Tony Thurmond: “the primary mission of any army is to fight and win the wars of the nation which it protects. For the past 222 years…”

“the primary mission of any army is to fight and win the wars of the nation which it protects. For the past 222 years, since June 14, 1776, the soldiers of the United States Army have valiantly and successfully defended the interests, ideals, and people of our Nation. The American Army that was born on that June day a little more than two centuries ago is very different from the military force that meets our Nation's security needs as we prepare to enter the new millenium. The soldiers of our first Army were largely untrained, were poorly and infrequently paid, and faced tremendous logistical burdens. It is truly testament to the leadership abilities of General Washington that he was able to hold his troops together in the face of such odds. Of course, the men and women who serve in today's Army receive months of intensive and excellent training before they join their units, are paid fair wages on a regular basis, and benefit from a commitment to creating a professional, career oriented force. Despite these differences, one thing that has remained constant about those who have served in the United States Army over the past 222 years is that these are largely men and women who are selfless individuals and who are motivated by a patriotic desire to make a difference. From Valley Forge to Sierra Leone, no nation's army has benefitted more from the efforts of a finer array of people than our's.”