West Point Class of 2025 Affirmation Ceremony

Good evening Generals Robinson and Reeves, Department Heads, our Athletic Director and coaches, other West Point administrators and faculty, and our beloved AOG president, Mark Bieger.

Although he is honoring his family commitments this evening, -- and incidentally, is exactly where he needs to be -- I want to give a shout out to your Superintendent, LTG Steve Gilland and his wife Betsy.  They’ve done a superb job as your Superintendent this past year, and I am confident they will continue to lead you with impeccable honor and competence in the years ahead. 

Please let me recognize and pass on a very special hello to my class – the Class of 1975 -- your 50-year affiliated class – Courage and Drive.  It is great to be with you all this weekend, and as we together join with the Class of 2025 for their official and obligated inclusion into the Profession of Arms. 

For what it is worth, our class’ affirmation occurred when we walked into our first class our Cow year.  Other than the Brigade S-1 on the first day of class, standing on the poop deck at lunch, congratulating our class with a big:  “Attention to Orders … Class of ’75, welcome to the profession of arms”.  And then a cheer from the rest of the Corps.  Other than that, there was no recognition, no fanfare, no nothing.

Back in the late 90’s, the Commandant of Cadets, John Abizaid, felt there should be a series of annual advancement celebrations for each class.  For the plebes, it was the march-back from Lake Fredrick and the acceptance to the Corps of Cadets parade – which took place just yesterday.  For the yearlings, he initiated the class run-back from Camp Buckner celebrating their summer training’s accomplishments.  For the firsties, it was the celebration of ring weekend, and the issuing of the class rings on Trophy Point.  And for the Cows, it was the oath of affirmation the evening before the first class in India Whites.  Abizaid was brilliant coming up with each of these class landmark accomplishments, and I was fortunate to see its impact with a number of classes when I served both as the Academy’s Commandant and Superintendent. 

 And least you thought I would forget, a very special good-evening to the great Class of 2025 – Together We Thrive.  Let me tell you how honored each of my classmates are to be your 50-year affiliated class, and to share this special evening with you all.  Congratulations on completing a great summer of CTLT, AIAD’s, MIAD’s, Beast, and whatever else your Tac assigned you to do --  even if it ended up being a bit of STAP instead of summer leave.  We, the Class of ’75 – Courage and Drive - admire your commitment to the Academy’s mission, and to your own personal development.

 Thank-you all, for allowing me to take about 10-15 minutes of your time in an exciting evening with your classmates. I want to acknowledge up front that the words I’m about to speak about your generation and my thoughts about the profession of arms have been used in other talks I have given about your incredible generation and your generation’s decisions to serve our country, to include when I was the keynote speaker last December at an All-Academy Ball over the Christmas holiday break in Phoenix. 

 But this evening is a very special evening for sure.  And it certainly is an evening to celebrate.  I’m sure some of you had some serious introspection on whether you would show up this evening or not.  And I’m sure there are a few of your friends who elected not to be here, and of course, we all respect their decisions. 

But the fact is that you are here, and that - in itself - is a reason to celebrate.  So let me help put into perspective what your decision is all about. 

A couple of years ago, when you made your decision to come to West Point, I am certain you had many other options of what you would do or where you would go when you graduated from High School.  But, contrary to the vast majority of your peers, you elected to come here and to serve your country and join the profession of arms.  Said another way, you made the decision to stand in the gap between the evil that threatens our Nation and our way of life.  And because of that, you have joined the generations who have gone before you.  Those who celebrated Christmas in the trenches in France during The Great War, or who stormed the beaches of Normandy, who fought in the jungles of Vietnam, who fought block by block in Baghdad, or who fought in the Afghanistan mountains in Anaconda.  But as someone who has stood in your ranks and served for 43 years, I could not be more proud of each and every one of you for your decision to serve your country.

 This coming December is the 82nd anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor which led to our involvement in World War II.  The men and women who served during World War II are part of what has often been referred to as the “Greatest Generation.” That’s a term that journalist Tom Brokaw coined, arguing that these men and women fought, not for fame and recognition, but because, in Brokaw’s words, it was the right thing to do.

 Some dignitaries have referred to your generation as the new -- “Greatest Generation” – although I consider you all the “9-11 generation” – a generation that knew your country was attacked by terrorists in New York, the Pentagon, and in the fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania - shortly before most of you were born. And as you grew up, you recognized the fact that our very way of life was threatened, and the freedoms we hold so dear remain threatened, and as a result, you decided to do something about it.

