1 00:00:03,740 --> 00:00:07,680 mhm . You know , we wanted to make sure 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:09,847 that we were good , good to our work , 3 00:00:09,847 --> 00:00:11,902 which which we were and that's a big 4 00:00:11,902 --> 00:00:14,890 deal . We also saw just an outpouring 5 00:00:14,890 --> 00:00:16,779 of support from the Department of 6 00:00:16,779 --> 00:00:18,834 Defense led by Homeland Security and 7 00:00:18,834 --> 00:00:21,057 with the Department of State support we 8 00:00:21,057 --> 00:00:23,223 were able to process just in this camp 9 00:00:23,223 --> 00:00:25,501 more than 10,000 Afghan guests . Again , 10 00:00:25,501 --> 00:00:27,723 changing people's lives . We're here to 11 00:00:27,723 --> 00:00:30,570 fulfill a promise um that America made 12 00:00:30,570 --> 00:00:32,626 that we will take care of the afghan 13 00:00:32,626 --> 00:00:34,514 people that were with us shoulder 14 00:00:34,514 --> 00:00:36,750 shoulder And we have done that . 15 00:00:38,740 --> 00:00:40,962 I would say over 80% of the marines who 16 00:00:40,962 --> 00:00:43,184 were on this mission . We're volunteers 17 00:00:43,184 --> 00:00:45,430 might even be higher maybe 90% . And I 18 00:00:45,430 --> 00:00:47,710 think the marines not only got the 19 00:00:47,710 --> 00:00:49,654 benefit of knowing they were doing 20 00:00:49,654 --> 00:00:51,877 something good for other people , which 21 00:00:51,877 --> 00:00:53,821 is something rare that you get the 22 00:00:53,821 --> 00:00:55,988 opportunity to do that . But they also 23 00:00:55,988 --> 00:00:58,154 benefited their careers with all these 24 00:00:58,154 --> 00:00:57,720 different courses that they had the 25 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,910 opportunity to go to everything from 26 00:00:59,910 --> 00:01:02,110 sending marines to combat marksmanship 27 00:01:02,110 --> 00:01:05,020 coaches course . We sent marines to uh 28 00:01:05,030 --> 00:01:07,860 to qualify on the on the M- 18 pistol . 29 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,070 We also had the opportunity to 30 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,550 disseminate the land of course is we , 31 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,560 we sent marines to virtual force on 32 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,240 force training And probably one of the 33 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,240 things that just about every marine 34 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,351 benefited from was the opportunity to 35 00:01:22,351 --> 00:01:24,490 belt up . So we had marines get a ton 36 00:01:24,490 --> 00:01:27,050 of marines get their green belt Brown 37 00:01:27,050 --> 00:01:29,106 belt and we even had a handful , get 38 00:01:29,106 --> 00:01:31,272 their black belt , all in all over 500 39 00:01:31,272 --> 00:01:33,750 marines belted up . And I'd like to 40 00:01:33,750 --> 00:01:35,750 think that as they go back to their 41 00:01:35,750 --> 00:01:37,806 home stations , the things that they 42 00:01:37,806 --> 00:01:39,930 learned here at O . A . W . And the 43 00:01:39,940 --> 00:01:42,162 training that they achieved is going to 44 00:01:42,162 --> 00:01:44,273 help further the regimen in the years 45 00:01:44,273 --> 00:01:48,200 to come in the future fight . It's 46 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,144 important that the reserves remain 47 00:01:50,144 --> 00:01:52,311 relevant , ready and responsive to our 48 00:01:52,311 --> 00:01:54,910 nation's call . I believe 23rd marines 49 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,330 has displayed that they are definitely 50 00:01:57,340 --> 00:01:59,451 ready by the fact that they were able 51 00:01:59,451 --> 00:02:02,220 to mobilize in such a quick manner so 52 00:02:02,220 --> 00:02:04,300 that we could relieve our active 53 00:02:04,300 --> 00:02:06,300 components so that they can stay on 54 00:02:06,300 --> 00:02:08,870 mission . I feel we were relevant and 55 00:02:08,870 --> 00:02:10,814 uniquely qualified because we have 56 00:02:10,814 --> 00:02:12,926 marines and sailors from all over the 57 00:02:12,926 --> 00:02:15,148 country from various walks of life . We 58 00:02:15,148 --> 00:02:17,203 have working professionals , we have 59 00:02:17,203 --> 00:02:19,426 college students and those who had just 60 00:02:19,426 --> 00:02:21,592 have a desire to serve that could just 61 00:02:21,592 --> 00:02:23,759 be moms or dads but they came here for 62 00:02:23,759 --> 00:02:26,070 one purpose and that was to provide 63 00:02:26,070 --> 00:02:28,181 safety and security for Afghanistan . 64 00:02:28,250 --> 00:02:31,420 Lastly we're responsive enough because 65 00:02:31,420 --> 00:02:33,531 we were able to quickly in relatively 66 00:02:33,531 --> 00:02:35,531 short order activate , mobilize and 67 00:02:35,531 --> 00:02:37,710 deploy heretofore Pickett . Then we're 68 00:02:37,710 --> 00:02:39,821 able to establish the correct culture 69 00:02:39,821 --> 00:02:41,710 within the unit to accomplish our 70 00:02:41,710 --> 00:02:43,940 mission here . There wasn't one thing 71 00:02:43,940 --> 00:02:46,162 in particular that stood out to me . It 72 00:02:46,162 --> 00:02:47,996 was the marines everyday finding 73 00:02:47,996 --> 00:02:49,940 purpose in this mission by showing 74 00:02:49,940 --> 00:02:51,996 compassion , empathy and helping our 75 00:02:51,996 --> 00:02:54,162 afghan guests and showing the goodness 76 00:02:54,162 --> 00:02:54,750 that America has to offer