WEBVTT 00:00.250 --> 00:02.361 Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen 00:02.361 --> 00:04.528 and welcome to the civilian aid to the 00:04.528 --> 00:06.417 Secretary of the Army investiture 00:06.417 --> 00:08.306 ceremony honoring Miss Leslie , a 00:08.306 --> 00:10.472 person and Mr Jason E Allen . Our host 00:10.472 --> 00:12.583 for today's ceremony is the Secretary 00:12.583 --> 00:14.806 of the Army , the honorable Christine E 00:14.806 --> 00:16.972 warm . Please stand for the arrival of 00:16.972 --> 00:19.139 the official party and remain standing 00:19.139 --> 00:20.972 for the national anthem by Staff 00:20.972 --> 00:19.780 Sergeant . Ian . M 00:33.220 --> 00:37.049 Oh sake . Can you see by the , 00:37.060 --> 00:40.500 to her what so 00:40.509 --> 00:43.880 proudly we at the 00:44.180 --> 00:47.759 heights last the evening who brought 00:47.770 --> 00:51.020 stripes and bright stars through the 00:51.029 --> 00:54.619 pair of last fight or the 00:55.279 --> 00:59.080 what we watched was so and the , 01:01.259 --> 01:04.940 and the rock is the 01:04.949 --> 01:08.860 one's birthday if Peru 01:08.980 --> 01:12.769 through the night that our flag 01:12.779 --> 01:16.519 was still there . Oh , say 01:16.529 --> 01:20.029 does that star spangled by 01:20.540 --> 01:24.160 yet ? Or 01:24.440 --> 01:28.419 the of the free and 01:28.430 --> 01:30.760 the home of the Arbor ? 01:32.389 --> 01:33.389 You 01:38.459 --> 01:39.515 please be seated . 01:43.120 --> 01:45.342 Ladies and gentlemen , secretary warm , 01:50.440 --> 01:52.750 good afternoon , everybody . Uh Thank 01:52.760 --> 01:54.538 you so much for joining us this 01:54.538 --> 01:57.319 afternoon . I'm always pleased uh as I 01:57.330 --> 01:59.386 was saying to Leslie and Jason , I'm 01:59.386 --> 02:01.497 always pleased when I get to swear in 02:01.497 --> 02:04.699 New Casas because um as those of you 02:04.709 --> 02:06.876 who've been at one of these ceremonies 02:06.876 --> 02:09.139 before knows , they are really force 02:09.149 --> 02:11.427 multipliers for the United States Army . 02:11.427 --> 02:13.538 So it's always a terrific day when we 02:13.538 --> 02:15.649 get to do an investiture . Um I wanna 02:15.649 --> 02:17.705 welcome , we have a number of senior 02:17.705 --> 02:19.760 army leaders with us . Uh So I wanna 02:19.760 --> 02:22.669 welcome Mr Diaz . Mr Avril General 02:22.679 --> 02:24.790 Daniels , head of our Army Reserve uh 02:24.790 --> 02:27.970 is here and her spouse . Great to see 02:27.979 --> 02:30.699 you very good to see you . Um I thought 02:30.710 --> 02:33.289 we maybe had um General Breen camp 02:33.300 --> 02:35.356 because I think she's a friend . But 02:35.356 --> 02:37.467 it's terrific to have all of you with 02:37.467 --> 02:39.689 us . Also wanted to recognize uh two of 02:39.689 --> 02:42.000 our Casas , Miss Dixon and Miss Jean 02:42.009 --> 02:44.120 Louis . Thank you . Good to see you . 02:44.120 --> 02:46.342 It was great to see you at the , at the 02:46.342 --> 02:48.610 Rock Gala a couple weekends ago . Um 02:48.720 --> 02:51.050 And I want to extend my congratulations 02:51.059 --> 02:53.869 to our , our two new Casas major 02:53.880 --> 02:56.669 general , retired Leslie and former 02:56.679 --> 02:58.846 state senator from Michigan , Mr Jason 02:58.846 --> 03:00.960 Allen . So really happy at the 03:00.970 --> 03:03.550 opportunity to be able to do this . You 03:03.690 --> 03:06.509 both have terrific uh backgrounds to , 03:06.520 --> 03:09.289 to serve as volunteer , um civilian 03:09.520 --> 03:11.576 aides to the secretary of the Army . 