Navy boot camp graduation from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, November 8, 2019.
Transcript
Good morning and welcome to Recruit Training Command and today’s graduation. We are very excited to have all the family and friends of our sailors, both here and online, because you are about to watch the formal transition from recruits to full-fledged sailors in the world’s greatest and most powerful navy. As we honor the accomplishments of America’s best and brightest, we must also honor the family and friends of these new sailors. Without you and your steadfast support and devotion, this day would not be possible. Throughout our nation’s history, the secret to our military success has always been the military families that stand the watch at home and support their sailors. The Department of the Navy has made the determination that the men and women graduating today have what it takes, and that is thanks to you. So on behalf of the United States Navy, thank you for the support and care you provide. This celebration is not just for the graduates, but for you as well. Take special pride in what your sailor has accomplished and the tremendous journey they are about to embark on. They are our future. Thank you again for your support and all you do to keep America safe and strong. Enjoy this ceremony. It gives me distinct pleasure to welcome you to our Navy Family.
[Performers] Hooyah, go Navy!
State flags, carry arms.
[Presenter] As the parade of graduates approaches, we salute the states and territories whose sons and daughters will graduate today.
[Presenter] Delaware.
[Presenter] Pennsylvania. New Jersey.
[Presenter] Georgia. Connecticut. Massachusetts.
[Presenter] Maryland.
[Presenter] South Carolina.
[Presenter] New Hampshire.
[Presenter] Virginia. New York.
[Presenter] North Carolina. Rhode Island. Vermont.
[Presenter] Kentucky. Tennessee. Ohio. Louisiana. Indiana.
[Presenter] Mississippi.
[Presenter] Illinois. Alabama. Maine. Missouri.
[Presenter] Arkansas. Michigan.
[Presenter] Florida. Texas. Iowa. Wisconsin.
[Presenter] California. Minnesota.
[Presenter] Oregon. Kansas. West Virginia. Nevada. Nebraska.
[Presenter] Colorado. North Dakota.
[Presenter] South Dakota. Montana. Washington.
[Presenter] Idaho.
[Presenter] Wyoming. Utah.
[Presenter] Oklahoma.
[Presenter] New Mexico. Arizona.
[Presenter] Alaska.
[Presenter] Hawaii. District of Columbia. Puerto Rico.
[Presenter] Guam.
[Presenter] American Samoa. Northern Mariana Islands. Virgin Islands.
[Presenter] State flags, order arms. And now we invite you to join the staff of Recruit Training Command in welcoming the graduating divisions with your applause as they enter Midway Ceremonial Hall and are announced in the following order.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Please welcome Division 417.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 418.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 419.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 420.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 421.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 422.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 423.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 424.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 425.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 426.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 427.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 428.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 429.
[Leader] Division, left face.
[Announcer] Division 430.
Today’s graduating performing unit is Division 953. Division 953 provides the state flags, color guard, and drumline units for today’s ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, you may be seated, thank you. Divisions, right face. Section leaders, fall out and collect outer garments.
State flags, carry arms. Forward platoon, formation march. State flags, order arms. Parade, right.
[Announcer] Divisions, countermarch. Divisions, halt.
[Leader] Prepare for review at a normal interval. Dress left, dress. Ready, front. Left, face. At close interval, dress right, dress. Ready, front. Right, face. Parade, rest.
[Announcer] May I have your attention please. For the remainder of the review, no one will be permitted to pass in front of the review stand, and we ask this as a courtesy to our reviewing officer. Photography is certainly encouraged, but we ask that you remain seated and off the drill deck. The photographers you will see on deck throughout the review are the official photographers of Recruit Training Command. Division commanders, left or right face. Parade, rest.
