Pete Sessions: “We all have various people from other departments and agencies in our government on occasion who help us in our offices.…”

“We all have various people from other departments and agencies in our government on occasion who help us in our offices. Being a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have had the pleasure to have a number of fine defense fellows serve in my office and help us prepare the Defense bill and deal with other issues of importance. Commander Joe Carrigan is another one of these very fine fellows. He is one of the best we have ever had. He has a good strategic mind, he works extremely hard, he is always thoughtful, and he is a delight to have in the office. We have been talking about our military personnel and their retirement benefits. Remember, unlike other government employees, they are on call anytime, any day, to be sent anyplace in the world at the very risk to their lives and physical well-being. In addition, they work long hours. They have no thought to object to being asked to work a weekend or a night or 24 hours without sleep to do some task they are called upon to do, and they get no overtime for it. It is just the way it is done in the military because when a challenge is out there, they act. I know some point out the weaknesses in this large entity, the Defense Department, and some of the management problems that arise. But I have to say without any doubt whatsoever that the institution has quality people--people of integrity, men and women who love their country and serve their country and do whatever you ask them to do.…”