The virtual graduation ceremony for Training Group 44 at Recruit Training Command, the Navy’s only bootcamp. The reviewing officer was Rear Adm. Gregory Todd, Deputy Chief of Chaplains. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.
Transcript
(upbeat music)
Eyes front! (upbeat music)
Hello everyone. I’m captain Eric Thores, Commanding officer of Recruit Training Command. I welcome you to the virtual edition of our recruit graduation ceremony. Even though you can’t be here in person, it is important to be able to share this experience with you, the families and friends, watching this significant milestone online. Next time you see your sailor. I’m sure that we’ll have many stories to tell you about their boot camp experience. But first allow me the opportunity to tell you our side of the story.
Let’s go. You’re on the boat. Let’s go.
Recruit training command is the quarter deck of the United States Navy.
Good order and discipline will be maintained 24/7. Proper military posture will be maintained 24/7.
Every enlisted sailor begins their Naval career here. And our mission is fairly simple. It’s to transform civilians into smartly disciplined, physically fit sailors, ready for follow on training and service to the fleet and while doing so to instill in them the highest values of honor, courage, and commitment.
You are no longer a civilian. Whatever you were before is now over. You are about to begin a journey that’s gonna make you part of the greatest day before the world has ever known. This training will not be easy. It wasn’t meant to be.
Our training environment is controlled chaos, and while it may not seem like that to the recruits each and every event has meaning and purpose.
You’re going to sound off at the top of your lungs. Do you understand?
Yes, sir! Yes, sir!
We were designed to develop skill sets that sailors can carry throughout their entire career. We push hard on physical fitness. Watch standing.
Try, look!
And creating a warrior mindset.
With all the methods here, you’re gonna be focus on your mind.
A true body, mind, and soul approach. (Overlap conversation)
All of our recruits receive training that will help them the second they get to the fleet. Firefighting, damage control, weapons, and seamanship. Our recruits get hands on training and an application with them all. (noise in the background) (indistinct conversations)
I need everything you got because once we start this evolution again, I’m going to expect you to adapt, overcome and be… (man shouting onscreen)
Work together as a team, execute the mission. The next time I see you, you’ll be safe. UA Navy?
(yelling together) UA Navy.
Everything they learn is tested in the battle stations. (voice over microphone)
Chief, division 001, our men are ready for battle station, chief.
Very well!
You can ask for anything…
A 24 hour event where the recruit ceases to exist.
First off.
Sailor is forged.
Maybe bootcamp really is a machine, with a swarm of moving parts, all working towards the same goal, making a sailor. The sailors forged here are the bedrock of our Naval forces. They give our Navy its combat edge and enable us to help keep this nation secure. Each of them you see here today, has earned the right to wear the uniform recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the newest and sharpest sailors in the United States Navy.
(upbeat music)
This is 320. (man continues talking along with music). (patriotic rhythm playing)
Division 322, command by Sergeant Williams, from North Carolina. Michael, from the Central Valley, California. (patriotic rhythm still playing)
Division 324, commanded by Jefferson, first class Louis Alonso Gonzalez. From the second class, Gianna Jordan, and we recruit Oliver from Long Beach, California.
Division 325, commanded by chief Petriosky, Tevans from Houston,Texas. From second class, Crystal Indiano and from the recuitees Steven Allison from Virginia. (patriotic rhythm continues) Division 327, commanded by Chief Miles, Connor, from Virginia. (music playing) Division 329, commanded by chief Jerry, ranked Reynaldo Dylan, from Riverside California. (music) Division 325, commanded by David Alvarado first class Andrew Hector, and Tommy Thompson (music playing) Division 328, commanded by Chief Giovan , first class Andrew Thompson, Jaden Shobbs from California. (patriotic rhythm) This concludes today’s ceremony, thank you very much for coming.