When you reported to West Point a couple years ago, our nation was still at the cusp of conflict, where freedom and rights were at risk across the world, as they are even today.  And when you came here, each of you knew full well that you possibly could join an Army at war.  And yet, you came nonetheless.  You came with the deep desire to serve, to stand for something bigger than yourselves.  You came because “it was the right thing to do.”

 Each of you is special for many reasons, but the fact that you stood up and said “Send me” says so much about your character.  Becoming a member of the United States Army is always a big decision, but to do so in times when our national security is most at risk, is perhaps the noblest thing you could ever do.  For you have already internalized the ethic of “Duty” and service to “Country” when you reported on your R-Day, because like 99.5 percent of your peer group, you could have easily opted for a safer existence. The fact you are where you are right now truly makes you the best and brightest we have in this nation.

I have had the honor to serve with some of the greatest leaders in our generation. The Jim McConville’s, Ray Odierno’s, Mark Milley’s, Lloyd Austin’s, Scotty Miller’s, Joe Votel’s, Steve Gilland’s, Richard Clark’s, Mark Hertling’s and many more.  And while serving with them, I have learned so much.

 I learned that America’s best are not necessarily on our University or college campuses or in the corporate businesses. Don’t ever think for a minute that those running around in some corporate business or in some college campus have anything on you.  They don’t!  You are privileged to have the one thing they all covet – you will know many of life’s truths.  You’ll know about the goings on in Iraq, Korea, Ukraine, Poland, Afghanistan, Israel, China, Taiwan, Yemen, Iran, and many other places.  You will know firsthand what others will only read about, and will wish they can experience what you are doing and where you are living.  You will never have to guess.

 I learned that leading our Soldiers is not coddling them, but to hold them to the highest of standards.  They are Americans, and more than anything, they want to be a winner and they want to be part of a winning team.  High standards make them the best and that is what they want.  I encourage you to lead with the highest of standards in everything you do.  Don’t baby them; develop them and build their pride as a result of the high standards and tough, difficult training you will lead them through. 

 I learned that the greatest privilege our Nation can give you is to lead such magnificent men and women – America’s sons and daughters.  They will challenge you, and maybe, even disappoint you, but when the chips are at their worse, they will never let you down.  They will even give their life for you so that you can lead their brothers and sisters in arms another day.

 I learned that our best leaders lead from the front.  I watched GEN Odierno walking the streets in Mosul, or GEN Austin leading his entire Division from the berms of Kuwait to downtown Baghdad.  Inspiring Soldiers to move when common sense would tell them otherwise not to.  But they followed their leaders who were leading from the front every time, and that is what made the difference.  I’ve seen Division commanders visiting Soldiers in the motor pools and visiting their troops manning the guard posts over the weekends, and elsewhere in the most crapiest of places.  A simple hello, or a nod shows you care, and it makes a difference every time.

 I learned that great leaders perform with excellence in everything they do.  Excellence is performing to the upper level of your potential, but it is also moving toward areas that are not common or comfortable.  Great leaders are not afraid to move in that direction, knowing they will make mistakes, but they will learn and get stronger and better as a result.  Great leaders also encourage their subordinates to stretch knowing they too will make mistakes, but great leaders underwrite their mistakes as an opportunity to grow and learn and become better as a result.

 Great officers are calculated risk takers, and the greatest risk is not necessarily making a mistake -- but failing to stand up for what is right.  Character is the principal measure of one’s worth, and great leaders will always, always choose the harder right despite the outcomes every time.  You can be number 1 in your class, but if you fail in character, you fail in leadership.  Subordinates and bosses no longer trust you.  Be a leader of character.  It is as simple as that.

 I have learned that great leaders build inclusive teams where everyone feels valued, respected, that they contribute to their unit and its mission, and they are safe and secure both emotionally and physically, despite their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, faith or no faith, gender orientation, or even their political affiliation.   Great leaders never accept indifference or injustice, but will judge only on standards and how well their people do their job. 

I learned that whether you serve 5 years or 43, you will never regret your decision to serve your Country.  And contrary to the vast majority of your peers, you have elected to do what others would never dream of doing.  And when 50 years from now, your grandchildren are studying America’s wars in their classrooms, and when they sit on your lap asking you, “Grandma and Grandpa, what did you do in this war on terror?”, you can proudly say that when your country needed you the most, you answered the call of duty and served.  Your only regret will be that you could not have served longer. 

