At. Ease. Members. Of the Joint Chiefs. Leadership. Of our armed forces distinguished. Members, of Congress, and all. Who wear the uniform of the United States especially. The storied, 10th, Mountain. Division. It's. A great honor to be here today with all of you as our. President with the strong support of Congress, we'll. Take decisive, action to, make the strongest, military in, the history of the world stronger. Still. All. Of you have chosen to be part of something larger than yourselves, you've. Chosen to serve in the armed forces of the United States of America, and let me assure you, you. Have a champion. In the, 45th, President of the United States of America, president Donald, Trump. This. President, has no higher priority, than the safety and security of the American people, from. The very earliest days of our administration, your. Commander-in-chief has been fulfilling his solemn. Oath to provide. For the common defense, and, President. Donald Trump, always. Puts, our armed. Forces and. Your, families, first. I've. Seen it firsthand, on. Her very first day in office I witnessed president Trump protect. Our military, from a government-wide hiring, freeze and in May of last year he. Signed the largest increase in military spending in, nearly a decade and. With the leadership and support of this commander in chief our. Armed forces have taken the fight to the terrorists, of Isis. On our, terms on their. Soil. Their, Caliphate. Has crumbled. And soon, we will erase Isis, from the face of the earth. And. Last, August. Last. August our president, laid out our South Asia strategy, to give our war fighters in Afghanistan in, his. Words the tools they need and the trust they've earned to, fight and. Win. This. President, has also secured, commitments, around. The world from our allies, commitments. From our NATO allies, in particular, to pay more for our common defense than ever before and, president. Trump has articulated a, vision to. Ensure, continued. American. Dominance, in land, sea. Air and. Space. And last. Fall. Our. President, led negotiations, with both parties, of Congress and presidents. Rumps signed into, law the. Largest, increase, in our national, defense in a generation, under. President, Donald Trump the days of arbitrary, budget, cuts to our national, defense are over. And. Finally. In June of this year, while. Our president, engaged in, historic, negotiations. With North Korea, he. Had our missing fallen on his heart and as. The nation witnessed just a few short weeks ago, thanks. To the leadership and compassion of this, commander-in-chief, our boys. Are, finally coming, home. By, signing this legislation today President, Trump is keeping his promise to the American people, to. Rebuild our military, restore. The arsenal, of democracy and, once, again give. You our, soldiers, sailors airmen Marines and Coast Guard, the resources, and training you need to accomplish. Your mission and come home safe the. Armed Forces of the United States of America are the world's greatest force. For, good and you. Can be assured. President. Donald Trump and our entire administration, will never stop. Fighting for. You who, fight to defend. This, nation past. Present. And future. So. Now. Now. It is my high honor and. Distinct. Privilege to. Introduce to, you your, commander-in-chief, and, a true champion, of the, men and women, of the armed forces of the United, States of, America. The 45th, President of the United States President, Donald Trump. Thank. You everybody. It's. A great place I've been here before. We. Love this location we. Love this this. Base and, most particularly. The people that, are working so hard here, and so effectively, so. I want to start by saying at ease. Just. Relax. Give. Seats you can sit down come, on sit, if you of you want to stand you can we'll just get one, big standing, ovation, right sit down.