03:11.576 --> 03:13.687 You've uh both spent time wearing the 03:13.687 --> 03:15.576 army uniform , which we very much 03:15.576 --> 03:17.631 appreciate . And as always , I think 03:17.631 --> 03:19.687 terrific background for serving as a 03:19.687 --> 03:22.429 CASA . And um you know , not everyone 03:22.440 --> 03:24.607 realizes this but serving as a CASA is 03:24.610 --> 03:26.554 a volunteer assignment . So I just 03:26.554 --> 03:28.666 wanna especially thank you for taking 03:28.666 --> 03:31.759 your personal time when you uh have , 03:31.770 --> 03:33.714 uh I'm sure very full personal and 03:33.714 --> 03:35.770 professional lives . Wanna thank you 03:35.770 --> 03:37.881 very much for continuing to serve the 03:37.881 --> 03:39.937 army in a new and different way . Uh 03:39.937 --> 03:42.919 And we really need you all as Casas at 03:42.929 --> 03:44.985 this time because as we were talking 03:44.985 --> 03:47.330 about in my office , um the army , you 03:47.339 --> 03:49.672 know , has a lot on its plate right now . 03:49.672 --> 03:51.450 And probably one of the biggest 03:51.450 --> 03:53.172 challenges that we have is the 03:53.172 --> 03:55.450 recruiting situation that we're facing . 03:55.450 --> 03:57.783 Um And in the last year , in particular , 03:57.783 --> 03:59.850 I have really found that Casas have 03:59.860 --> 04:02.770 been terrific , both ambassadors for 04:02.779 --> 04:04.501 the army , really , you know , 04:04.501 --> 04:06.557 connecting America to the army , but 04:06.557 --> 04:09.960 also have been um terrific in terms of 04:09.970 --> 04:13.339 helping arrange visits for me for other 04:13.350 --> 04:15.529 army , senior leaders to come and try 04:15.539 --> 04:18.134 to uh reintroduce the United States 04:18.144 --> 04:20.311 army to the American public , which is 04:20.311 --> 04:22.533 um very much I think what we need to be 04:22.533 --> 04:24.704 doing right now because as we talked 04:24.713 --> 04:27.243 about again in my office , um when you 04:27.253 --> 04:29.197 look , you know , back to the last 04:29.197 --> 04:31.824 round of base closures uh for dod , we 04:31.834 --> 04:34.063 shut down a number of our installations 04:34.074 --> 04:36.241 in the northeast , in the Midwest , uh 04:36.241 --> 04:38.407 people in those states and communities 04:38.414 --> 04:41.190 don't see as much of us anymore . Um So 04:41.200 --> 04:43.144 it really helps to be able to have 04:43.144 --> 04:45.256 Casas all around the country . And in 04:45.256 --> 04:47.144 this case , in the Great State of 04:47.144 --> 04:48.922 Michigan and the great state of 04:48.922 --> 04:51.144 Tennessee . I also wanna um welcome and 04:51.144 --> 04:53.144 thank your family members for being 04:53.144 --> 04:55.422 here . Um First of all , Major general , 04:55.422 --> 04:57.500 uh , per your husband who is retired 04:57.510 --> 04:59.677 Lieutenant Colonel Joe Pers . Terrific 04:59.677 --> 05:02.170 to meet you and see you also their 05:02.179 --> 05:04.320 daughter , um , Major Jennifer Pers , 05:04.450 --> 05:06.672 who is currently serving as the aide de 05:06.672 --> 05:10.160 camp to our sock pack commander and who , 05:10.170 --> 05:12.640 um , must have set a new record for 05:12.649 --> 05:15.070 long uh flights but came all the way 05:15.079 --> 05:17.529 from Mongolia to be here today to see 05:17.540 --> 05:19.950 her mom uh get invested , which is 05:19.959 --> 05:23.140 pretty terrific . They also have a son 05:23.149 --> 05:26.179 who is a major in the army , Justin who 05:26.190 --> 05:29.399 is um leaving the active component , 05:29.410 --> 05:31.354 but going into the reserves and is 05:31.354 --> 05:34.779 aspiring to be an astronaut . So , so 05:34.790 --> 05:37.679 no lack of ambition there . Uh And we , 05:37.690 --> 05:39.857 we wish him well in his effort there . 