FORT DRUM, N.Y. (April 2, 2015) -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter made Fort Drum his first military domestic stop, March 30, since taking office in February.
From an intimate meeting with Soldiers and Family members to a much larger, question-and-answer session, Carter spoke about the future fighting force in regard to quality retention of experienced Soldiers. Most of all, he said he made the trip to simply thank Soldiers, Families and the local community for everything they have done for the nation's defense.
"To you of the 10th Mountain Division - you have done so much for us for the last 14 years," Carter said. "It's really incredible."
He also formally announced 1st Brigade Combat Team's scheduled deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Approximately 1,250 Soldiers will deploy during the summer and fall to serve as advisers to the Iraqi forces to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
"The main thing I want to say to all of you today is thank you for what you do," Carter said. "We don't take for granted - I don't take any one of you for granted - I deeply admire what you are doing for our country. I very much appreciate it, and it is a privilege for me to be associated with you."
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander, introduced Carter as someone who has many life-saving contributions to the fighting force during his tenure as the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
"Everyone wants to come and visit so they can shake his hand for all the great things he's done for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. … Everyone will want to shake his hand for the effects he's made in saving lots and lots of lives," Bannister said, recalling Carter's visit to the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2013.
Carter spoke to Soldiers in attendance about the rapidly changing world, the threats in terms of terrorism and the importance of having engaged Soldiers regionally aligned around the globe.
"We can't beat them in garrison; we have to be out there," he said. "I know it's not easy, and we are asking a lot of you."
With that, Carter said he wants to find a way to keep the very best and the experienced in the ranks through better and innovated programs.
"I don't want to lose our best people; I don't want to lose our best skills, and I know that I can't take that for granted because I know that you people have lots of choices," he said. "You are so good that you have other places in society that you can apply your skills."
As the military moves toward the future, Carter said he wanted the DoD to be an organization that brings highly-skilled people in, keeps them in, and finds a way to promote and reward them on their performance and talents. He said he is also looking into a new retirement plan and other programs designed for Service members after they exit the military to make it more "compatible."
"We need to compete if we are going to succeed … I know that," Carter said. "I want to have going forward the kinds of people I have seated in front of me - excellent people like yourselves."
Spc. Christian Deroever, a cannon crewmember assigned to A Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, asked Carter about his plan for putting better mechanisms in place with the Veterans Administration for Soldiers as they transition out of the service. As a new Soldier, Deroever said he is concerned about his future after the Army.
Carter said the process should be "seamless."
"When you get there, we ought to be treating our veterans with the same dignity that we try to treat our current Service members with," he said.
When a Soldier asked about the future of Fort Drum for him and his Family, Carter quickly responded that even with the sequestration, the post "isn't going anywhere."
"You guys are in the middle of everything," he said. "You're deploying all over the world."
Before leaving, Carter took time to distribute his coin and take photos with Soldiers.
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