Thank. You that's pretty good everybody's, got a seat thank you very much I. Want. To thank our wonderful Vice President Mike Pence and. Say. A special, hello to the incredible, Patriots, of Fort Drum and the. 10th Mountain. Division, special. People, thank you. A few. Moments ago I witness, your extraordinary. Capabilities. Firsthand. During. An artillery. Rage. Demonstration. So I'd like to begin by applauding, the. 10th Mountain Division Combat. Aviation Brigade. Along. With the 3rd battalion 6th. Field Artillery. I hate. To say this but nobody stands, a chance against. You folks nobody, says it says. I'm. Here today to sign, our new defense bill into, law and to. Pay tribute to the greatest soldiers, in the history of the world the, United States Army, thank you thank. You. The. National, Defense Authorization Act. Is the most significant. Investment, in our military, and our. War. Fighters in modern. History, and I am very, proud to be a big big part of it, it. Was not very, hard you know I went to Congress I said let's do it we got to do it we're, going to strengthen our military like, never ever before, and that's what we did I. Want. To say. Very. Strongly. There. Is no better place than, right. Here at Fort Drum, to. Celebrate, its passage. No. Better place, after. Years of. Devastating. Cuts, we're. Now rebuilding, our military, like we never, have. Before. Ever. Because. We know that to. Survive. And, having. That. Survival. Of our freedom, it. Depends. Upon the might of our, military and. No. Enemy on earth can match the, strength courage. And skill of the American, army and the. American, armed, forces nobody's. Even close they never will be. We're. Grateful to be joined today by many, of our nation's top military. Leaders. I'd. Like to recognize. Deputy. Secretary of, Defense Shanahan, who's, with us please. Mr.. Secretary. People. I've heard about, all. My life very. Prestigious, title, always loved the ring the Joint Chiefs of. Staff right. That's. It got a good ring anybody in the audience gonna, be a member that someday I think so raise your head you think you're gonna make it raise. Your hand go ahead oh, come. On that's all, only a few I don't know I. Want. To thank general. Dunford. General. Milley. General. Nellore Admiral. Richardson. General. Goal fun. General. & gell and, Vice. Admiral, ray thank. You all for your leadership your. Magnificent. We appreciate, it very much thank you. Thank. You. A very, special thank you to the commanding, general, of the 10th Mountain Division. Major. General. Walt. Piatt. What. Is what, a special man, Walt. I want to thank you where's Walt where's, Walt well, thank you very much. Walter's. Back on American, soil after. Deployment, in Iraq and, I. Just want to welcome you home you, have tremendous respect, they, have great great admiration, and respect for you well thank you very much I also. Just, had the chance to meet division, command, sergeant, major, Jason. Roark along. With 10th Mountain, Division soldier. Of the year. Michael. Lima, where's, Michael, where is Michael soldier, of the year Michael. And, that soldier, of the year Michael out of how many. How. Many that's. A lot of soldiers. 18,000. Do, you want to work for me. Thank. You Michael, great, job, we. Would not be here for today's, signing ceremony, without the dedicated, efforts of the members of Congress who worked so hard to, pass the. National Defense Authorization Act. I'd. Like to recognize. Congresswoman. Elise. Stefanik. Whose. District, proudly, includes, Fort Drum and I have to tell you about Elise she. Called me so many times I said, I don't want to take her call she.
Wanted Me to be here I said I won't be able to we'll. Have to change a lot of scheduling, but, that didn't suit her she. Didn't stop and Here I am. Please. Come here come here Elise. Thank. You mr. president it is truly, an honor to welcome you to, Fort, Drum home, of the historic, 10th Mountain Division the. Most deployed, unit, in the US Army since 9/11. Thank, you for being here to sign the historic National Defense Authorization Act. Which includes the largest pay, increase support. For our military families, and investing. In our military readiness climb, to glory 10th Mountain Division thank, you. She's, an incredible, representative. I also want to thank representative Don. Baker, dan. Donovan, and Joe Wilson, who are with us today also thank you where are you stand, up please I did. Thank. You thank you fellas. There's. Another member of Congress, here today who, is not only an Air Force veteran, but. The first woman ever to fly a fighter jet, in combat, in US. History and I've, gotten to know her very well and she is terrific. Congresswoman. Martha. Mcsalley. Congresswoman. Thank you Martha. Thank. You for being here thank. You, very much. Thank. You all for fighting for our military and for fighting for our vets nobody. Has made more progress on anything than what we've done with our vets we. Have choice approved, you, know that we, have so many other things approved for our vets and it's really moving along well I think, maybe almost as, important, as choice is accountability. Now. When we find somebody, not treating our vets properly, you know what we say right you're. Out get, out you're fired get out they. Couldn't do that they couldn't do that now they can do it. Now. They have to treat our vets properly. Our. Vets are our great, people and they get treated properly so you have choice and you have accountability, and nobody thought that would ever get approved, they've. Been trying for many many decades finally. I want to thank a very special, group of Patriots, at Fort Drum all, of the amazing, spouses. And family, members whose. Love and support make, your service, possible, whether you like it or not they. Make it possible, please. Thank, you thank, you very much. They. Know. They. Know right look at him he's smiling. They. Know. Last. Year we secured, a historic, 700, billion dollars, to rebuild our military and, now the. National, Defense, Authorization Act. Paves, the way for, another. 