Yellow Ribbon America

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U.S. Navy Seaman Gabriel Lupo, assigned to the USS Constitution, climbs the mizzenmast as the ship hosts Vietnam veterans to thank them for their service during an event in Boston, May 18, 2018.

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey Scoular

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U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division participate in a division run as part of All American Week 2018 at Fort Bragg, N.C., May 21, 2018. Paratroopers past and present converged on the base to participate in the weeklong celebration of the division.

U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Alleea Oliver

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By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

ARLINGTON, Va., — The senior enlisted leaders of the Defense Department and the Coast Guard placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery today to mark Armed Forces Day.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John W. Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Ronald L. Green, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven S. Giordano, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell and Sgt. Maj. Don Rose, representing the Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, participated in the ceremony.

The service senior enlisted leaders placed the seal of their service on the wreath, and Troxell, as the senior enlisted leader in the joint force, placed the wreath at the tomb.

All-Enlisted Ceremony

It was an all enlisted ceremony, too. An Army command sergeant major was the commander of troops, a sergeant major conducted The U.S. Army Band in the national anthem, and each of the services’ honor guards were commanded by noncommissioned officers or petty officers.

“It’s our way of marking Armed Forces Day and beginning the commemoration of Memorial Day,” Troxell said after the ceremony. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, Troxell’s predecessor, began the tradition.

The fact that it was an all-enlisted review is nothing new to Troxell. “This is what we do as an empowered enlisted force: we operate under commanders’ intent to do the mission,” Troxell said.

“NCOs do this every day around the world. Having my battle buddies out there with me is huge in showing the importance of the enlisted force,” he added.

Tour of Tomb Guard Quarters

After the ceremony, the enlisted leaders visited the tomb guard quarters underneath the Memorial Amphitheater. Tomb guards and tomb guards in training gave them a tour of the facility and told the enlisted leaders about their training and their motivation. 

“Meeting the guards was impressive,” Cantrell said. “Meeting them and hearing their stories is a treat. While we’re not part of DoD, we are very proud to be members of the joint force.”

The senior enlisted leaders then went back to the tomb to watch the changing of the guard, presided over by Army Staff Sgt. Ruth Hanks of the 3rd Infantry Regiment , The Old Guard.

Chance Meeting With Veterans

As the senior enlisted leaders arrived for the ceremony, they serendipitously met veterans from an Honor Flight from Midland, Texas. The veterans were from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm, and Iraq and Afghanistan vets were helping their older compatriots. Two of the veterans charged ashore at Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

After meeting the senior enlisted leaders, one of the Texas vets turned to a friend and said, “It was nice meeting them, but even after 70 years, I still get nervous meeting a sergeant major.”

Picture: Senior enlisted leaders place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 20, 2017, in honor of Armed Forces Day. DoD photo by Jim Garamone

YELLOW RIBBON AMERICA NEWS DESK:

Issued on: May 10, 2018

Since the founding of our Republic, military spouses have served alongside their loved ones and played vital roles in the defense of our country.  Their selfless support, volunteer spirit, and significant contributions have left indelible marks on our military and communities.  On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to these remarkable patriots, past and present, including the incredible women and men who currently serve, in steadfast support of America’s Armed Forces, as our Nation’s military spouses.

Military Spouse Day is an opportunity to thank the inspirational men and women who are the foundation of our Nation’s military families.  Their countless sacrifices and tireless devotion to this country, and to those who defend her, are invaluable and irreplaceable.  Military spouses shoulder the burdens of a challenging and demanding lifestyle with pride, strength, and determination.  They demonstrate uncommon grace and grit, and although most military spouses do not wear a uniform, they honorably serve our Nation ‑‑ often times without their loved one standing beside them.

We ask so much of our military spouses:  frequent moves; heartbreaking separations; parenting alone; incomplete celebrations; and weeks, months, and sometimes years of waiting for a loved one’s safe return from harm’s way.  Time and time again, however, military spouses respond with resilience that defies explanation.  Our service members are often praised as national heroes, but their spouses are equally worthy of that distinction.

My Administration is committed to taking care of our Armed Forces and ensuring that our military is equipped to defend our country and protect our way of life.  This mission also includes caring for the unique needs of military spouses, whose service to our Nation cannot be overstated.

Too often, military life can interfere with the aspirations and dreams of our military spouses.  For example, frequent and often unexpected moves can impair career and academic goals.  Even as our economy prospers, military spouses continue to face an unemployment rate far higher than the national average, up to 16 percent in 2017.  Further, data from the 2016 American Community Survey indicates that military spouses suffer from underemployment at a greater rate than Americans more broadly, at an estimated 31.4 percent compared to 19.6 percent overall.  All of these are added and unnecessary burdens on military families.

We can and will do better, which is why my Administration will continue to focus on enhancing employment opportunities for military spouses.  On May 9, I signed an Executive Order to enhance opportunities for military spouses looking for employment in the Federal Government.  This action promotes the use of an existing hiring authority for military spouses and seeks to provide significantly greater opportunity for military spouses to be considered for Federal Government positions.

Beyond the Federal Government, I encourage every American business, large and small, to find ways to employ military spouses, and keep them employed as they relocate ‑‑ sometimes every 2 or 3 years ‑‑ to new duty stations.  More than 360 employers with regional and national footprints have made this commitment through the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership.  In less than 7 years, these patriotic partners have hired more than 112,000 military spouses.  We are grateful for these employment opportunities and hope to see many more businesses participate in this important initiative.

In addition, many military spouses encounter unnecessary delays remaining in the workforce following a change in duty station.  These spouses are more likely than other workers to face barriers to employment due to the impact of occupational licensing laws, since they frequently move across State lines and are disproportionately employed in occupations that require a license.  Existing State laws regarding license portability are insufficient.  States and occupational licensing boards can and must do more to improve the license portability to facilitate career continuity and ease financial burdens on our military families.

As we observe Military Spouse Day, we salute generations of military spouses for their leadership, courage, love, patriotism, and unwavering support for the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces.  On this day, Melania and I offer our deepest respect and gratitude to every person who has embraced this noble calling in proud service to our Nation as a military spouse.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2018, as Military Spouse Day.  I call upon the people of the United States to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

DONALD J. TRUMP

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U.S. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis meets with Dutch Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld at the Pentagon, April 11, 2018. DoD photo by Tech Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.   Secretary Mattis highlighted the Netherland’s value to the United States and NATO as a steadfast ally, and their pledge to get to two percent of GDP defense spending. 

Minister Bijleveld discussed the recent publication of the Dutch Defense White Paper, and emphasized her government’s $1.5 billion increase in defense spending in 2018.  Secretary Mattis commended the minister for her efforts to modernize her military and improve military readiness.    Secretary Mattis also thanked Minister Bijleveld for continued support to the D-ISIS Coalition and NATO missions, an Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) battle group in Lithuania, and Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.

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An U.S. Army Flight Engineer travels aboard a CH-47F Chinook helicopter during an U.S. Army-U.S. Air Force training exercise at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 26, 2018. The Soldier is assigned to Task Force Brawler.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Brook