OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Oshkosh Corporation headquarters Monday as part of his nationwide "Arsenal of Freedom" tour.
Hegseth said the tour looks to revitalize manufacturing and energize the workforce, with an emphasis on rebuilding America's Defense Industrial Base to ensure "peace through strength."
"You see, we came to Oshkosh because Oshkosh is a model for other commercial manufacturers to step up when your country needs you. From building the beautiful fire trucks I had a chance to see to the family of medium tactical vehicles, you are a model of delivering commercial and military capabilities to the Warfighter," Hegseth said.
Hegseth said rebuilding the Defense Industrial Base is done by prioritizing speed, innovation, and a "commercial-first" mindset by cutting red tape and giving long-term contracts.
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Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman, the U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 6th congressional district, shared why wartime production is crucial right now.
"The biggest problem right now is Ukraine. But obviously, you have 3 things you got to deal with. You gotta deal with Ukraine, you gotta deal with Iran, and you've got to build with the Chinese buildup, and they're all part of the problem," Grothman said.
During the visit, Hegseth also saw how Oshkosh Corporation supports the Department of Defense, with advanced tactical vehicles on display. Those vehicles include the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires, or ROUGE-Fire. Oshkosh Corporation has a $92 million contract with the Marine Corps for those vehicles.
"Together we're going to guarantee peace through strength for generations to come, which is the point," Hegseth said.
Hegseth's tour is set against the backdrop of the Iran war. The on-again, off-again conflict has gone on for about six months, with no end in sight.
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