1700, listen, to this now so. We've. Been trying to get money they never gave us money for the military for years and years and it was depleted, we, got seven, hundred, billion dollars, and next, year already approved, we have. 716. Billion. Dollars to. Give you the finest, planes and, ships and, tanks and missiles. Anywhere. On earth nobody makes them like we do and very. Very far distant, in this case jobs are very important, in all cases, but. In this case of military might, is more important than even jobs but all. Of, this equipment is made right. Here in the USA, and it's the best equipment, on earth nobody makes it like we do so, you have 700 billion, dollars, and now 716. Billion. Dollars, so congratulations. America. Is a peaceful. Nation, but. If conflict, is forced upon us we, will fight and we will win. Right. General right, right. Better. Believe it generals. They're. The guys were. Powered by the unstoppable.
Force Of, the United States Army very special, with. This new authorization. We will increase the size and strength of our, military by, adding thousands. Of new. Recruits, to active, duty reserve. And, National Guard. Units including. 4,000. New active, duty, soldiers. And we. Will replace, aging, tanks. Aging. Planes and ships with. The most advanced. And lethal. Technology. Ever, developed. And hopefully. We'll. Be so strong we'll. Never have to use it but. If we ever did nobody has a chance. It. All includes. 135. Brand-new. Beautiful, m1, Abrams. Tanks. 60. Bradley, fighting, vehicles and. Over. 3,000. Joint light tactical. Vehicles, for. The army, armored, Brigade Combat, Team. New. Blackhawk and Apache. Helicopters. Finest, in the world, for. The Army National Guard. 77. F-35. Joint, Strike. Fighters. You know that stealth I talked. To a couple of pilots, great pilots, I said how are they they. Said they're hard to beat because you can't see them it's. Always hard to beat the enemy when you can't see it the. Greatest in the world full. Funding for the be 21. Radar. Bomber program, 13. New battle, for ships and support. Ships including, a fourth ford-class, aircraft, carrier. And three. Additional, lateral. Combat. Ships. Funding. To modernize, our, nuclear arsenals. So important. We're. Doing a major upgrade, of. Our. Missile, defense. We're, spending a tremendous amount, of money on our nuclear, arsenal. Nobody. Will, have clothes we. Will hopefully never, ever, have, to use it but. Nobody, will be close. More. Than 11 billion dollars for the military, construction. Including. Family, housing, and we are proudly giving, our troops the biggest, pay, increase, in a. Decade, and I know you don't want it because you're very patriotic, you'll say it just save the money we're gonna pay down debt. Does. Anybody not want it please raise your head, what's. Going, on here. Are. These real Patriots, I don't know general, I don't know it's, the biggest increase, in, a. Decade a, strong. Military also. Requires a strong, economy and our economy, is setting records. Like. Never before we have the greatest economy. We've ever had I. Think. That's going to help us a lot in a lot of ways it, also helps us a lot in funding, and doing all of the things we're doing for our great, military we've. Created almost, 4 million new jobs since, the election, a number. That the media, in the back would never have said would be possible. If. During. The campaign. I'm. So proud of myself I didn't call him the fake news, media, I didn't, call I, said. To myself I, will. Not today, in front of our great armed forces, call them fake news. We. Know the real truth but we won't say it today but. They wouldn't have believed it possible four, million, new jobs nobody. Would have thought that possible, in the campaign trail if when, we were campaigning, Mike if, I would have said that if I would have said 2 million new jobs people, would have laughed us off this stage well. We have 4 million new jobs. Something. I'm very proud, of the African, American. Hispanic. Hispanic. American. And, Asian. Asian-american. The. Unemployment. Rates, for. All three have. Reached the, lowest levels. In the history of our country. Unemployment. For, African, American, Hispanics, Asians the, lowest level in the, history of our country. Women's. Unemployment. Is not I'm sorry doing. Quite as well, it's. Only the lowest level, in, 65. Years. So. We're not doing as well. But. We'll do better I think. Within about three. Weeks when the new numbers come out you'll probably be, lowest, in history also. Very. Importantly, the veterans unemployment rate, recently, reached its lowest level in nearly 20, years. It's. A big one. And we. Are creating. Manufacturing. Jobs again remember, during the campaign, they said oh you can't create manufacturing. Jobs I said really, we're.