05:40.029 --> 05:42.029 Uh I also want to welcome the Allen 05:42.029 --> 05:44.362 family . Um Jason , your spouse Suzanne , 05:44.362 --> 05:47.679 great to meet you . And I see some kids 05:47.690 --> 05:49.899 uh who are probably all old enough to 05:49.910 --> 05:53.880 be thinking about or eligible for 05:53.890 --> 05:56.535 the army . I bet you never hear that 05:56.545 --> 05:58.975 from your dad , but you know , we have 05:58.984 --> 06:01.206 just launched our new Be all you can be 06:01.206 --> 06:03.428 campaign so you can be all you can be . 06:03.584 --> 06:05.714 Uh It is great to welcome MEREDITH 06:05.725 --> 06:08.204 Amanda and Mark . Um I bet you're very 06:08.214 --> 06:10.270 proud of your dad . So thank you for 06:10.270 --> 06:11.992 making this trip here , really 06:11.992 --> 06:14.644 appreciate it . Um Before I , I will 06:14.654 --> 06:16.765 just say two more things before we go 06:16.765 --> 06:18.932 ahead and get on to the formal part of 06:18.932 --> 06:22.250 the ceremony . Um As I've alluded to , 06:22.260 --> 06:24.427 you know , I think the things that are 06:24.427 --> 06:26.649 most helpful to us in the army that our 06:26.649 --> 06:28.600 Casas are able to do are one is 06:28.609 --> 06:31.350 basically to be a set of eyes and ears 06:31.359 --> 06:34.070 for us in local communities about um 06:34.079 --> 06:36.369 how the army is seen , how the army is 06:36.380 --> 06:38.640 perceived , how are we managing our 06:38.649 --> 06:40.760 community relations ? We really count 06:40.760 --> 06:42.760 on our CASAS to kind of be eyes and 06:42.760 --> 06:46.023 ears for us . Um We also uh very much 06:46.032 --> 06:48.199 look to our to help folks , you know , 06:48.199 --> 06:50.254 we very much believe in soldiers for 06:50.254 --> 06:52.421 life . So as folks get out of the army 06:52.421 --> 06:55.122 and they do sometimes , um we look to 06:55.143 --> 06:56.852 our , to help them transition 06:56.863 --> 06:59.030 successfully to the civilian world and 06:59.030 --> 07:01.532 appreciate all you can do with that to 07:01.542 --> 07:03.782 help us . And then the really big thing 07:03.792 --> 07:06.014 that I think we've asked our to help us 07:06.014 --> 07:08.325 with in the last year to is recruiting , 07:08.335 --> 07:10.335 uh , because you all are , I think 07:10.346 --> 07:12.457 extremely well situated with your own 07:12.457 --> 07:14.816 personal experience to speak to all of 07:14.825 --> 07:16.881 the possibilities and doors that the 07:16.881 --> 07:19.376 army opened for you in your own lives . 07:19.385 --> 07:21.496 And , and you can help us , I think , 07:21.566 --> 07:24.446 um , increase the propensity of young 07:24.455 --> 07:26.746 Americans from 9% to something that's 07:26.756 --> 07:29.089 at least getting into the double digits . 07:29.089 --> 07:31.034 That's my aspiration that will get 07:31.034 --> 07:33.089 there . Um So the last thing I would 07:33.089 --> 07:35.410 just say is somewhat to my surprise , 07:35.420 --> 07:37.649 we have had the CS A program for 100 07:37.660 --> 07:39.827 years . Uh Last year we celebrated the 07:39.827 --> 07:41.938 100th anniversary of the civilian aid 07:41.938 --> 07:44.320 to the Secretary of the Army . And uh 07:44.329 --> 07:46.385 because of the pandemic , we weren't 07:46.385 --> 07:48.329 able to sort of have a big shebang 07:48.329 --> 07:50.551 about it , but we are now going to have 07:50.551 --> 07:53.329 that um big celebration uh in May at 07:53.339 --> 07:55.506 Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and very 07:55.506 --> 07:57.672 much uh hope that you all will be able 07:57.672 --> 07:59.617 to join us . It's gonna be a great 07:59.617 --> 08:01.829 opportunity to bring together many , 08:01.839 --> 08:04.006 many , many of our from all around the 08:04.006 --> 08:06.117 country . And I think it'll be both a 08:06.117 --> 08:08.283 terrific productive session um to roll 08:08.283 --> 08:10.506 up our sleeves , but will also be a bit 08:10.506 --> 08:12.450 of an opportunity to celebrate and 08:12.450 --> 08:14.561 thank everyone for their service . So 08:14.561 --> 08:17.054 with that , um I wanna thank Angie and 08:17.065 --> 08:19.176 her terrific team for setting up this 08:19.176 --> 08:21.287 event and with that , why don't we go 08:21.287 --> 08:24.894 ahead and uh get the swearing in going ? 08:25.434 --> 08:27.601 So if I could ask you all to come up , 08:30.089 --> 08:32.256 I think we're gonna do the swearing in 08:32.256 --> 08:34.422 together . Is that right ? Cassandra ? 08:34.422 --> 08:33.640 Yes . OK . 08:39.940 --> 08:42.107 Raise your right hand and repeat after 08:42.107 --> 08:45.349 me , I state your name having been 08:45.359 --> 08:48.619 appointed as a civilian aide to the 08:48.630 --> 08:52.489 Secretary of the Army . Do you 08:52.500 --> 08:54.960 solemnly swear ? Do you swear that I 08:54.969 --> 08:56.969 will support and defend that I will 08:56.969 --> 08:59.136 support and defend the Constitution of 08:59.136 --> 09:01.358 the United States , the Constitution of 09:01.358 --> 09:03.580 the United States against all enemies , 09:03.580 --> 09:06.974 foreign and domestic . And that I will 09:06.984 --> 09:09.095 bear true faith and allegiance to the 09:09.095 --> 09:11.151 same that I will bear true faith and 09:11.151 --> 09:12.934 all the same that I take this 09:12.945 --> 09:16.905 obligation freely freely without any 09:16.914 --> 09:20.885 mental reservation or purpose 09:20.895 --> 09:23.700 of evasion or purpose . And that I will 09:23.710 --> 09:25.559 well and faithfully and I will 09:25.799 --> 09:27.966 faithfully discharge the duties of the 09:27.966 --> 09:31.059 office , the office on which I'm about 09:31.070 --> 09:33.348 to enter , on which I'm about to enter . 09:33.348 --> 09:35.126 So help me God , so help me God 09:38.820 --> 09:40.830 one second . Mhm 09:45.119 --> 09:48.239 I will let you take . Thank you , Casas . 09:50.000 --> 09:52.056 The secretary will now recognize the 09:52.056 --> 09:53.778 new cast with the Casa pin and 09:53.778 --> 09:56.000 certificate . Ok . We're doing this two 09:56.000 --> 09:59.969 together . No , we had , 10:00.679 --> 10:02.210 we have PM Leslie A P 10:05.179 --> 10:07.419 CASA for Tennessee East . The secretary 10:07.429 --> 10:09.619 has selected Miss Leslie Per major 10:09.630 --> 10:12.010 general Leslie Persa to Dandridge , 10:12.020 --> 10:14.909 Tennessee . In 2018 , she immediately 10:14.919 --> 10:16.975 began supporting veterans , cadets , 10:16.975 --> 10:19.190 reserve units and R O T C instructors 10:19.200 --> 10:21.510 in the East Tennessee area . She is 10:21.520 --> 10:23.520 currently the president of the 1000 10:23.520 --> 10:25.353 member , East Tennessee Military 10:25.353 --> 10:27.619 Affairs Council . MP is frequently 10:27.630 --> 10:29.741 asked to speak at veterans events and 10:29.741 --> 10:31.408 has quickly become well known 10:31.408 --> 10:33.574 throughout the area for her support to 