FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The Secretary of Defense for the United States observed training and spoke with Soldiers during a visit to the Army's National Training Center, Nov. 16.
Chuck Hagel, the nation's 24th Defense Secretary, flew on a helicopter to the U.S. Army's vast terrain in the Mojave Desert and saw a portion of the training conducted here that builds readiness for brigade combat teams. Soldiers of 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (from Fort Carson, Colo.) reacted to a scenario within the training village, "Razish" -- where NTC Soldiers of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment provided an opposing force. Non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers from Operations Group here served as observer/controller/trainers for the rotational unit.
Later that afternoon, Hagel met with the Soldiers, who assembled in a semicircle on the periphery of the village. Hagel thanked them for their service in defense of the nation and said they "represent as proud a tradition and as important a job as there is in this country."
Hagel said he appreciated the opportunity to witness the full spectrum training of the NTC.
"It is critically important that the current training you're getting here continues to be refined, because as you all know so very well, it is training that prepares you, that keeps you ready," Hagel said.
The leader of the Department of Defense stressed that it is important to be prepared for threats and challenges that may arise.
"It is the training that keeps you on the cutting edge of what's coming next," Hagel said. "And what you're doing here represents that as much as any element of our entire defense enterprise training that we have."
Hagel acknowledged everyone involved in the training here -- the brigade, OCTs and the 11th ACR -- and remembered experiences with two of the units. He recalled that he originally had orders to serve in Vietnam with 4th ID in 1967 and that his brother served with the 11th ACR in Vietnam for five weeks. The two eventually fought in that war together in another unit.
Major Gen. Ted Martin, commander of the NTC and Fort Irwin, informed the audience that Hagel was a combat infantryman and described him as a fellow Soldier.
"He earned a Blue Cord like many of the Soldiers standing here today," Martin said. "Like us, he's worn boots on the battlefield, so he knows what it means to sacrifice for his country -- but more importantly he knows of the sacrifices that our families are making when we're out here training and we're deployed fighting for our country."
Hagel thanked the California civilian communities "who have been so supportive of our troops and their families over a number of years." He emphasized appreciation for military families and declared ongoing commitment to them.
"It's tough on families -- we all know that," Hagel said. "We're going to continue all we can to support the families because they're critical in supporting you and supporting us."
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