Not Gonna make things anymore, is that what it's come to we're, gonna have other country, make things they're gonna make things that we're gonna buy them and they're. Gonna have the jobs and we're not doesn't work that way we're. Doing, manufacturing. Jobs at the fastest. Pace in many many, decades. No. Longer, are we, apologizing. For America, instead. We, are now, standing. Up for, America, it's called America. First if that's okay with you. We're. Standing, up for. Our military and, we're, standing up for. Our great. American. Flag we're, standing, for our flag. The. Armed Forces have, endured continuous. Combat. For. The past 17, years yet. Since the 1990s. The number, of soldiers on active duty was, cut by. More than one-third, our. Bases, and vital equipment were, allowed to fall into a state of disrepair and, I, saw some of them total, disrepair. But. Those days are over. Everyday. The Army is fighting for us and now we. Are fighting for you 100%. No. One better understands. How stretched, our military, has become, than. The soldiers of the 10th, Mountain Division, is. That right general, you. Were the first conventional. Combat, force to deploy after, 9/11, since, then no division, in the Army has been deployed more times to Iraq and Afghanistan. Than. You. You've. Sent over 9,000. Courageous, soldiers, to, 26, different countries all. Around, the world in the past year, alone, the. Second Brigade Combat Team just, returned, from a rotation. At the, joint, Readiness Training Center. And later, this year they will once again bravely, answer, our nation's, call and deploy. To Afghanistan. Through. It all you've proven to the world. To. Our country, to your families, that. Fort Drum soldiers. Aren't. Just, tough your. Mountain, tough that's, what you are a mountain. I said. To you general what's the difference, he. Said sir. Trust. Me there's a difference I said I trust you right. I said. Don't go into it I trust you. One. Of those soldiers is, specialist. Braden, Cooke who. Is with us today whiz Braden, where's, a Brayden good location, Braden. Last. October. His team came under heavy fire while, cleaning, and, clearing. We're. Clearing them out Taliban. Strongholds. In various. Locations. In Afghanistan. And Afghan. Soldier, fighting alongside US, troops was. Badly wounded when, an explosive, detonated. Near. By. Specialist. Cook braved, the hail of bullets and mortar, rounds, all, over, they said it was all over, it was heavy, fire, saving. The life of that wounded, soldier, and earning. A Bronze Star, for valor for, his courageous action. Braden. I want to thank you brave. Young, man thank you please stand up again. Right. We're. Also inspired, by the devotion, to duty shown by the family, members who serve their, nation here. At home, Ashley. Shepard is one. Of those family, members.
