For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 12, 2001
Remarks by the President to the Troops of Fort Stewart
Cottrell Field Fort Stewart, Georgia
11:12 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank
you. Thank you, General Sharp. Before I begin my
remarks today, I want to ask for your prayers for those still missing
after the tragic accident involving one of our naval submarines and a
Japanese fishing vessel off the coast of Hawaii. Please join
me in a moment of silence for those missing, their families, and our
friends, the people of Japan.
(A moment of silence is
observed.) Amen.
Major General, thank you for your kind
introduction and your outstanding leadership. Secretary
Rumsfeld, Senator Cleland, and Senator Miller -- of the great state of
Georgia -- (applause) -- other members of the United States Senate;
Representative Kingston, and other members of the House, thank you all
for traveling with me today.
General Hendrix, Major General Poythress,
Command Sergeant Major McFowler, Command Sergeant Major Ruo, soldiers
of the 3rd Infantry Division -- (applause) -- the 48th Infantry Brigade
-- (applause) -- as importantly, family members -- (applause) -- and
all those who make up the Fort Stewart home. It's a great
privilege for me to be here today.
You're among the first in the Army to hear me
extend "Hooah!" (Applause.) I proudly do so, for there is no
greater duty for the President, and no higher honor than to serve as
the Commander in Chief. (Applause.)
I'm especially honored to be here at Fort
Stewart, with the dog-faced soldiers of the 3rd Infantry
Division. (Applause.) You've written history with
your courage, from the forests of the Marne to the front lines of the
Cold War; from Casablanca to the Balkans; from Korea to Kuwait.
Today, you carry on this proud tradition,
ready to project American power wherever America's interests are
threatened. You've been called the most highly trained and
rapidly deployable mechanized force in the world.
(Applause.) That is high praise, and you have earned it.
I deeply respect your service. I
appreciate your sacrifice. And I know what your service and
sacrifice achieve for our nation. In a dangerous world, our
men and women in uniform give America safety. In a world of
fast changing threats, you give us stability. Because of
you, America is secure. Because of you, the march of freedom
continues.
The freedom and security you make possible
improve the quality of our life every day. Our nation can
never fully repay our debt to you. But we can give you our
full support, and my administration will. (Applause.)
We owe you and your families a decent quality
of life. (Applause.) We owe you the training and equipment
you need to do your jobs. (Applause.) And when we send you
into harm's way, we owe you a clear mission, with clear goals.
(Applause.) You and your families are the foundation of
America's military readiness.
But while you're serving us well, America is
not serving you well enough. (Applause.) Many in
our military have been over-deployed and
underpaid. (Applause.) Many live in aging houses
and work in aging buildings. (Applause.) You see
some of this right here at Fort Stewart.
(Applause.) Twenty-four thousand troops have been processed
through Hunter Airfield in the last 12 months, deploying everywhere,
from Bosnia to the Bahamas.
Some members of the 3rd Infantry Division are
now in Bosnia for a second, or even third, time. In a few
months, the 48th Infantry Brigade of Georgia's National Guard will also
deploy there. Others in the 3rd Infantry are getting ready
to deploy to Kosovo. (Applause.)
You are among the most deployed units in the
Army. But you live on a base that has some of the least
developed infrastructure. (Applause.) Two-thirds of your
barracks need renovation. (Applause.) Some of
your workshops are housed in wood buildings built in 1941, buildings
that were designed to last 10 years, which are now having their 60th
birthday. (Laughter.)
These problems, from low pay to poor housing,
reach across our military and the result is
predictable. Frustration is up; morale, in some places, is
difficult to sustain; recruitment is harder. This is not the
way a great nation should reward courage and
idealism. (Applause.) It's ungrateful, it's
unwise and, it is unacceptable. (Applause.)
We will do better. You deserve a
military that treats you and your families with respect. And
America needs a military where our best and brightest are proud to
serve, and proud to stay. I have great goals for our
military, to advance its technology, to rethink its
strategy. But as always, our strength begins with our
people. (Applause.)
Today, I'm announcing that our proposed 2002
budget will add $5.7 billion in new spending on the people of our
military. (Applause.) Our budget will include
$1.4 billion for military pay increases. (Applause.) Pay
increases on top of the increases the Congress passed the last couple
of budget cycles, $400 million in funds to improve military housing --
(applause) -- and $3.9 billion to improve military health
benefits. (Applause.)
If our military is to attract the best of
America, we owe you the best. You volunteered for this
job. You decided to serve a cause greater than
yourself. And I'm proud to lead you. And I'm
committed to serve you. In the years ahead, I will have the
opportunity to visit with thousands of our men and women in
uniform. And I look forward to each opportunity to express
my thanks on behalf of our nation.
I'll never forget that my first visit as
Commander in Chief was here, to Fort Stewart, home of the dog-faced
soldiers. (Applause.) You are the Rock of the
Marne, and America is rock-solid behind you.
God bless you, and God bless
America. (Applause.)
END
11:23 A.M. EST
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