 Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. In the 100 years since World War I, your army has been the world's most powerful, effective and ready to fight land force. And the American soldier has stood as our nation's most visible and enduring symbol of strength in an era of persistent and ever-evolving conflict. Each and every one wearing the uniform today of an American soldier is carrying on the legacy of the soldiers that came before you. You truly are helping make the world a safer place today. It is the cheapest staff of the army, and the priority I'm going to focus on is readiness. And the second priority I'll focus on is the future force of the army. That is the army of the 2025-2030-2040 time frame. To meet today's challenges, while looking ahead to those in the future, your army must be manned, trained, equipped and ready to provide our nation a full range of options for the defense of our national security interests at home and around the world. And we must always put in the forefront our number one asset, the American soldier. You are our hero, but you are all our heroes. Thanks for your heroism, thanks for your humanity, thanks for who you are. You represent all that is good in the American soldier and our way of life.