On November 18, 2014 Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel addressed troops at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Here is some of what the secretary had to say:
“Let me give you a couple of thoughts on where I think we are today in the world, your role, why you continue to be an indispensable part of our security effort. Then we’ll take some questions and then get some photos.
First, we are living in a time that is as uncertain and complicated as any time during any of our lifetimes. What you do as Marines, your expeditionary mission, what you’re trained for, what we rely on you for is as important today and will become even more important in the years ahead.
The kind of challenges and the threats that we face all over the world are in your wheelhouse. These are areas that we will rely on you as much as any other branch of our service because of your agility, because of your capabilities, because your understanding of so many different parts of the world. And it is in support of all our other branches — our Army and our Navy, our Air Force — this integrated piece of the Marine base is so critically important.”
Source: Pentagon news transcript http://www.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=5543
See video: The Marines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPg2Kf-jYeA