WEBVTT

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- Marines, in my most 
recent guidance to the Corps,

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Maintaining Momentum,

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I reinforced the fact that war will always be

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a human struggle between 
two irreconcilable wills.

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The will to win exists at the national level.

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But it's each and every one of you

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who carry the will and courage
to go forward and do the fighting.

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Where does that will come from?

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- Our 13th Commandant, 
General Lejeune, once said,

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"there is no substitute for the spiritual in war."

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He was right.

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If you think back to recruit training or OCS,

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you remember hearing that our legacy

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comes from our strength 
of mind, body and spirit.

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- That spirit needs to be exercised

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just like our minds and bodies.

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It's what the Marine Corps 
calls spiritual fitness

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and it can be summed up in five words:

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inner strength from higher purpose.

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The point is, there's something stronger in here

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when we're connected to something
higher and greater than us.

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There are a lot of ways we
can strengthen our spirit.

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Religious faith, spiritual practices,

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joining a community that helps others,

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talking to each other or your families

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about the value of life, working on our character.

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And data tells us these 
things make a big difference.

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For example, research shows that those

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who practice spiritual disciplines or religious faith

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are 60 to 80% less at risk for suicide.

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We're more ready and resilient

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to go into harm's way or face
the challenges of daily life

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when we're spiritually fit.

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The connection to something
higher, something bigger than us,

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that's why you became Marines

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and that's what General Lejeune was talking about.

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- Marines, you demonstrated courage

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before you even earned the 
Eagle, Globe and Anchor

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by raising your right hand and taking the oath.

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You proved your strength 
of mind, body and spirit

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when you earned that title.

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- I'm calling on every leader in our Corps

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to keep that alive by intentionally taking steps

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to strengthen our collective spiritual fitness.

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Invest in this crucial aspect of the lives

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of our Marines and Sailors.

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Help them make or maintain the 
connection to that higher purpose.

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We're all proud of you.

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Semper fidelis.