[Rob] Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I’m Lieutenant Rob Gryffindunkin, Recruit Training Command’s drill division officer. I would like to welcome you to today’s Pass in Review. Today, you will see 15 divisions comprised of 1,030 sailors participate in their graduation ceremony and soon join the most powerful navy in the world. Please draw your attention to the unit positioned at center deck. There is the review commander and staff. The review commander is responsible for conducting the graduation ceremony. Today’s review commander is Seaman Recruit Gabriel Brown from Jacksonville, Florida. Let’s give him a hand, folks. (audience applauding) Performing today is the staff unit on their sixth week of training, triple threat unit on their seventh week of training, and state flags unit on their eighth and final week of training. These units are comprised entirely of recruits. During their night of arrival, all recruits are placed into divisions of 88 personnel, assigned their division commanders. Recruit division commanders form the backbone of recruit training and are the key individuals in the life of every recruit. Division commanders must serve as counselors, disciplinarians, administrators, and military leaders. Above all, they must show themselves as outstanding examples of military bearing, appearance, attitude, and behavior. Each division also has a recruit chief petty officer. This is the senior recruit who supervises the divisional staff positions and leads the division in the absence of their division commanders. Now ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce the graduating divisions, their division commanders, and recruit chief petty officers. As I introduce each division, they will raise the competitive flags they have earned throughout their training. As I introduce each recruit chief petty officer, the flag representing their home state will also be raised. Please hold your applause until all introductions have been completed. I will be starting from their right. Division 417, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Jeremy Mills, Petty Officer First Class Sarah Mason, Petty Officer Second Class Kevin Reyes, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Marcos Nathus from Cape Coral, Florida. Division 418, commanded by Petty Officer First Class Latore Pornus, Petty Officer First Class Stephanie Gutierrez Lara, Petty Officer Second Class Christian Publisi, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Terrence Williamson from Cypress, Texas. Division 419, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Aaron Bilal, Petty Officer First Class Sasha Brinkley, Petty Officer First Class Joshua Vonberger, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Kimberly Fry from Shreveport, Louisiana. Division 420, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Keith Shining, Petty Officer First Class Alfredo Soza, Petty Officer First Class Karen Ramirez, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Andrea Collins from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Division 421, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Anthony Gwinn, Petty Officer First Class Dylan Gosselin, Petty Officer Second Class Ayesha Stevenson, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Cameron Deville from Stockton, California. Division 422, commanded by Petty Officer First Class Michael Rivera, Petty Officer First Class Allison Dunn, Petty Officer Second Class Nana Obe, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Terrence Butler from Medford, Oregon. Division 423, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Ray Holland, Petty Officer First Class Elizabeth Toto, Petty Officer First Class Zachary Garrett, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Clark Hulke from New Windsor, New York. Division 424, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Casey Gore, Petty Officer First Class Rafael Whitson, Petty Officer First Class Wilba St. Louis, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Carter Weaver from Indianapolis, Indiana. Division 425, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Justin Hyzie, Petty Officer First Class Gabriel Young, Petty Officer First Class Robert Nitts, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Quinton Johnson from Chesapeake, Virginia. Division 426, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Danielle Richardson, Petty Officer First Class Terrence Emmanuel, Petty Officer First Class Jawan Bryant, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Brendan Watson from Middletown, New York. Division 427, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Michael Teebles, Petty Officer First Class Evaneres Miyazes, Petty Officer Second Class Daniel Jackson, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Stephen Domansky from Chesterfield, Michigan. Division 428, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Samuel Vorhas, Petty Officer Second Class Brittney Sprout, Petty Officer Second Class Kendrick Waltz, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Keyandrew Marquez from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Division 429, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Kenneth Close, Petty Officer First Class Keegan Dyer, Petty Officer First Class Paul Latore, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Loran Grant from Knoxville, Tennessee. Division 430, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Sean Milan, Petty Officer First Class Carly Brian, Petty Officer Second Class Nia Lake, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Alexis McConnell from San Antonio, Texas. Division 953, commanded by Senior Chief Petty Officer Fabian Bavorquez, Petty Officer First Class Billy McDaniel, Petty Officer Second Class Jessica Mescoro, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Jory Shu from Bloomington, Indiana. On behalf of the commanding officer and staff of Recruit Training Command, we congratulate these division commanders and recruit chief petty officers on a job well done. (audience applauding) In a moment, you will see the ceremonial sideboys, bosun, and honor guard take their places for arrival honors. This time-honored tradition is our formal greeting to this morning’s reviewing officer. When requested by the announcer, please stand for the arrival honors, marching on of the colors, the national anthem, and the invocation. As a reminder, military guests shall remain covered throughout the entire graduation ceremony. And ladies and gentlemen, one final note. As befitting the importance of this occasion, our ceremony is conducted in a formal manner. However, we do encourage you to participate in today’s graduation ceremony by letting your applause show your sailors just how proud of them you are. Once again, welcome aboard.
Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left and march. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Honor guard, march. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Honor guard, halt. Left, face. At a normal interval, dress left, dress. Ready, front. Order, arms. Parade, rest.
[Adjutant] Divisions, attention.
[Leader] Ready, two.
[Announcer] Will the guests please rise and remain standing for the arrival of the official party?
