Our combat-seasoned Army, although stressed by seven years of war, is a resilient and professional force-the best in the world. The Army-Active, National Guard, and Army Reserve-continues to protect our Nation, defend our national interests and allies, and provide support to civil authorities in response to domestic emergencies. The Army is in the midst of a long war, the third longest in our Nation's history and the longest ever fought by our All-Volunteer Force. More than one million of our country's men and women have deployed to combat; more than 4,500 have sacrificed their lives, and more than 31,000 have been wounded. Our Army continues to be the leader in this war, protecting our national interests while helping others to secure their freedom. After seven years of continuous combat, our Army remains out of balance, straining our ability to sustain the All-Volunteer Force and maintain strategic depth. The stress on our force will not ease in 2009 as the demand on our forces will remain high. In 2008, the Army made significant progress to restore balance, but we still have several challenging years ahead to achieve this vital goal. As we remain committed to our Nation's security and the challenge of restoring balance, we remember that the Army's most precious resources are our dedicated Soldiers, their Families, and the Army Civilians who support them. They are the strength of the Army-an Army that is The Strength of the Nation. Our Nation is in its eighth year of war, a war in which our Army-Active, Guard, and Reserve-is fully engaged. Our Soldiers and Army Civilians have performed magnificently, not only in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also in defense of the homeland and in support to civil authorities in responding to domestic emergencies. Much of this success is due to our Noncommissioned Officers. This year, we specifically recognize their professionalism and commitment. To honor their sacrifices, celebrate their contributions, and enhance their professional development, we have designated 2009 as the "Year of the Army NCO." Our NCO Corps is the glue holding our Army together in these challenging times. Today, we are fighting a global war against violent extremist movements that threaten our freedom. Violent extremist groups such as Al Qaeda, as well as Iran-backed factions, consider themselves at war with western democracies and even certain Muslim states. Looking ahead, we see an era of persistent conflict-protracted confrontation among state, non-state, and individual actors that are increasingly willing to use violence to achieve their political and ideological ends. In this era, the Army will continue to have a central role in providing full spectrum forces necessary to ensure our security. The Army remains the best led, best trained, and best equipped Army in the world, but it also remains out of balance. The demand for our forces over the last several years has exceeded the sustainable supply. It has stretched our Soldiers and their Families and has limited our flexibility in meeting other contingencies. In 2007, our Army initiated a plan based on four imperatives: Sustain our Soldiers and Families; Prepare our forces for success in the current conflicts; Reset returning units to rebuild readiness; and Transform to meet the demands of the 21st Century. We have made progress in all of these and are on track to meet the two critical challenges we face: restoring balance and setting conditions for the future. Our Army is the Strength of this Nation, and this strength comes from our values, our ethos, and our people-our Soldiers and the Families and Army Civilians who support them. We remain dedicated to improving their quality of life. We are committed to providing the best care and support to our wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers-along with their Families. And our commitment extends to the Families who have lost a Soldier in service to our Nation.