The Army’s a great place to come to get experience. It’s a great place to come and get some maturity. And I don’t think any of us will have a better boss, ever, than the Army. When you leave the Army, make sure that you take all of the goodness of the Army back into the world. I’ll remember forever a tape that AUSA showed a couple of years ago with Lieutenant General (now-retired) Jay Garner. He was asked: “If you had to go back and do it all over again, would you do anything different?” And he said, “Yeah, of course I would. But the two things that I would never change- I’d still be a soldier and I’d still marry the same woman.” I don’t know how you add to those words.

SMA Robert E. Hall

Congress is sincerely interested in what the Army does. And they’re sincerely interested in helping our soldiers to ensure an adequate quality of life, an adequate standard of living, and to ensure that we stay trained and ready.

SMA Robert E. Hall

Our Army is truly in touch with America every day, in some way or another. Since the American Army’s birth in 1775, the fate of the nation has often rested in the capable hands of its soldiers. From Yorktown to Gettysburg to Normandy to the Persian Gulf, to discovering and building a nation and protecting others from aggression, ultimately, it is the Army that decides our success in war and peace- because we are the force of decision.

SMA Gene C. McKinney

The soldier is a representative of everything that our nation stands for. A soldier is the most-trusted profession in America. Americans have trust in you because you trust each other.

SMA Richard A. Kidd

In order for this country to survive and for our families, loved ones, and the American people to continue to enjoy the freedoms we hold dear, we must strengthen our personal development, our bonding to others (unit cohesion, family ties), and strengthen our commitment to our country, Constitution, and profession. If we are to live up to the responsibilities that history has placed upon this great land, then it is important that we know we can count on each other. It starts with the basic element of our Army- squads; and is true of the Total Army- Active, Guard, and Reserve. We need each other. We need the other services, and we need the support of the American public. Our Army is only as strong as we want to make it. Those people who want to cut the defense budget to the bone need to realize that when we get involved in conflict, the youth of America will pay for our short-sightedness. They’re the ones who will have to hold the ground.

SMA Glen E. Morrell

The military is a reflection of American society.

SMA William A. Connelly

The American public expects a soldier to look like an American soldier. We represent the American public and they expect us to look sharp and be true professionals. Their tax dollars support our Army and they want a visible expression of a good investment.

SMA Leon L. Van Autreve