[Officer] Side Orderly, strike four bells.
[Announcer] Recruit Training Command arriving.
[Adjutant] Order, arms.
[Officer] Side orderly, strike six bells.
[Announcer] Commander, Naval Service Training Command, arriving.
[Adjutant] Order, arms.
[Announcer] The guests may be seated.
[Officer] Sideboy, 10. Sideboy, post.
Good morning, Admiral. Honor guard standing by for inspection, sir.
[James] Very well.
Inspection, arms. Thank you for your inspection comments, sir. March order, arms. Forward, march. Right, face. Forward, march. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left.
[Adjutant] Color Guard, parade the colors.
[Announcer] Will the guests please rise? Present, arms.
♪ O say can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn’s early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight’s last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O’er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rockets’ red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ O say does that star-spangled ♪ ♪ Banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O’er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪
[Adjutant] Order, arms. Retire the colors.
[Announcer] Present, arms. Order, arms. Chaplain Maforo will offer this morning’s invocation.
Let us pray. Today is a defining moment for our graduates because they’ve beaten the odds and proved that they got what it takes. The journey for some of these men and women was challenging, but with the help of divine power and the motivation and support from their families, staff, and RDCs, they were able to rise to the occasion. And in a little while, they will launch onto a remarkable journey. All-powerful God, I ask that you will ground these sailors and their families in wisdom and peace. The fleet won’t be a walk in the park. There will be test and trials. There will be good days and bad days. But there’s someone powerful who can keep sailors’ challenges under control. Therefore, keep them healthy, keep them inspired, keep them safe, keep them strong, keep them courageous, and may they never forget that they’ve got what it takes, Amen.
[Audience] Amen.
♪ Eternal Father ♪ ♪ Strong to save ♪ ♪ Whose arm hath bound the restless wave ♪ ♪ Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep ♪ ♪ Its own appointed limits keep ♪ ♪ Oh, hear us when we cry to thee ♪ ♪ For those in peril on the sea ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪
[Announcer] Our guests may be seated. At this point, the commanding officer would issue orders and instructions to the unit commanders. Then the unit commanders would face about and relay the information to their divisions. Today’s events demonstrate how orders are passed through the chain of command.
[Adjutant] Divisions, report.
Division 417 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 418 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 419 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 420 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 421 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 422 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 423 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 424 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 425 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 426 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 427 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 428 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 429 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 430 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 953 all present or accounted for, sir.
Very well. All divisions present or accounted for, sir.
[Review Commander] Very well. Creed.
[Sailors] I am a United States Sailor. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me. I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world. I proudly serve my country’s Navy combat team with honor, courage, and commitment. I am committed to excellence and fair treatment of all.
Good morning, Captain. I present the graduating divisions. Request permission to commence the review.
[Erik] Very well, commence the review.
Aye aye, sir.
[Adjutant] Parade, rest.
Sound off.
♪ I am America ♪ ♪ I am the wheat fields of the plains ♪ ♪ I am the warm Pacific rains ♪ ♪ I am they ♪ ♪ I am the warm Pacific rains ♪ ♪ I am the city by the bay ♪ ♪ I am the southwest burning sand ♪ ♪ Burning sand ♪ ♪ I am New England’s forest land ♪ ♪ Fording the stream ♪ ♪ I am the light of liberty ♪ ♪ I am as far as you can see ♪ ♪ O beautiful for spacious skies ♪ ♪ For amber waves of grain ♪ ♪ For purple mountain majesties ♪ ♪ Above the fruited plain ♪ ♪ America ♪ ♪ America ♪ ♪ God shed his grace on thee ♪ ♪ And crown thy good with brotherhood ♪ ♪ From sea to shining sea ♪ ♪ We stand our colors grace and hue ♪ ♪ But stand we all in Navy blue ♪ ♪ In Navy blue ♪ ♪ We stand the red, the white, the blue ♪ ♪ America ♪ ♪ We are you ♪ ♪ America ♪
[Drill Team] Hooyah Navy.
♪ Anchors aweigh, my boys ♪ ♪ Anchors aweigh ♪ ♪ Farewell to foreign shores ♪ ♪ We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay ♪ ♪ Through our last night ashore ♪ ♪ Drink to the foam ♪ ♪ Until we meet once more ♪ ♪ Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home ♪
[Leader] One, two, one, two, three, four.
Award winners, left or right face. Award winners reporting, sir.
