Donald Trump is promising to "empower" the generals in the U.S. military, the same group Trump last week described as being reduced to rubble under the leadership of President Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"We will empower our generals to do the job they were hired to do, and that begins with defeating and destroying ISIS," Trump said in remarks to the annual conference of the National Guard Association in Baltimore.

"Instead of endless wars, we want a real plan for victory," Trump said, without providing any indication of how a future strategy might differ from the Obama administration's effort to battle the Islamic State with U.S. and allied airpower in support of capable indigenous fighters on the ground.

"We will abandon the policy of reckless regime change favored by my opponent, and we will instead work with our allies to advance the core national security interests of the United States," Trump said. "America first. Remember that, America first."

Trump repeated his promise to embark on what he called a "major rebuilding of the entire military," to equip it with the latest state-of-the-art weaponry and end the mandatory budget caps known as sequestration.

"We have to do this so quickly," he said. "[Sequestration] is a disaster."

Trump's ability to deliver on his pledge to end the strict spending limits imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2011 will hinge on whether, if elected, he also enjoys Republican control of both the House and Senate.

Trump also promised that under his administration, the National Guard would have a direct line to the Oval Office.

"You're there to protect civilians in times of unrest. You're there to respond to every natural disaster," Trump said. "You deserve a government that recognizes and honors your contribution and that ensures you have the resources you need to get the job done, and to get the job done right."