First Lady praises Pentagon employees
Mrs. Obama says administration is committed to supporting service members and their families through improved pay and benefits.
First Lady Michelle Obama on Friday vowed to support service members and their families through better pay, benefits and education during a speech to Defense Department employees at the Pentagon.
"We are making sure you have what you need to get the job done," Obama said, broadly discussing the administration's efforts to improve pay, benefits, housing, education and medical care for service members and their families. In particular, the First Lady mentioned the extension of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act to federal employees caring for family members injured during military service as well as an initiative to renovate or replace more than half of Defense's schools.
Mrs. Obama, who has made the well-being of military families one of her signature issues, honored military and civilian employees on Friday during her first visit to the Pentagon. Much of her speech highlighted the efforts of the "true heroes" -- the spouses and children of Defense workers. She praised the commitment of the department's personnel.
"Our country has never asked so much, for so long, of our all-volunteer force. But the beauty is you never complain," she said, then joking, "at least not out loud."
About 20 civilian Pentagon employees, with more than 800 years of public service combined, joined Mrs. Obama onstage during the speech. "You are the force behind the force. You all may not always get the glory, but our troops cannot do their job without you."
Employees greeted the First Lady warmly. "You're so sweet. And there's so many of you," she said, when she stepped up to the microphone. After her remarks, she greeted many attendees individually.