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- [General Robert B Neller] You know,
this idea that, you know,

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at one point we're gonna reach this level

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and we're done, it just doesn't exist.

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Continue the attack implies,
hey we're always trying

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to get better, we're always moving forward.

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We're always trying to
knock down obstacles

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and improve things so that if and when

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we have to compete on
that combat battlefield,

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the ultimate competition, that we're ready

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and we're gonna be successful.

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Stuff we're doing really good.

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Number one is operationally,
we're killing it.

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Everywhere Marines are,
overseas, whether in Syria,

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or Iraq, or Afghanistan, or
Norway, or in the Pacific,

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everywhere we go people
just rave about us.

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The second thing we're doing really well

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is we're recruiting good people.

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You can put yourself in that category.

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And recruiting is hard, making mission.

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We have made mission every month,

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shoot, I think since 2006.

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We run a world of global
competition of pure adversaries,

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where we haven't been
for many, many years.

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Something that's important
for Marines to realize

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that just like we pay attention what other

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potential adversaries do,
they're paying attention to us.

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And we want them to pay attention to us

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because we may have to
compete against them.

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Finally, Marines have always adapted well

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to the changing demands of
the operating environment

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through innovation.

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The battlefield is the
ultimate competition

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and our nation expects if we compete

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on that battlefield that we're gonna win.

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Where there is no other option.

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So, we've gotta be ready to go.

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And you may not get a practice game.

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You gotta be ready to go tonight

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and you've gotta bring your A-game.

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And you've gotta be successful.

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The strength of an elite organization

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is the ability to self-correct.

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To see where they are falling short

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and need to change, in
order to remain effective

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without suffering a loss or a defeat.

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We've gotta change, and that's on me.

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We must eliminate any conduct that

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prevents us from going to
the next level of excellence.

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Behavior such as
drunkenness, sexual assault,

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sexual harassment, inappropriate
conduct on social media,

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hazing, recklessness, and a general

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lack of discipline do nothing to help

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our readiness and to
prepare for the fight.

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The path to success is simple.

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There is no rocket science
here, there is no substitute

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for hard work and commitment, for grit.

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When things get hard,
that's when we double down.

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So in the year ahead, we must continue

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the attack on multiple fronts.

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I've never met anybody
who hasn't had an issue

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or a problem or some sort
of trauma in their life

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that they haven't had to overcome.

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And there's no dishonor
in acknowledging that

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or saying that sometimes you
come up short individually.

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But there is no honor in quitting.

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We just, you can't quit.

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It's not part of what we are as Marines.

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So we don't ever quit on each other.

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We never leave each
other on the battlefield.

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We never leave each other
anywhere when a Marine is in need.

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It's just not the way we live our lives.

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Once a Marine, always a Marine
isn't some empty slogan.

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But is part of a creed branded on our soul

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from the first moment we earn that title.

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I charge all of you to continue

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to be Marines of character and virtue.

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We have done these tasks for the past

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243 years for the nation.

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And as long as the United States exists,

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Americans will expect their Marine Corps

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to be there to fight and to win.