Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter visited U.S. Naval War College (NWC), May 25, answering questions from students, faculty and staff as part of a three-day trip to Newport, Rhode Island and surrounding areas.

During his interaction at the school, Carter said there are many global challenges now and there will be more in the future, and the United States must be able to respond to them all.

"[We need to be] staid, agile, flexible with a wide-area field of view," he said. "All this is essential for what might come down the road."

He went on to say the nation is well positioned to meet security needs.

"The question is: 'Can we do it all?' Well we can do it all," Carter said. "We have the right mindset. We have determination. We have public support."

The key to success in the future is consistency, according to Carter.

"We need stability," he said. "We need stability to plan. Our industries need stability. Our people need to know what their future is. Our friends need to know we are with them. Our enemies need to know we are strong."

Carter took time to thank the international military students for working with the United States for common security goals.

"To the international people here, thank you for being with us," Carter said. "We don't take it for granted. At our best, working together, we represent the civilized world protecting itself."

He also stressed to all students they should never stop trying to improve themselves.

"Everybody now needs to be constantly learning, constantly changing," said Carter. "Because we all individually need to be competitive as well as collectively."

After his address, Carter received a brief on the work and scope of NWC's research and academic programs, followed by a tour of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, also in Newport.

Video of his address can be viewed at http://youtu.be/Zh-Xwq9mcdY.

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