction time to see that 03:44.940 --> 03:47.070 threat approaching and to take those 03:47.070 --> 03:49.580 mitigating measures whether uh it's 03:49.580 --> 03:52.010 deploying that barrier system or taking 03:52.020 --> 03:54.860 another appropriate action , the active 03:54.860 --> 03:57.030 vehicle barrier system will eventually 03:57.030 --> 04:00.800 be in place army wide . Well Africa is 04:00.800 --> 04:03.680 geographically huge and diverse and US 04:03.680 --> 04:05.902 Army Africa is tasked with putting into 04:05.902 --> 04:08.069 place the policies and programs of U . 04:08.069 --> 04:10.020 S . Africa command the Pentagon 04:10.020 --> 04:12.076 channels . Gail mccabe sat down with 04:12.076 --> 04:14.242 the user of commander for some insight 04:14.242 --> 04:18.160 on the process . It really starts off 04:18.160 --> 04:20.160 with the relationships , we develop 04:20.160 --> 04:22.327 these relationships both on the senior 04:22.327 --> 04:24.493 level and also at our our staff levels 04:24.493 --> 04:26.604 can exercise like this one that we're 04:26.604 --> 04:28.771 doing here atlas accord here in mali , 04:28.771 --> 04:30.549 you know that process has taken 04:30.549 --> 04:32.716 probably about nine months to put this 04:32.716 --> 04:34.938 exercise together and in the process we 04:34.938 --> 04:37.160 we get with the Africans of course with 04:37.160 --> 04:36.890 the embassy because we are in direct 04:36.890 --> 04:39.290 support of our State Department and 04:39.290 --> 04:41.401 then we start the development of of a 04:41.401 --> 04:43.457 program and so what happens when you 04:43.457 --> 04:45.623 start developing these relationships , 04:45.623 --> 04:47.679 you get confidence on both sides and 04:47.679 --> 04:49.850 it's a slow , steady step , you're not 04:49.850 --> 04:52.520 going to change africa overnight and 04:52.530 --> 04:54.752 were there to help them where they want 04:54.752 --> 04:56.919 help when we first started coming into 04:56.919 --> 04:59.197 Africa ? When African was first set up , 04:59.197 --> 05:00.863 there was suspicion there was 05:00.863 --> 05:02.974 hesitation on the part of many of the 05:02.974 --> 05:04.919 African nations seems to have been 05:04.919 --> 05:07.086 turning around . What we actually here 05:07.086 --> 05:09.030 is they're happy , they're excited 05:09.030 --> 05:11.086 about having an africom , having the 05:11.086 --> 05:13.141 different service components because 05:13.141 --> 05:14.974 they feel people actually care , 05:14.974 --> 05:16.919 they're focused on us that makes a 05:16.919 --> 05:18.919 difference . And there there's some 05:18.919 --> 05:21.141 nations that do uh store are curious as 05:21.141 --> 05:23.252 far as what our mission is and that's 05:23.252 --> 05:23.080 once again where the senior leader 05:23.080 --> 05:25.136 engagements and and developing those 05:25.136 --> 05:27.358 personal relationships that you want to 05:27.358 --> 05:28.969 transition to organizational 05:28.969 --> 05:30.969 relationships become so important . 05:30.969 --> 05:33.191 What is the strategic impact of U . S . 05:33.191 --> 05:35.302 Army Africa ? You can talk at all for 05:35.302 --> 05:37.413 you know , take a look at here trying 05:37.413 --> 05:39.636 to build a capacity so they can provide 05:39.636 --> 05:41.691 humanitarian aid via airdrop because 05:41.691 --> 05:41.200 let's face it , the infrastructure is 05:41.200 --> 05:43.256 not that great in a lot of places in 05:43.256 --> 05:45.367 Africa for the Africans to be able to 05:45.367 --> 05:47.422 take care of that mission themselves 05:47.422 --> 05:49.589 and be self reliance . You know , that 05:49.589 --> 05:51.811 has strategic impact . Of course we are 05:51.811 --> 05:53.922 here for our U . S . Interests trying 05:53.922 --> 05:55.756 to counter the violent spread of 05:55.756 --> 05:57.922 violent extremist organizations and uh 05:57.922 --> 06:00.144 and that is strategic in its mission uh 06:00.144 --> 06:02.367 itself , there's a lot of areas you can 06:02.367 --> 06:04.422 go from the humanitarian side of the 06:04.422 --> 06:06.478 house all the way to the operational 06:06.478 --> 06:08.644 side of house . It all has an impact . 06:08.644 --> 06:08.270 What happens in Africa will affect the 06:08.270 --> 06:10.326 rest of the world , There's no doubt 06:10.326 --> 06:12.437 about it , sir . What is your biggest 06:12.437 --> 06:14.659 challenge ? The one that keeps you up ? 