Shipmates, congratulations. I’m RMO Gregory Todd. I serve as the deputy chief of Chaplains for the department of the Navy and as the Chaplain of the Marine Corps. Over the last eight weeks, you’ve accepted a challenge and you have overcome brilliantly. Bravo, Zulu!Congratulations and welcome to the team. You know, you accepted a challenge to really be something bigger than yourself, to be part of something bigger than yourself. You’ve accepted the challenge of our nation to be United States’ Sailor. What we need from you is to be a sailor of competence. We’ve got some great technology, some great gear, but without you, and without your diligence to be of high competence, doesn’t make any difference. We need you to aspire to that higher goal, but as you grow in your competence, you know, you also need grow in your character. That’s something we all need. You know, that character is the piece that our shipmates need from us. They need us to, to be that person of high character, that they can rely on that person who runs to the fire to fight the fire on the bottom rashard; that person of high character who reaches out to a shipmate and isn’t a bystander who runs in to help them and support them. And if they’re suicidal, get them to the help they need, or that person of high character who will overcome the racial barriers between us and grow in knowledge, in understanding, and advocacy for fellowship mates. This is what we need people of high character, but you know, that calling to character comes with some intentionality.You’ve got to focus on this. Now, some would say, this is a divine call, and I’m okay with that. But we live in a country where we celebrate your right to choose your path, to build your character. So, we just ask you do it with intentionality. We ask that you focus on what are my core beliefs, what is the meaning of life? And how does that shape my values and my actions? How do I live? According to my beliefs? So as you’re called to be people of high competence and making the Navy better, because of it, you’re also called to be people of high character that makes the world better. One piece at a time, God bless shipmates, I’ll be praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you in the fleet. Congratulations!
Let us pray:” Today is an accumulation and accomplishments of many people on many levels. Each of few graduates here are the newest sailors of the United States Navy. You are true men and will be many. You have prepared well for many years of life experience; parents, family, friends, RDCs, and instructors, to be the best and brightest new sailors of the United States Navy, and graduate and gratitude for all you have been given. Take a few moments, and remember your RDCS and instructors, parents, family, and friends, veterans who help you become who you are today for the RDCs who’re working long hours and sacrifice greatly. We ask that you would do them resting in the coming days. For the others here, at recruit training, who put time and knowledge into these sailors, give them the strength to carry on their day. For the families, many of you who supported these sailor through this journey, we ask that you would encourage them with this graduation. I offer my blessings on each of you, for taking the task and living the dream of service to our nation. Each of you have to answer our freedom and democracy. Take what you have learned here in your training and physical, mental, spiritual toughness, training wisely to do and become the best in your abilities and allow you to become. May you treat others with kindness and compassion. May you be grateful for every blessings? May you be well happy? And finally, may you be successful and peaceful. Amen!” (band’s playing)
Throughout your time here, you’ve been taught toughness. You have been taught to run to the fire. You’ve been taught to deal with acute stress, how to process it and still move forward. You’ve been taught all that stuff. You’ve been taught to overcome challenge, and you have overcome challenges. The fact that you’re sitting here today says you’ve done that because here’s what I’m going to tell you. You’re going to be tested. It’s coming. One of you is going to be sitting in your gym, working out, and you’re going to hear a loud crash off the back of your ship. And when you get up the top side, a helicopter with 25 people is hit the back of the ship and fell in the water. And now, you’re gonna max casualty and start rescuing people. One of you is going to be eaten by the mess decks. And you’re going to hear the flight deck. Fire drill, fire alarm, go off and you’re going to run to the flight deck to suit up. And there’s a Harrier jet with two, 500 pound bombs on board, a pilot in the cockpit and the plane’s on fire. And you’ve got to go combat the fire. One of you is going to be sitting in combat off the coast of Africa, and you’re going to hear missiles inbound. This is not a drill and you’re going to have to react. Everything I just said has happened to our Navy in the last four years, and sailors. ike you responded and took action. Your test is coming. Are you ready? We. I am proud of each and every one of you, you are absolutely the generation of sailors. I want to go to war with, be proud of what you’ve done. Earn it every day. I’m proud to call you shipmate. I look forward to seeing you in the fleet. I look forward to see your graduation tomorrow. Congratulations to your parents.