Greetings Shipmates, I’m Vice Admiral John Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force. 
 
Today, we celebrate Veterans Day.  
 
This federal holiday marks a solemn occasion, a day set aside for memories, reflection, prayer, and to give thanks. On behalf of the entire Navy Reserve, we honor all Americans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard, in times of war and peace — and we pay due respect to those Americans who have passed the torch of liberty from one generation to the next… particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 
 
Here’s a short history lesson.  Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I, known as ‘The Great War’ at the time.  Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.  To this day, Veterans Day occurs on November 11th every year in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that signaled the armistice — or the end of hostilities — during World War I.  In 1954, President Eisenhower officially changed the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, effectively commemorating veterans of all wars. 

102 years since the establishment of this day of reflection, in 2021, we recognize the honorable service of our men and women in uniform spanning 246 years, in times of peace and times of conflict.  We honor those who stepped forward to defend our fellow citizens and the country they love.  We commemorate those who shouldered great responsibility and lived up to the highest standards of duty with honor, courage and commitment. And finally, today, we thank them. 

Shipmates, today we live in challenging times. In addition to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are front and center in a new era; a period characterized not by counter insurgency, but by high-stakes competition between nation states.  
 
This reality is driving the aggressive modernization of our Reserve Force to address today’s global environment. Specifically, we are building new capabilities and shifting capacity in our force to meet the needs of long-term Strategic Competition. 
 
And I need you to be ready.  Mobilization ready, and warfighting ready.  Ready to answer the nations call — perhaps at a moment’s notice.  I need you ready to mobilize — to show up ready to go; to fight tonight, and win, if the nation demands it.  
 
That said, we are, by design and necessity, a force that must be “Ready to Win.”  That simple phrase is our commitment to our nation that each of us is trained, available, and ready to contribute – tactically, operationally, and strategically - the moment we arrive on station.  We honor our veterans by being ready now; ready to don the cloth of our nation and provide a force multiplier for our operational forces around the world, as they did.

As fellow Reserve Sailors, we are each uniquely connected by our shared memories, our shared service and our shared commitment to our country.  And, as Reserve members, we have to gain and maintain that critical military readiness while also tackling the demands of civilian careers, and, obviously, balancing the needs of the families you love and serve to protect.  I know it’s not always easy.
 
Which is why I want to thank every member of the Navy Reserve team – our civilians, our TARS and our SELRES Sailors - for your sacrifices and contributions, whether here at home or downrange.  I’m incredibly proud of all of you, and all you do.  Please also pass my appreciation to your families and your employers for their support. What we do is a team sport, and I know none of us can succeed without them. 

Keep up the great work, gang.  You have much to be proud of on Veterans Day.  I look forward to seeing you out in the fleet.  

Now, let’s get busy out there.