Defense Secretary Leon Panetta held a town hall meeting with about 1,300 soldiers from the Infantry Division’s 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, who will be deployed soon.
Speaking at Fort Benning, Secretary Panetta said this week’s strategic partnership agreement signed by President Obama and Afghan President Karzai “sends a clear signal to our enemies and partners that we will finish the job right in Afghanistan.”
He referenced recent misconduct by soldiers in Afghanistan and asked the troops to "always display the strongest character and discipline integrity," emphacizing that these incidents hurt the mission and the reputation of the U.S.
Secretary Panetta was introduced by Georgia Congressman Sanford Bishop, whose Congressional district covers Fort Benning.
Fort Benning, located outside of Columbus, Georgia, is home to more than 120,000 active duty military members and their families. It is home to the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and "Home of the Armor."