Before starting his retirement in a few weeks time, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno fielded questions from reporters concerning the state of the U.S. military and its community.

Odierno served in the Army for 39 years. His vast experience in both operational and administrative positions allowed the general to evaluate what areas the military should strengthen for the betterment of its community, namely stateside veterans and military family resources. Odierno told the press that the country needs a stronger, better functioning Department of Veterans Affairs that collaborates with private companies to give veterans the best support.

“We’re much better than we were five years ago at this,” Odierno said. “We’re able to combine private enterprise, who’s trying to help our wounded warriors, with formal Department of Defense programs with Veterans Affairs programs. So we come together and… combine all of those resources to make sure we’re taking care of these young men and women long term. And we’re getting better.”

In addition to supporting veterans, Odierno advocated for staying connected with Gold Star families who lost loved ones serving the nation.

“[Gold Star families] love just staying connected to the Army, to the units that their children or sons or daughters or husbands were in, and for me, that’s incredibly important that we do that,” Odierno said. “Because we should never forget the sacrifice that they made and the sacrifice that the families that send their children continue to make, because their dad or mom’s no longer here.”

The general shifted the conversation to the personal while discussing the sacrifices of the soldiers who served under him.

“I had the opportunity firsthand to stand side-by-side by these young men and women who really cared about what they were doing,” the general said. “They showed incredible selflessness and courage in what they did. And for me, we should be so proud of them and their sacrifice, and it’s important that we remember that, and we do that by taking care of their families, their children as we go forward.”