1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:03,740 --> 00:00:05,740 Hello everyone . Major General Greg 3 00:00:05,740 --> 00:00:07,851 Knight here . Welcome to Tax Corner . 4 00:00:08,140 --> 00:00:10,140 You know when I was elected to this 5 00:00:10,140 --> 00:00:12,307 post , I made the commitment to lead a 6 00:00:12,307 --> 00:00:14,084 Guard that was inclusive , fair 7 00:00:14,084 --> 00:00:16,590 equitable and just I'm very proud of 8 00:00:16,590 --> 00:00:18,812 the work you've all done in making this 9 00:00:18,812 --> 00:00:20,868 an incredible and welcoming place to 10 00:00:20,868 --> 00:00:23,800 serve . However , we're not perfect . I 11 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:25,744 started my career with the Vermont 12 00:00:25,744 --> 00:00:27,800 National Guard over 30 years ago . I 13 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,911 know this organization well enough to 14 00:00:29,911 --> 00:00:32,078 realize that areas exist where we must 15 00:00:32,078 --> 00:00:34,300 improve . That's why . Back in November 16 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:37,100 of 2019 , I requested assistance from 17 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:38,989 National Guard Bureau's Office of 18 00:00:38,989 --> 00:00:40,989 Complex Investigations to provide a 19 00:00:40,989 --> 00:00:42,933 detailed assessment of our command 20 00:00:42,933 --> 00:00:45,044 climate and our systems . During that 21 00:00:45,044 --> 00:00:47,730 process , our members spoke openly and 22 00:00:47,730 --> 00:00:50,620 honestly , I want you to know that you 23 00:00:50,620 --> 00:00:54,110 have been hurt While COVID-19 the 24 00:00:54,110 --> 00:00:56,110 capital response and change over in 25 00:00:56,110 --> 00:00:58,110 leadership at National Guard Bureau 26 00:00:58,110 --> 00:01:00,166 significantly delayed publication of 27 00:01:00,166 --> 00:01:02,277 the report . We have it , we reviewed 28 00:01:02,277 --> 00:01:04,332 it . I'll release it publicly in the 29 00:01:04,332 --> 00:01:06,054 coming days as suspected . The 30 00:01:06,054 --> 00:01:07,943 assessment found that the Vermont 31 00:01:07,943 --> 00:01:09,610 National Guard is healthy and 32 00:01:09,610 --> 00:01:11,554 functioning at a very high level . 33 00:01:11,554 --> 00:01:13,554 You'll see . The report also offers 34 00:01:13,554 --> 00:01:15,554 substantial analysis into the areas 35 00:01:15,554 --> 00:01:17,721 that we can improve . I will use these 36 00:01:17,721 --> 00:01:19,554 recommendations is what I call a 37 00:01:19,554 --> 00:01:21,610 handrail to continue to improve this 38 00:01:21,610 --> 00:01:23,443 great organization . The results 39 00:01:23,443 --> 00:01:25,499 containing the assessment will drive 40 00:01:25,499 --> 00:01:27,721 change initiatives . We've driven a lot 41 00:01:27,721 --> 00:01:27,260 of change in the past two years 42 00:01:27,710 --> 00:01:30,043 anticipated most of the recommendations , 43 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,296 but I've not been idle while waiting 44 00:01:32,296 --> 00:01:34,351 for the report to come back . In the 45 00:01:34,351 --> 00:01:36,407 last several months . We've launched 46 00:01:36,407 --> 00:01:38,351 the provost marshal team , updated 47 00:01:38,351 --> 00:01:40,518 policies and created a quarterly joint 48 00:01:40,518 --> 00:01:42,573 status of discipline report , all of 49 00:01:42,573 --> 00:01:42,220 which align with recommendations in 50 00:01:42,220 --> 00:01:44,390 this assessment . I want to thank all 51 00:01:44,390 --> 00:01:46,112 of you who participated in the 52 00:01:46,112 --> 00:01:48,057 assessment and assure you that I'm 53 00:01:48,057 --> 00:01:49,723 committed to implementing the 54 00:01:49,723 --> 00:01:51,890 recommendations in the report . I also 55 00:01:51,890 --> 00:01:53,890 want to remind you that the Vermont 56 00:01:53,890 --> 00:01:55,890 National Guard does a lot right . I 57 00:01:55,890 --> 00:01:55,670 don't have to look very far in this 58 00:01:55,670 --> 00:01:57,948 organization to find a lot of goodness . 59 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,462 But in order to improve , we must shine 60 00:02:00,462 --> 00:02:02,629 a light on our deficiencies and attack 61 00:02:02,629 --> 00:02:04,684 them with passion and purpose . This 62 00:02:04,684 --> 00:02:06,851 assessment will help us do just that . 63 00:02:06,851 --> 00:02:08,740 Thank you . Stay safe and put the 64 00:02:08,740 --> 00:02:08,660 vermonters ahead .