 But what is the most important thing I learned?  That there is no nobler calling in the world than to be a Soldier in service to the United States of America.

 Yet, life as a member of our military is not easy. That is why it was the collective duty of those charged with your training to make sure you understood that.  Your TACs, TAC NCOs, Phys Ed cadre, and your instructors, – they all know what awaits you when you assume leadership of your Soldiers.  Their sacred duty was to ensure that you are prepared and not surprised.  The vast majority of your staff and faculty here at West Point have been to the battlefield and they have put into action much of what they are teaching you.  They have attacked under fire, seen the enemy up close, and they know that this profession is deadly serious. 

 This is why duty demanded that the training you received these last couple of years presents the toughest of challenges.  It’s why you did all those pushups...and why you’ll do a thousand more.  It’s why you ran all those miles…and will run many more. It’s why you fired hundreds of rounds, it’s why you marched with no end in sight. It’s why you had to succeed on your PT test – and that you had to pass the IOCT. It’s why you competed on the fields of “friendly strife” in order to develop the discipline to be part of a team and learn to play with pain, because your teammates counted on you.

 It’s why your family can see the changes in you, simply by the professionalism in the way you stand. 

 For you are the latest band of brothers and sisters making things happen in the very best way you can. The intellectual wannabees in the corporate world can’t begin to imagine the vast responsibilities you have accepted. You will be tested like no warriors before you.  Expected to eliminate our enemies, quiet the critics and abide by rules of land warfare as we are committed to doing.  You’ll hold more responsibility and do more in the next few years than most people will do in a lifetime.  These are high expectations to be sure…but you know what it will take, and you will succeed.

 I think I’ve talked my allotted time, so let me leave with a couple final thoughts.

 #1.  I will never apologize for being a member of the United States Army and don’t ever feel that you have to either. This is the life I have chosen – the life I have lived for just over 43 years. It isn’t risk free, and it isn’t always easy. But in the humble opinion of this proud Grunt, it’s always been a life worth living.

There is no more noble profession than the one of which you are about to enter. It is a portion of your life spent in the cold, hot, snow or rain – facing danger during peace and war, while making the best friends you will ever have, men and women who will have your back no matter what life brings.  As Americans, we aren’t perfect – but I can think of no better place to serve.

#2. Draw your strength in the days ahead from your values, particularly the values of this Academy.  Let them be the moral compass that guides you in the decisions you will make and always, not matter what the cost -- do the harder right.  It is not worth selling your honor for the sake of saving you from being embarrassed, and I can speak from experience on that. 

 #3. Recognize that the friends you are making among your classmates and your teammates are relationships that will last a lifetime.  Just look at the ’75 brotherhood sitting among you this evening.  Through the shared hardships …... of sitting in the field in nights of freezing rain next to your battle buddy, or walking off demerits with your beast roommate, or finding humor studying for your Term-Ends at 0300 – realizing all the while that the pure comradery created from shared hardships, that you are forming bonds that will last a lifetime.  The brotherhood and sisterhood relations you’ll make with your classmates will be deeper than your own blood brothers and sisters.

 #4.  Lastly, don’t ever forget those who got you here, who stood by you through the good and the bad, through thick and thin, who supported you even when no one else did – your Mom and Dad and your family. They’ve gone through an emotional roller coaster while you are here, and they will continue as they watch you succeed and fail and get up and do it all over again. They love you more than you can imagine, unconditionally, and will be there for you no matter what.  Please don’t forget to thank them and give them a hug as often as you can.

 So, as I look out at you all right now, I am absolutely confident that our Nation is in very good hands.  I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of you.  And if the American people want to see what is right with America, all they have to do is to walk in this room this evening and spend a couple minutes with you.

 A huge thank-you to the Academy staff and faculty, and to our great Association of Graduates, for your commitment to these cadets and your unending support for their success.  And finally, a huge thank-you to each of you as a member of the great class of 2025.  This is a special night as you celebrate your decision to serve your Country.  We, the class of “Courage and Drive – ‘75” could not be more proud of each and every one of you.  Welcome to the Profession of Arms!  Congratulations!

Go Army!  Beat Navy!

Together We Thrive! 25!

 Courage and Drive!

 Thank-you.