10:33.574 --> 10:35.686 veterans . M per served a total of 37 10:35.686 --> 10:37.519 years in the military . Her last 10:37.519 --> 10:39.352 assignments in the army included 10:39.352 --> 10:41.463 assistant Deputy chief of staff G two 10:41.463 --> 10:43.408 commander 108th training command , 10:43.408 --> 10:45.463 initial entry training , Charlotte , 10:45.463 --> 10:47.630 North Carolina , and special assistant 10:47.630 --> 10:49.797 to the Assistant Secretary of the army 10:49.797 --> 10:51.852 for manpower and reserve affairs . M 10:51.852 --> 10:54.074 P's husband has also served 23 years in 10:54.074 --> 10:56.241 the military , culminating 60 years of 10:56.241 --> 10:56.229 service to our army . Additionally , 10:56.239 --> 10:58.517 their kids are both majors in the army . 10:58.517 --> 11:00.739 Jennifer is an army ranger stationed in 11:00.739 --> 11:02.961 Hawaii and Justin is a black hawk pilot 11:02.961 --> 11:04.295 stationed at Port Bliss 11:08.229 --> 11:08.690 Ready . 11:17.500 --> 11:20.830 Thank you , Miss Person , Mr Jason E 11:20.840 --> 11:24.190 Allen CASA from Michigan North . The 11:24.200 --> 11:26.520 secretary has selected Mr Jason Allen . 11:26.719 --> 11:28.775 Mr Allen served in the Michigan Army 11:28.775 --> 11:31.700 National Guard from 1990 to 1996 . He 11:31.710 --> 11:34.159 has over 20 years of experience serving 11:34.169 --> 11:36.336 as a , as a strategic business partner 11:36.336 --> 11:38.336 to the US . Members of Congress and 11:38.336 --> 11:40.280 secretary level members delivering 11:40.280 --> 11:42.169 guidance on many issues including 11:42.169 --> 11:44.336 housing projects , business , economic 11:44.336 --> 11:46.502 development initiatives , and veterans 11:46.502 --> 11:48.725 affairs for cities across Michigan . Mr 11:48.725 --> 11:50.891 Allen has a lifetime of public service 11:50.891 --> 11:53.113 and a passion for the military . He was 11:53.113 --> 11:55.058 a Michigan state senator for eight 11:55.058 --> 11:57.280 years and Michigan state representative 11:57.280 --> 11:57.260 for four years served as a senior 11:57.270 --> 11:59.381 policy policy advisor to the Michigan 11:59.381 --> 12:01.381 Department of Military and Veterans 12:01.381 --> 12:03.603 Affairs and was the USDA state director 12:03.603 --> 12:05.690 for Michigan . Mr Allen is an active 12:05.700 --> 12:07.890 and proud American legion member with 12:07.900 --> 12:10.122 strong statewide contacts with military 12:10.122 --> 12:12.289 leaders and veteran organizations . He 12:12.289 --> 12:14.456 volunteers with Girl Scouts of America 12:14.456 --> 12:16.678 and is a board member of the Boy Scouts 12:16.678 --> 12:18.956 of America Michigan Crossroads Council . 12:29.619 --> 12:32.260 Thank you secretary warm at this time , 12:32.270 --> 12:34.492 the new casts will give brief remarks , 12:34.492 --> 12:37.979 Mr Jason Allen . Thank you madam , 12:37.989 --> 12:40.156 secretary members , my family . It's a 12:40.156 --> 12:42.211 privilege to be here . Michigan is a 12:42.211 --> 12:44.100 unique place when you look at the 12:44.100 --> 12:46.156 activities that have gone on there , 12:46.156 --> 12:48.440 whether it be in defense , whether it 12:48.450 --> 12:51.659 be in the aspect of building the or 12:51.669 --> 12:53.891 taking care of manufacturing . We are a 12:53.900 --> 12:56.979 unique place . I see the 600,000 12:56.989 --> 12:58.960 veterans is a key part of our 12:58.969 --> 13:01.380 leadership and also the impact of camp 13:01.390 --> 13:03.501 drilling . These next years are going 13:03.501 --> 13:05.612 to be challenging as we face the next 13:05.612 --> 13:08.200 generation of um threats to our nation . 