Defense Secretary Ash Carter today told sailors serving aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain that they are in the midst of the most important strategic transition the United States is undertaking at an essential place and time.
Carter visited the McCain, homeported at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, as part of an around-the-world trip, and he emphasized the importance of the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.
Service members stood dockside of the ship, part of the U.S. 7th Fleet, as the secretary first spoke to them as a group and later greeted each of them individually.
“It makes me proud as the secretary of defense to lead what is the finest fighting force the world has ever known,” Carter told them. “We’re very busy these days. You know that here in the Asia-Pacific. Your operational tempo is extremely high, and I would like to say it’s going to slow down, but it’s not. It’s the nature of our world and the nature of our responsibilities.”
Half of the world’s population resides in the Asia-Pacific region, and half of the world’s economy will be there shortly, Carter said. “And what that means is this is the single part of the world of most consequence for our country in the long run,” he added.
Americans have been essential to keeping peace and security in the region for 70 years, the secretary said, telling the service members they’re participating in a vitally important mission.
Must Stand Strong
North Korea is in the immediate vicinity, the secretary said, where “there’s a serious need for deterrence in defense that only we can provide.”
“And it doesn’t end there,” Carter added. “All around the world today, and including this region, we need to stand strong, not just for ourselves, but for our allies.”
The U.S. alliance with Japan has never been stronger than it is today, he said. “It is a two-way street,” the secretary said. “We do a lot for Japanese security, and they do a lot to give us forward presence here. … “We work together to keep a system of principle and order here when it’s challenged. You do that and we do that with friends and allies.”
DoD Is One Family
Carter noted that it’s the holiday season that and many of the sailors are deployed and away from their families for a couple of hundred days a year. Joined by his wife, Stephanie, he reminded the group that the Defense Department is one family.
“You are doing the noblest thing with your life, and that is dedicated to the protection of our people and leaving a better world for our children. That’s your mission,” he said.
“Americans know they’re well protected by the very best,” he continued. “They have great respect and take great pride in you. But for you, like me in this awesome Department of Defense, what we do is wake up every morning knowing we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.”
(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)