WEBVTT 00:00.870 --> 00:02.870 Hello , I'm Lieutenant General John 00:02.870 --> 00:05.037 Stubbs , the 23rd director of the Army 00:05.037 --> 00:06.900 National Guard . Today I want to 00:06.900 --> 00:08.900 introduce myself and share my focus 00:08.900 --> 00:11.067 areas for the Army Guard as we rise to 00:11.067 --> 00:13.939 the challenges of a rapidly evolving 00:13.939 --> 00:16.940 global landscape . It's truly an honor 00:16.940 --> 00:19.059 to serve as your director , and I'm 00:19.059 --> 00:22.020 humbled to serve the over 325,000 00:22.020 --> 00:24.540 soldiers , families , and civilians of 00:24.540 --> 00:26.500 the Army guard and to build on the 00:26.500 --> 00:28.722 great work my predecessors have done to 00:28.722 --> 00:30.444 get us to where we are today , 00:30.444 --> 00:34.130 America's premier combat reserve . With 00:34.130 --> 00:36.186 that said , there's still work to be 00:36.186 --> 00:38.549 done . My commitment to taking care of 00:38.549 --> 00:40.950 our people and being ready for anything 00:40.950 --> 00:43.229 both at home and abroad is unwavering . 00:43.990 --> 00:46.470 However , we must expand our thinking 00:46.470 --> 00:48.709 in these areas to ensure the Army guard 00:48.709 --> 00:51.549 is positioned for success in this ever 00:51.549 --> 00:54.110 evolving and often dangerous world that 00:54.110 --> 00:57.020 we live in . So what does this look 00:57.020 --> 00:59.669 like ? First and foremost , we must 00:59.669 --> 01:02.979 grow combat ready soldiers and leaders . 01:03.509 --> 01:05.509 This journey begins with our people 01:05.989 --> 01:07.656 investing in their training , 01:07.656 --> 01:10.190 development , and wellbeing . We must 01:10.190 --> 01:12.301 prepare our soldiers not just to meet 01:12.301 --> 01:14.949 today's demands , but to thrive amid 01:14.949 --> 01:17.709 tomorrow's uncertainties . Each soldier 01:17.709 --> 01:19.769 is vital to our mission . And we're 01:19.769 --> 01:21.936 committed to ensuring they possess the 01:21.936 --> 01:24.230 skills and support needed to lead on 01:24.230 --> 01:26.089 the battlefield . Recruiting and 01:26.089 --> 01:29.089 retention , enduring soldier care , and 01:29.089 --> 01:31.370 comprehensive leader development are 01:31.370 --> 01:33.426 the pillars of this effort that will 01:33.426 --> 01:36.959 win the force . Success also means 01:36.959 --> 01:39.800 building lethal units . We must enhance 01:39.800 --> 01:42.160 our capabilities to respond swiftly and 01:42.160 --> 01:44.760 decisively , ensuring that our units 01:44.760 --> 01:46.982 are not just prepared for the fight but 01:46.982 --> 01:49.120 also stand at the forefront of modern 01:49.120 --> 01:51.919 warfare . To succeed , we must create 01:51.919 --> 01:54.197 formations that are formidable , agile , 01:54.510 --> 01:56.760 and ready for any challenge that comes 01:56.760 --> 02:00.169 our way . We must embrace the idea of 02:00.169 --> 02:02.769 being ready for large scale combat with 02:02.769 --> 02:04.991 the understanding that combat readiness 02:04.991 --> 02:06.769 allows us to be extraordinarily 02:06.769 --> 02:09.559 responsive at home . All of this 02:09.559 --> 02:11.729 ensures that we will win the fight . 02:12.720 --> 02:15.220 Additionally , to remain competitive on 02:15.220 --> 02:17.149 a global scale , we also must be 02:17.149 --> 02:19.949 unwavering in our focus on transforming 02:19.949 --> 02:22.710 for the future . This means shifting 02:22.710 --> 02:24.877 for what many have known over the last 02:24.877 --> 02:27.043 20 years with the global war on terror 02:27.043 --> 02:29.429 and counterinsurgency operations to 02:29.429 --> 02:32.190 large scale combat operations and 02:32.190 --> 02:34.690 campaigning abroad . We will begin to 02:34.690 --> 02:37.410 transform organizationally and adapt 02:37.410 --> 02:39.089 our strategies , embrace new 02:39.089 --> 02:41.850 technologies , and continuously refine 02:41.850 --> 02:44.580 our processes that ensure we remain 02:44.580 --> 02:47.529 dominant on the battlefield to win the 02:47.529 --> 02:50.889 future . Lastly , we 02:50.889 --> 02:53.929 recognize that our success hinges on 02:53.929 --> 02:56.490 strengthening partnerships at home and 02:56.490 --> 02:58.850 abroad , whether collaborating with 02:58.850 --> 03:01.410 local communities , exercising with the 03:01.410 --> 03:03.889 other army components , and the greater 03:03.889 --> 03:07.050 joint force , or working alongside our 03:07.050 --> 03:09.169 international allies , these 03:09.169 --> 03:11.339 relationships are critical to our 03:11.339 --> 03:14.410 mission success . Together we will 03:14.410 --> 03:16.699 build stronger bonds that enhance 03:16.699 --> 03:19.710 cooperation . Improve interoperability 03:19.960 --> 03:22.240 and deliver powerful responses to 03:22.240 --> 03:25.410 crisis so that we can win with friends . 03:26.550 --> 03:29.229 As we embrace the future , I'm honored 03:29.229 --> 03:31.600 to lead the dedicated men , women , 03:31.630 --> 03:33.699 families , and civilians of the Army 03:33.990 --> 03:36.479 National Guard . Together we will 03:36.479 --> 03:38.869 uphold our legacy , confront our 03:38.869 --> 03:41.350 challenges , and ensure we stand ready 03:41.350 --> 03:44.750 for whatever lies ahead . Thank you for 03:44.750 --> 03:47.470 your support and for all that you do 03:47.470 --> 03:49.960 for our nation . God bless you all . 03:50.220 --> 03:52.740 The Army National Guard and the United 03:52.740 --> 03:55.330 States of America , ready for combat . 03:55.589 --> 03:56.779 This will defend .