06:14.659 --> 06:16.881 I think our biggest challenges as we've 06:16.881 --> 06:18.992 grown because we're in the process is 06:18.992 --> 06:21.159 still growing . The organization , the 06:21.159 --> 06:23.214 Command . We've got the system where 06:23.214 --> 06:25.159 we're able to get support from the 06:25.159 --> 06:27.103 Guard , the Reserve and the active 06:27.103 --> 06:29.326 forces to get folks down here to do the 06:29.326 --> 06:31.214 theater security cooperation type 06:31.214 --> 06:33.437 missions . I think the challenge in the 06:33.437 --> 06:35.603 future will be , you know , the impact 06:35.603 --> 06:35.500 of what the budgetary constraints gonna 06:35.500 --> 06:37.556 be . And there will be some . And so 06:37.556 --> 06:39.722 that just means we have to do a better 06:39.722 --> 06:41.889 job of prioritization and where we can 06:41.889 --> 06:43.722 do regional exercises , which is 06:43.722 --> 06:45.889 probably the biggest challenge getting 06:45.889 --> 06:48.000 the regions to work together versus a 06:48.000 --> 06:50.111 straight bilateral relationship . Our 06:50.111 --> 06:52.167 budget constraints gonna factor into 06:52.167 --> 06:53.944 your mission success here . The 06:53.944 --> 06:55.944 relationship is going to be , there 06:55.944 --> 06:58.111 were trying to do is build the partner 06:58.111 --> 07:00.278 capacity . So we're not down here just 07:00.278 --> 07:02.500 training folks on just a small group to 07:02.500 --> 07:01.990 say , okay , here's how you do a door 07:01.990 --> 07:04.101 bundle . What we're doing is training 07:04.101 --> 07:06.157 their trainers so they can take that 07:06.157 --> 07:08.157 and continue to develop that within 07:08.157 --> 07:10.323 their force . And that doesn't take us 07:10.323 --> 07:12.490 being there . It may take folks coming 07:12.490 --> 07:14.379 in and taking a look at it or the 07:14.379 --> 07:16.580 defense attache or the chief coming 07:16.580 --> 07:18.580 down and seeing the progress that's 07:18.580 --> 07:20.691 being made . But no , I'm not worried 07:20.691 --> 07:22.950 about that . It's called the last great 07:22.950 --> 07:25.750 race . The Iditarod is more than 1000 07:25.750 --> 07:28.250 miles of grueling and cold competition . 07:28.460 --> 07:30.516 The first race to nome took place in 07:30.516 --> 07:33.940 1973 and involves 800 dogs and 07:33.940 --> 07:36.680 66 teams . Airman first class sarah 07:36.680 --> 07:38.847 tracked . He has more from the opening 07:38.847 --> 07:42.010 ceremonies in Anchorage , wow ! Every 07:42.010 --> 07:44.066 year . Downtown Anchorage is host to 07:44.066 --> 07:46.260 the start of the ceremonial Iditarod . 07:46.640 --> 07:48.751 This is the 40th race , which carries 07:48.751 --> 07:52.720 on for over 1,049 miles Brent sass a 07:52.720 --> 07:55.190 musher from wild and free mushing says , 07:55.580 --> 07:57.900 this is truly a unique experience that 07:57.910 --> 08:00.132 everyone should come out and see . It's 08:00.132 --> 08:02.243 a great Alaska tradition , no doubt . 08:02.243 --> 08:04.243 And just so you see the how much of 08:04.243 --> 08:06.410 these dogs love what they do . There's 08:06.410 --> 08:08.354 no doubt . I think anyone that the 08:08.354 --> 08:10.466 skeptic of the sport should come down 08:10.466 --> 08:09.560 here and check it out because when you 08:09.560 --> 08:11.727 see that there's gonna be thousands of 08:11.727 --> 08:13.782 dogs and all they want to do is pull 08:13.782 --> 08:15.949 all we're doing is giving them ability 08:15.949 --> 08:17.949 to do what they love to do . So , I 08:17.949 --> 08:17.810 think that's the most exciting part of 08:17.810 --> 08:19.921 the dogs come down and see the dogs , 08:19.921 --> 08:22.143 who cares about us . It's all about the 08:22.143 --> 08:25.340 dogs . The race has over 800 dogs , 66 08:25.340 --> 08:27.820 teams and will run from Willow to know 08:30.190 --> 08:33.620 Airman first class . They're attracted 08:33.630 --> 08:35.760 to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson 08:35.770 --> 08:38.850 Alaska . I'm petty Officer Michael 08:38.850 --> 08:40.739 Wilkin , for everyone here at the 08:40.739 --> 08:43.017 Pentagon channel . Thanks for watching . 08:43.017 --> 08:44.906 We'll leave you with video of the 08:44.906 --> 08:46.850 Washington capitals . Ninth annual 08:46.850 --> 08:49.017 Military appreciation night . The team 08:49.017 --> 08:48.850 kicked off the festivities Tuesday with 08:48.850 --> 08:50.906 a six figure donation to the tragedy 08:50.906 --> 08:52.950 assistance Program for survivors or 08:52.950 --> 08:53.580 taps .