Very well. Good morning, I’m Captain Erik Thors, commanding officer of Recruit Training Command. Welcome to Chicagoland. Hope the cold weather got you awake this morning. Before we continue, we are going to warm it up in here. We got a lot of folks, I think about 3,500 family and guests. So we’re gonna give you a chance to scream, shout, stomp, do whatever the heck you gotta do and get it out of your system. On the count of three, I want you to let it go. But make sure these sailors know how much we love them. Here we go, one, two, three, let it go. Well done. All right, excellent. All right, here we go. I welcome you to this morning’s recruit graduation ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, this is where our Navy heritage meets the future and where these young men and women enter the profession of arms. Division 953 graduates today. They are the state flags unit, providing the 50 state flags, District of Columbia, and US territory flags, drum corps, and color guard. Please join me in giving them a hand for their outstanding performances. Welcome to our reviewing officer, Rear Admiral James Sands, Commander, Naval Service Training Command. November 11th marks the 101st anniversary of the end of the World War I and the start of setting aside a day to honor and remember all American veterans who have served in the military. I would like to welcome all the veterans in our audience for their service to our country. Would our veterans please stand? I am pleased to welcome the families and friends of these graduates who have come here today to share in this significant milestone with our newest sailors. The men and women of Recruit Training Command are dedicated to providing the United States Navy basically trained, physically fit, and sharply disciplined sailors like those who you see before you. They and others like them serve as the bedrock of our naval forces. They give our Navy its combat edge, and they enable us to help keep this nation secure. These sailors have successfully completed eight weeks of demanding recruit training. They’ve recently demonstrated their courage during battle stations. They have earned the right to wear the uniform recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom. This training group is ready to graduate and serve in the world’s most powerful navy. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you 1,030 of the newest and sharpest sailors in the United States Navy.
[Announcer] Recruit Training Command’s competitive system among individual recruits and divisions promotes teamwork, attention to detail, and pride in accomplishments. Divisions performing above standards throughout their training are awarded recognition flags in five mission areas, academic achievement, military drill, compartment readiness, applications, and physical fitness. These flags are carried as a visible symbol of the division’s success. Each flag indicates that your sailors, individually and as teams, met performance standards in one or more mission areas. A division that excels in every phase of training qualifies for the Battle Efficiency Honor Division Recognition and is awarded the Battle E Honor Flag for this exemplary achievement. Division 426 has earned this honor today, and we congratulate them on a job exceptionally well done.
[Adjutant] Parade, rest.
[Announcer] Rear Admiral Sands will now present this week’s individual awards, and he will be joined on the drill deck by our commanding officer, Captain Thors.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Cardoso reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] For achieving the highest overall academic score during recruit training, Seaman Luis Cardoso, Division 418, from New London, Connecticut has earned the Academic Excellence Award, which is sponsored by the Lake Defiance chapter of the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Seaman Cardoso receives a letter of commendation from the commanding officer. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Admiral.
Thank you, Captain, thank you, Admiral.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Howard reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] For having displayed extraordinary qualities best expressing the American spirit of honor, initiative, and loyalty, Seaman Isabella Howard, Division 430, is awarded the Navy League Award, which is sponsored by the Navy League of the United States. Seaman Howard is presented with a commemorative plaque and a letter of commendation from the commanding officer. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Admiral. Thank you, Admiral.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Gish reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] Seaman Malcolm Gish, Division 422, from Lewiston, Idaho is the winner of the United Service Organization Award for best exemplifying the spirit and intent of the word shipmate. Seaman Gish is given a commemorative plaque from the United Service Organization. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Admiral.
[Ashley] Good morning, Captain, Seaman Battle reporting.
Very well.
[Announcer] Seaman Ashley Battle, Division 953, from Atlanta, Georgia is the recipient of the Military Order of the World Wars Award of Merit. This award is presented for meritorious performance during recruit training. Seaman Battle is presented with a commemorative plaque from the Military Order of the World Wars. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Admiral. Thank you, Admiral.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Grant reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] The Military Officers Association Leadership Award is presented to Seaman Loran Grant, Division 429, from Knoxville, Tennessee for demonstrating exceptional tenacity and professionalism. Seaman Grant is awarded a letter of commendation from our commanding officer. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Dreher reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
Seaman Chad Dreher, Division 420, from San Jose, California is the recipient of the Navy Club of the United States of America Military Excellence Award for best exemplifying the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing, and teamwork. This award places him at the pinnacle of today’s newest sailors. He is awarded a flag letter of commendation. Seaman Dreher, the staff of Recruit Training Command salutes you as the finest of this group of graduates. Well done, Sailor.
