WEBVTT

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Hello , folks . Mike Brooks here ,

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along with my wonderful wife Wendy . We

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would like to wish you a merry

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Christmas and a happy and joyous

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holiday season . Over the past year

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I've had the privilege and honor to

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lead the O and I and NEMO teams as you

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have provided support to the navy and

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the nation through some tough trials .

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I'm awed and inspired by the work you

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do daily . It has been and continues to

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be crucial in keeping our families ,

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neighbors , and loved ones safe at home

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and abroad . Given the pace that

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you've been running , please use this

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season to take the opportunity to catch

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your breath , spend quality time with

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your loved ones . After all , that's

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what the holidays are for . We

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encourage each of you to invest in what

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brings you joy and to give yourself the

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time to relax and recharge as your

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well-being is so very important to your

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shipmates here at Oa and more

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importantly , your loved ones .

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Speaking of loved ones . How are you

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doing on my Christmas list , honey ?

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Um , I'll get back to you on that .

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This is usually my favorite part of the

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year , although apparently , I may

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already be behind regarding my gift

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shop . The opportunity to spend time

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with my daughters and their significant

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others , and the new addition to a

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burgeoning family . Then there's all

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the food and social gatherings . That

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said , for some , this time of year can

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be challenging . Stress , compounded

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with other personal struggles , can

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overshadow the joy of the season .

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Therefore , I ask you to look out for

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one another and to recognize when you

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might need assistance yourself . Asking

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for help when you need it is a sign of

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wisdom and strength , and I actively

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encourage you to do so . If you find

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yourself down or depressed this season ,

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resources are available to you and your

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family , whether you're at home or

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you're deployed overseas . Speak with

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your chain of command . Reach out to

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the fleet and family support center .

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Contact your command ombudsman .

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Confide in a close friend . It is

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important to remember that you are

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never alone in your struggles and that

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there is always helping it . As

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we move into the new year , the pace at

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work is going to remain brisk , as the

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activities of our strategic competitors

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will continue to require that each of

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us give our absolute best . I am

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confident that this team has the talent

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and drive to meet the challenges of

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tomorrow , and I eagerly look forward

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to what the next year will bring .

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Thank you for all that you do for each

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other , the navy , and the nation .

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From our family to yours . Merry

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Christmas . Happy holidays and best

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wishes for the new year .