WEBVTT

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(electronic music)

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- Shipmates.

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It's the 19th of March,
2020, a lot has changed

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in the past week and the
impacts of the coronavirus

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are changing daily life for all of us.

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Our focus right now is threefold.

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We must protect our people,

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and we must maintain mission readiness.

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And finally, we have to support

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the whole of government effort.

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That is why we've enacted
additional policies

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designed to combat the
spread of coronavirus.

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Then a number of things,
including moving to shiftwork,

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reducing our manning, and
increasing our telework.

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We have closed DoD schools
and many MWR facilities,

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as well as curtailed some
child and youth programs.

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We have postponed our
E-4 Advancement Exam.

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We've suspended the Spring
Physical Readiness test

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and we've postponed drill
weekends for reserves

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until 11 May.

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We've also suspended recruit
graduation ceremonies,

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until further notice.

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Additionally, we will pause
administrative and statutory

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promotion boards for the time being.

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But many things remain open too,

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including our commissaries, our exchanges,

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our military health treatment facilities,

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as well as our nurse advice line,

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and our MyNavy Career Center,

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all available 24/7, to
answer your questions.

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We are also preparing our
two 1000 bed hospital ships,

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the Mercy and the Comfort to get underway

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to relieve pressure on
civilian health providers

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who are focused on treating
folks with the coronavirus.

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Operationally to keep
our ships, our aircraft

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and our submarines ready,

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our commanders are empowered to take

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the necessary precautions
so that they can effectively

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carry out their missions
and meet the critical needs

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of our sailors.

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While 30% of our fleet is underway today,

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including four carrier strike groups

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and four amphibious ready groups,

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we must to the greatest extent possible,

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practice social distancing,
as well as good hygiene

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and cleanliness aboard our ships,

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in our offices and in our homes.

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America continues to
depend on us to provide

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security and stability to this nation,

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and we will do just that.

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Expect additional guidance
over the days and weeks ahead

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as this situation continues to change.

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To stay up to date in these changes,

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check out our coronavirus
page on navy.mil.

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Finally, we must be mindful

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that while many of our shipmates

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are very adept at maintaining
their support networks,

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for some social distancing can lead

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to a loss of connectedness
and feelings of isolation.

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You need to know that you're not alone.

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If you or if one of your
shipmates needs help,

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reach out to the resources
that we have available,

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whether it's the Military Crisis Line,

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Military OneSource,
our Navy Chaplain Care,

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or the Psychological
Health Resource Center.

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We also have our Navy and Marine
Corps Public Health Center,

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and our Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.

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Above all, take care of
yourselves, your families,

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and each other.

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Your safety remains our primary concern

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as we continue to carry
out the Navy's mission

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in defense of our nation.

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(electronic music)