The Army chief of staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey recently visited U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) soldiers stationed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Dailey began his day by joining USARCENT soldiers on an esprit-de-corps run.

"You have to show soldiers that you’re still a soldier by getting out here and doing physical fitness training with them," Dailey said.

Adding, "It shows them that you care and what they’re doing is important to the success of not just our mission here, but to the United States of America."

The soldiers enjoyed having Dailey participate in their run.

"It was a great experience to have the sergeant major of the Army join us during the run," said Sgt. 1st. Class Asher Wright, policy operations noncommissioned officer with the 175th Financial Management Support Center.

Milley made re-enlisting in the Army a special and memorable occasion for 24 soldiers by administering the oath of enlistment.

The soldiers re-enlisted for a combined total of more than 80 years of military service.

Before giving the oath of enlistment to the soldiers, Milley thanked the re-enlistees and other service members for their service to the United States.

"It’s a great day for everyone here at USARCENT, it’s a big deal," Milley said.

He noted, "We have somewhere between 25 and 30,000 soldiers spread out in a lot of places in CENTCOM [Central Command] and have for many, many years."

Adding, "This entire region is a vital national security interest to the United States of America. No matter what your particular job is, it is essential to the protection of the United States."

Many of the soldiers were excited to be a part of the ceremony and for having the opportunity to meet Milley and Dailey.

"It’s not every day people get to meet the highest ranking officer in their branch," said Spc. Cody Bohnen, an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

Adding, "Having the chief of staff come here, it’s very special. It’s still a little unreal to me, It was nice to meet and talk with him."

In his address, Milley reiterated to the troops that he is thankful for all their service to United States and that the president and the American people support them "110 percent."

Both Milley and Dailey held leader professional development sessions with junior noncommissioned and commissioned officers.

"Leaders can only lead in one place in this Army and that’s from the front," Dailey said.

He added, "The soldiers here are the reason why Americans get to live free. Both the chief of staff and I are excited to see the soldiers, the great mission they’re doing here, out front for America every single day."

Sgt. Youtoy Martin