Divisions, attention.
[Announcer] It is appropriate to recognize such outstanding individual accomplishments by these sailors with a round of three cheers. The adjutant will lead all graduating divisions in three cheers for this morning’s award winners.
Hip hip.
[Sailors] Hooray!
Hip hip.
[Sailors] Hooray!
Hip hip.
[Sailors] Hooray!
I have the distinct pleasure this morning of introducing our reviewing officer, Rear Admiral James Sands, Commander, Naval Service Training Command. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 with a bachelor of science in oceanography. He holds a master’s degree in military strategy and planning from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, Virginia. Rear Admiral Sands’ operational tours include Surface Warfare Officer on Newport-class tank landing ship USS Saginaw, Spruance-class destroyer USS John Rodgers. After graduating from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. he was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One. Additional assignments include tours with SEAL Team Two Commander, SEAL Team Eight, Chief of Staff of Naval Special Warfare Group Two, Chief of Staff at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Commodore, Naval Special Warfare Group Two. Among his shore duties are Director of Counterterrorism and Operations for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, Deputy Operations Officer at the Joint Special Operations Command. Prior to his current position, Rear Admiral Sands’ most recent assignment as Vice President, Joint Special Operations University at US Special Operations Command. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a warm Recruit Training Command welcome to an outstanding Sailor, Rear Admiral James Sands.
Thank you, Captain Thors, for that introduction. I’d like to begin my remarks by recognizing your Recruit Training Command command team of Captain Erik Thors and Command Master Chief David Twiford. The Navy entrust the welfare and basic training of almost 40,000 of our recruits to those two leaders each year. Gentlemen, thank you. We’re grateful for your leadership and for your role in shaping the future of our Navy. Well done. The sailors in front of us came to Great Lakes to become something more than what they were. They came to serve, but they also came to determine whether they had what it takes, as the chaplain just said earlier in the ceremony. They came to figure out if they were enough. They wanted to know if they had what it took to become a Navy Sailor. They’re different now than they were eight weeks ago. They did it. They were enough. They had what it takes. Today, they stand here as sailors, members of a profession forged through shared adversity, confident in their abilities, and certain in their conviction that they are ready to handle any challenge. These new sailors have completed a standards-based professional indoctrination and training program. They have worked hard as individuals and as teams. They have overcome fears. They have learned what it means to be a warrior, what it means to be a US Navy Sailor. They have been trained and tested in five warfighting competencies, firefighting, damage control, seamanship, watch stand, and small arms handling and marksmanship. They have learned and utilized the fundamentals of warrior toughness. These sailors don’t fear adversity. Instead, they’re waiting for it, prepared for its arrival. Regardless of their rank or rate, each sailor has the mindset and identity of a warrior. They are competent, they have character, and they are connected to the Navy, to the nation, and to each other. But we’re not just congratulating these sailors here today. We’re welcoming each of you, the family and friends of these new sailors, into our Navy Family. The term Navy Family isn’t just a slogan. It’s a real thing. I’m gonna let you families in on a secret right up front. We need you to love and support us throughout our service to our nation. When we call you part of our family, we’re really recognizing the fact that you serve too. We don’t need you less when we join the Navy. We need you more. The Navy Family is a powerful thing. We share a unique bond, and we stand together through the good and through the bad. On behalf of all of us who wear the uniform, thank you for your own service to our nation and to our Navy. To the sailors graduating today, well done. We’re all very proud of you. Take care of one another and stand the fight. Thank you.
[Adjutant] State flags, carry arms. Forward platoon, formation march.
[Announcer] Rear Admiral Sands will now receive the salute of the graduating divisions, and he will be joined on the drill deck by our commanding officer, Captain Thors. Please remain seated until your graduates have been placed on liberty. Please join me in one more round of appreciation for our wonderful musicians of Navy Band Great Lakes. Flags, post. Section leaders, fall out and retrieve outer garments. Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall will be closing at the conclusion of today’s graduation. Please check the area around you to ensure you have all your possessions. For those families with strollers, please retrieve them as you exit the drill hall. And as a reminder to all graduating sailors, ensure that you are in the proper uniform of the day prior to exiting the Drill Hall. Thanks again to each and every one of you for joining us on this most memorable of Navy days. And without further delay, now hear this, now hear this. Liberty call, liberty call, fall out.