She's. Been married to sergeant, first class. Ian, Shepard, for. More than 14, years. Ashley. Supports, military families. In every. Way you can imagine, she. Has served as a Family Readiness Group leader. Co-leader. Treasurer. And assistant. Treasurer for three, companies she works hard she, raises money, for scholarships. Organizes. Charity, events, for, gold star families, and feeds. Homeless, veterans, Ashley. I want. To thank you Ashley, where is Ashley I had a feeling that was you Ashley stand-up Ashley. Thank your husband - thank you. America. Is eternally. Grateful for every soldier service. Member and family member, here, at Fort Drum and we. Are forever in, the, debt of every American, who has ever served our nation in, uniform, from. The snows of Valley Forge to the jungles, of Vietnam in. The mountains of Afghanistan it's. Just. Incredible. What you do a few. Days ago vice-president. Penn's flute o hawai to greet, the remains, of, some of our nation's greatest. Heroes, our, fallen. Warriors, who gave their lives many. Years ago in Korea, now. These American, heroes are. Finally. Starting. To come home, they. Will be laid to rest on, American. Soil, we. Believe in. No, American. Left, behind. And we, believe our warfighters, deserve, the tools the. Equipment, and resources, they. Have earned with their blood sweat and tears in, a few moments, in, honor, of that sacred, obligation. I will put my signature on the. National, Defense, Authorization Act. This. Authorization. Will. Give America's, war fighters, the firepower, they need to. Win any conflict. Quickly. And decisively. Thanks. To the leadership of. Representative. Stephanie. We're. Also making, an unprecedented. Commitment to, developing, our artificial. Intelligence. Capabilities. In. Order to maintain America's. Military. Supremacy. We. Must always be on the cutting edge, that. Is why we are also proudly. Reasserting. America's. Legacy of, leadership in, space our foreign. Competitors, and adversaries. Have already begun weaponizing. Space. Developing. New technologies. To disrupt. Vital. Communications. Blind. Satellites, and, just. I mean you look at what they're doing they've, given me run downs I've seen things that you don't even want to see what they're doing and how, advanced, they are we'll, be catching them very shortly, they. Want to jam transmissions. Which, threaten, our battlefield. Operations. And so many other things, we. Will be so far ahead of them in a very short period of time your head will spin. China. Even launched, a new military, division, to, oversee, its war fighting programs. In space, just. Like the. Air the. Land the sea space. Has become a war fighting domain. It. Is not enough to, merely have an, American, presence, in space we. Must have American, dominance, in space and that is why just a few days ago the. Vice president, outlined, my administration's. Plan to create a sixth, branch. Of the, United States military, called. The. United. ADEs space, force. Got, it gotta get it Joe, right. Joe right. We. Will ensure that the next great chapter in history is written by the heroes, of the, United States military. America. Will always rise, to every challenge and overcome, every, danger, because, we, are backed by the, strength and power of the, American, soldier. Speaking. To his troops General. George Patton, a great, one once said, we. Have the finest, equipment and, the best spirit, and the. Best men, in the world now. If it were today he would be saying the best men and women, in the world things do change but that, was quite a statement, many years ago.
Continuing. His remarks, Patton, then declared, I don't want to get any messages. Saying I am holding my position we. Are not holding a damn thing we. Are advancing. Constantly. That was Patton, nearly. 75, years later Patton's. Words, still. Ring true. America. Has the, best equipment anywhere. In the world we. Have the best spirit, the best soldiers. Ever. To set foot on any battlefield anywhere. At any time we. Are the most powerful. We. Are the best funded, we. Are the biggest we are the strongest, we are the smartest, and we. Are still. Not, holding. A damn, thing, because, America. Is on the move once, again, and we. Are not backing down our. Country, is respected. Again I don't know if you see it but. America, is respected. Again there's a big difference and a big difference, in the, air you take a look around there's. A big, beautiful. Difference. We. Are advancing, forward with our confidence, renewed, our might. Restored, and the. Unwavering conviction, that. Our destiny. Is our, victory, America's. Future is safe sound, and brighter than ever because. Each of you is mountain, tough mountain, proud and mountain strong and always. Will. Be climbing, to glory, you, will be climbing to glory thank. You again for, the incredible, men and women a, Fort. Drum, special. Special. Great, people, god. Bless our troops and, god. Bless the, United States of. America. I'd. Now like to invite a, few of our fantastic. Soldiers. From, the 10th Mountain Division, 2nd. Brigade Combat Team to join me on stage to sign the National, Defense, Authorization. Act. It's been an honor to be with you today thank you all very much thank, you. But. I'll just say. Okay. That's. Good right. We go. Thank. You very much everybody.
2018-08-18