Hagel Notes 40th Anniversary of All-volunteer Force

You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Hagel Notes 40th Anniversary of All-volunteer Force 07/01/2013 11:16 AM CDT Hagel Notes 40th Anniversary of All-volunteer Force American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 1, 2013 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today issued a message to the men and women of the Defense Department to mark the 40th anniversary of the nation's all-volunteer force. Here is the text of the secretary's message: Forty years ago today, the Department of Defense implemented one of the most consequential and far-reaching changes in the history of America's armed forces with the establishment of the all-volunteer force. In commemorating the birth of our modern military, we recognize and thank the millions of men and women and their families who have served our country – on active duty, in the reserves, and in the National Guard. Skeptics and detractors claimed an all-volunteer force could not be sustained, but these remarkable Americans proved otherwise. They helped win the Cold War, stood against aggression in the Persian Gulf, kept peace in the Balkans, and put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan in the years since 9/11. They choose to serve our country because they believe in a cause that is bigger than themselves. They've always put the interests of the nation first, as have their families. It's because of their sense of duty that the American military remains the most trusted institution in our society today. Our all-volunteer force faces challenges. It will need to rebalance, adapt, and evolve, as it has over the last 40 years. America's all-volunteer force will continue to make our military the strongest, most capable, and most respected fighting force in the history of the world.   Biographies: Chuck Hagel Related Sites: 40th Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force   Defense Department News Through Facebook On American Forces Press Service's Facebook page, you can post comments and share news, photos and videos. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Forces-Press-Service/65137437532 or search for American Forces Press Service at Facebook.com. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time by clicking on your 'User Profile' page at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOD/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please e-mail support@govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ at http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx for up-to-date information. Get the help you, your family, and fellow servicemembers need, when you need it. Visit www.WarriorCare.mil to learn more. Check out the National Resource Directory at www.nationalresourcedirectory.org, a new web-based resource for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense