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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth continued the War Department's Arsenal of Freedom tour today by paying a visit to the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine.
The nationwide Arsenal of Freedom tour, launched just over one month ago by Hegseth, demonstrates the War Department's support for the defense industrial base by issuing a call to action to revitalize America's manufacturing might and reenergize the nation's workforce.
During his remarks to a large and energetic crowd of shipyard employees, Hegseth emphasized that America's warfighters would be unable to engage in their respective missions without support from the defense industrial base.
"[The warfighters are] absolutely incredible; I call them the 'real 1%.' But they can't do their work without all of you standing behind them — shoulder to shoulder — working [hard] every single day in tough, dirty and dangerous conditions ensuring you get to them what they need when they need it," Hegseth told the group.
"They literally can't win the next fight without you," he added.
Hegseth also stressed to the crowd that, while the War Department can put effort into recruiting future warfighters, America risks losing its worldwide military primacy in the 21st century if it lacks the equipment and capabilities needed for the military to succeed.
"And if the 21st century is not an American century, it won't be a free century. It is about you, your kids, your grandkids, and their future. And when you go home, I know you look your kids, your wives, your spouses, your husbands in the eye and say, 'I know what I'm doing for a living is contributing to the protection, safety and security of my nation,'" he said.
Hegseth wrapped up his remarks by telling the story of how he spent time aboard the USS Winston S. Churchill during his troop morale visit to U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility last Thanksgiving.
He said while his view from the ship at sea was one of the "most beautiful views of America" he'd ever seen, he also had a second outstanding view.
"I also had the most beautiful view of America because I was on board a destroyer that was built right here at Bath Iron Works — built in America, built by Americans," Hegseth said.
Earlier in the day, before arriving in Maine, Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment to a group of future active-duty service members and a group of future National Guardsmen while visiting the Seabee Museum and Memorial Park in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Administering the oaths of enlistment and reenlistment before visiting various defense industrial base businesses has been commonplace for Hegseth during the Arsenal of Freedom tour.
"You are the real secret weapon of the United States of America; no other country produces young men and women like these," Hegseth told the recruits.
"Thank you for joining the most ferocious, disciplined fighting force the world has ever seen," he added. "It's a blessing to be with you this morning."
