WEBVTT

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Hello , I'm Lieutenant General John

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Stubbs , the 23rd director of the Army

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National Guard . Today I want to

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introduce myself and share my focus

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areas for the Army Guard as we rise to

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the challenges of a rapidly evolving

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global landscape . It's truly an honor

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to serve as your director , and I'm

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humbled to serve the over 325,000

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soldiers , families , and civilians of

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the Army guard and to build on the

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great work my predecessors have done to

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get us to where we are today ,

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America's premier combat reserve . With

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that said , there's still work to be

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done . My commitment to taking care of

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our people and being ready for anything

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both at home and abroad is unwavering .

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However , we must expand our thinking

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in these areas to ensure the Army guard

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is positioned for success in this ever

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evolving and often dangerous world that

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we live in . So what does this look

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like ? First and foremost , we must

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grow combat ready soldiers and leaders .

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This journey begins with our people

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investing in their training ,

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development , and wellbeing . We must

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prepare our soldiers not just to meet

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today's demands , but to thrive amid

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tomorrow's uncertainties . Each soldier

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is vital to our mission . And we're

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committed to ensuring they possess the

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skills and support needed to lead on

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the battlefield . Recruiting and

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retention , enduring soldier care , and

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comprehensive leader development are

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the pillars of this effort that will

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win the force . Success also means

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building lethal units . We must enhance

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our capabilities to respond swiftly and

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decisively , ensuring that our units

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are not just prepared for the fight but

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also stand at the forefront of modern

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warfare . To succeed , we must create

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formations that are formidable , agile ,

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and ready for any challenge that comes

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our way . We must embrace the idea of

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being ready for large scale combat with

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the understanding that combat readiness

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allows us to be extraordinarily

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responsive at home . All of this

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ensures that we will win the fight .

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Additionally , to remain competitive on

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a global scale , we also must be

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unwavering in our focus on transforming

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for the future . This means shifting

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for what many have known over the last

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20 years with the global war on terror

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and counterinsurgency operations to

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large scale combat operations and

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campaigning abroad . We will begin to

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transform organizationally and adapt

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our strategies , embrace new

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technologies , and continuously refine

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our processes that ensure we remain

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dominant on the battlefield to win the

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future . Lastly , we

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recognize that our success hinges on

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strengthening partnerships at home and

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abroad , whether collaborating with

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local communities , exercising with the

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other army components , and the greater

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joint force , or working alongside our

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international allies , these

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relationships are critical to our

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mission success . Together we will

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build stronger bonds that enhance

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cooperation . Improve interoperability

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and deliver powerful responses to

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crisis so that we can win with friends .

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As we embrace the future , I'm honored

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to lead the dedicated men , women ,

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families , and civilians of the Army

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National Guard . Together we will

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uphold our legacy , confront our

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challenges , and ensure we stand ready

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for whatever lies ahead . Thank you for

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your support and for all that you do

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for our nation . God bless you all .

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The Army National Guard and the United

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States of America , ready for combat .

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This will defend .