Courtesy Photo | U.S. Secretary Of Defense Robert M. Gates receives a coin from U.S. Army Col. Bruce P....... read more read more
LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates visited soldiers serving on Forward Operating Base Shank, Logar province, Afghanistan, June 6.
Gates, a native of Wichita, Kan., greeted soldiers and answered their questions about military retirement, behavioural health, general order number one and troop withdrawals in Afghanistan.
“I think any change in military retirement until after we’ve drawn down here in Afghanistan ... would be very controversial,” said Gates. “I wager a lot of money that the only way they can get it past (Congress) would be to grandfather it so that no one in the active force would be affected.”
Gates said between 70 and 80 percent of the Armed Forces separate from service before retirement. He said he wants to give everyone a piece of the pie, not just everyone who makes it to 20 years in the military.
“If you leave with five years or 10 years (in), you get nothing and that doesn’t seem right to me,” said Gates. “So figuring out a way, whether it’s adapting some kind of civilian 401K that you (Soldiers) and the government could pay into and roll over into once you get into civilian life (would be beneficial).”
In addition to retirement prospects, troop withdrawal remains a big topic ever since U.S. President Barack Obama indicated 2014 as the deadline for pulling troops out of Afghanistan.
“There’s very little doubt in my mind that most of our troops will be out of here by 2014,” said Gates. “We have a longer-term agreement with the Afghans; we (will) have some residual presence stay back for training and logistics to counter terrorism and things like that.”
Gates, who is retiring this year was asked about what his legacy in office would be known for, whether it was the end of the war in Iraq or the death of Osama bin Laden.
“The thing that matters the most to me frankly, and the thing I’d like to be remembered for was the things I tried to do to help you accomplish the mission and come home safely,” said Gates.
Gates closed his discussion with the soldiers with a statement on how hard each of them is working and how much it means to him to see everyone working as hard as they do.
“I want to thank you for your service and your sacrifices, more than anybody other than the president I’m responsible for you being here,” said Gates. “I’m the guy who signed the deployment orders that brought you here, that has weighed on me for four and a half years and that’s a reason why I’ve taken a sense of personal responsibility as I suggested earlier for making sure you have what you need to be successful in the mission.
“I feel your hardship, your sacrifice and your burdens more than you can possibly imagine,” said Gates. “I think you are the best that America has to offer, my affection and admiration for you has no limit, and I will pray for you each day for the rest of my life.”
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2011 18:38 |
| Story ID: | 71875 |
| Location: | LOGAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 504 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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