Mullen Thanks Servicemembers In Afghanistan
(July 19, 2009) |
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| BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 14,
2009 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offered
some guidance and his gratitude to about 300 military
members during an all-hands call here today.
“I believe you make up the best military in the history, not
just of our country, but on this Earth,” Navy Adm. Mike
Mullen said. “I can speak to over four decades of experience
to compare. And you serving now at a critical time, when
there's so many challenges for our nation and nations around
the world -- words aren't quite adequate to express my
appreciation.” |
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| Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses troops on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, July 14, 2009. Mullen is accompanying a USO tour featuring Hall of Fame National Football League coach Don Shula, All-Pro NFL running back Warrick Dunn, actors Bradley Cooper and D.B. Sweeney, and sports personality and model Leeann Tweeden on a visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. |
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Servicemembers today serve during what arguably is the
busiest period of the U.S. military's history. Since the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, many
soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have deployed to Iraq
and Afghanistan on multiple occasions for as long as a year
or more each time, leaving their families behind, Mullen
said.
“The young men and women of today's military generation
serve to make a difference,” he said of today's
all-volunteer force. “The country was founded on the
principle that young men and women serve to make a
difference. Raising your right hand -- that's where it all
started.
“The military has always made a difference, and you do it in
a way that makes all of us proud,” he continued. “Not a day
goes by, that I go by, that I'm not thinking about what
you're doing here -- being here globally in the fight in a
really challenging time.”
Because of the high tempo of deployments, Mullen stressed,
it's important for troops to focus on leadership and their
families and to recognize the many challenges multiple
deployments can have on the entire military community.
The families also are under extraordinary stress, the
chairman said. Military officials work as hard as they do to
make sure families are safe at home, he told the deployed
servicemembers.
“It's not just about those of us who serve,” the admiral
said. “Family support is absolutely vital when you look at
what [the U.S. government] has asked you and your families
to do over the last seven-plus years.”
Troops serving in Afghanistan today are serving at a pivotal
time in the war on terror. Lengths of deployments and
operational tempo may be similar to Iraq, but the two wars
are vastly different, he said.
War-torn Afghanistan has been without a legitimate democracy
for more than 35 years, and quickly became a stomping ground
for groups such as al-Qaida. A resurgent Taliban, after
being ousted by U.S. forces in 2001, also have become a
serious issue for international forces here. Troops are
operating in a dangerous environment, but are doing an
extraordinary job, he noted.
Security, governance, civil rights and essential services
have improved greatly over the past year, mostly while
security efforts were under-resourced, he said.
“We're very committed to getting the resources here for this
fight,” he said. “You are living in a great time of change
in Afghanistan, and leading in this time of change is
absolutely critical.
“I believe with the depth of my heart and soul that we can
succeed here,” he continued. “We've got to be patient and
focused on protecting the Afghan people.” | |
Article by
Army SFC Michael J. Carden
Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
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