 As the Army's 38th Chief of Staff, I'm proud to lead a team of more than 3 million soldiers, civilians, and families as we celebrate 237 years of service to our great nation. Birthdays are commemorations and our Army has much to be proud of. Today you are part of the greatest Army in the world. You're selfless service, courage, dedication, and sacrifice to our nation during 10 years of war has been remarkable. I'm incredibly proud of the success our soldiers and civilians have accomplished in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the globe. We will never forget those who have sacrificed, our wounded warriors, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice will forever be a part of the Army and our nation's history. Your sacrifices will live on in our lives. Today we remain a nation at war, and the future of our Army will continue to be key to our nation's security. In the coming years we will continue to face a complex and uncertain world. The Army of the future will remain adaptive and innovative, flexible and agile, integrated and synchronized. We will provide depth and versatility through the capabilities embedded in our active guard and reserve components. We will continue to stand strong as the nation's force for decisive action, ready today and prepared for tomorrow. An Army that will apply the lessons learned in recent combat as we transition to evolving threats and strategies. An Army that will remain the best man, best equipped, best trained, and best led force in the world. Let's all remember we could not have done any of this without the support of our families and the American people. We thank you for your steadfast commitment to the Army. The well-being of our soldiers, families, and civilians will always be the Army's priority. To all soldiers past and present, remember, once a soldier, always a soldier. The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our soldiers. The strength of our soldiers is our families, and this is what makes us Army strong. Happy birthday, United States Army.