Obama: I Made a Pledge to Only Send You into Harm’s Way Only When Necessary

OBAMA: "You committed yourself to a life of service and of sacrifice. And I in turn made a promise to you which to the best of my abilities I tried to uphold every single day since. That I would only send new harm’s way when it was absolutely necessary, with a strategy and well defined goals, with the equipment and support that you needed to get the job done, because that’s what you rightfully expect and that’s what you rightfully deserve. I made that pledge at a time when less than 1 percent of Americans wear the uniform. Fewer Americans know someone who serves. And as a result, a lot of Americans don’t see the sacrifices you make on our behalf. But as commander-in-chief, I do. I’ve seen it when I look into the eyes of young cadets knowing that my decisions could very well send them into harm’s way."