13:08.700 --> 13:10.589 And I'm very honored to have this 13:10.589 --> 13:12.756 position , madam secretary . Thank you 13:12.756 --> 13:12.229 very much . 13:18.950 --> 13:22.299 Ok , I don't need that . Thank you 13:22.309 --> 13:24.476 everybody . Thank you , ma'am for this 13:24.476 --> 13:26.642 honor . I'm truly , it's heartfelt and 13:26.642 --> 13:28.698 I really appreciate you selecting me 13:28.698 --> 13:30.753 for the great state of Tennessee . I 13:30.753 --> 13:30.690 look forward to working with you , Mr 13:30.700 --> 13:32.940 Diaz . I have to say that after serving 13:32.950 --> 13:35.799 37 years in the army , I was not ready 13:35.809 --> 13:38.909 to go when I had to retire . But 13:39.429 --> 13:41.540 what else could I do besides continue 13:41.540 --> 13:43.830 to serve my great army ? And so I , I 13:43.840 --> 13:46.190 immediately did that . So my husband 13:46.200 --> 13:48.089 has often said you have failed at 13:48.089 --> 13:51.159 retirement . And when he started to see 13:51.169 --> 13:53.336 the emails come from the CASA office , 13:53.336 --> 13:56.159 he said , what does this mean ? I said , 13:56.169 --> 13:58.391 well , I , you know , I'm already doing 13:58.391 --> 14:00.447 a lot of stuff , honey . And I think 14:00.447 --> 14:00.309 it's just a title for what I'm already 14:00.320 --> 14:03.270 doing except in the active duty in the 14:03.280 --> 14:05.630 National Guard . So um I really look 14:05.640 --> 14:07.584 forward to doing that . Um Clearly 14:07.584 --> 14:09.751 Tennessee doesn't have any active duty 14:09.751 --> 14:11.918 organizations , but they have a lot of 14:11.918 --> 14:14.029 National Guard and Great Army Reserve 14:14.029 --> 14:13.830 units . So I really look forward to it . 14:13.869 --> 14:15.869 Thank you again . Thank you all for 14:15.869 --> 14:18.036 being here , Robin . It's great to see 14:18.036 --> 14:20.147 you , Dusty Jody John . Thank you for 14:20.147 --> 14:19.640 being here . 14:25.330 --> 14:27.663 Thank you , Miss , ladies and gentlemen , 14:27.663 --> 14:29.886 please stand and join in the singing of 14:29.886 --> 14:31.830 the army song by Sergeant mcewan . 14:35.450 --> 14:38.119 He marks for that . I'm seeing that 14:39.340 --> 14:42.169 with the army of the free 14:43.190 --> 14:45.789 counts , the brain . You've come to the 14:45.799 --> 14:49.289 truth . Who have ought to do . 14:50.640 --> 14:53.590 We are the army and proud of our . 14:54.609 --> 14:57.729 We are in the army and proudly proclaim 14:58.809 --> 15:01.340 first to fight for the right and to 15:01.349 --> 15:04.179 build the nation's might and the army 15:04.190 --> 15:08.150 was rolling along . Proud of all we 15:08.159 --> 15:10.409 have done fighting two of the battles 15:10.419 --> 15:13.150 won and the army was rolling 15:13.159 --> 15:17.140 along and its high high . Hey , 15:17.150 --> 15:20.450 the army is on its way . Come off the 15:20.460 --> 15:23.700 can it loud and strong for where 15:25.479 --> 15:27.929 you will always know that the army 15:27.979 --> 15:29.520 eagles rolling . 15:38.429 --> 15:40.540 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 15:40.540 --> 15:42.373 today's ceremony . Thank you for 15:42.373 --> 15:44.373 attending in person . And virtually 15:44.373 --> 15:46.373 ladies and gentlemen at this time , 15:46.373 --> 15:48.540 Secretary Warmuth would like to have a 15:48.540 --> 15:50.762 group photo with the new casts . Please 15:50.762 --> 15:52.873 join secretary warmth in front of the 15:52.873 --> 15:51.250 flags .