Navy boot camp graduation from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, November 1, 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.
[Leader] Flags, halt.
[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.
[Announcer] Please welcome Division 405. (audience cheering) Division 406. (audience cheering) Division 407. (audience cheering) Division 408. (audience cheering) Division 409. (audience cheering) Division 410. (audience cheering) Division 411. (audience cheering) Division 412. (audience cheering) Division 415. (audience cheering) Division 416. (audience cheering) Today’s graduating performing unit is Division 952. (audience cheering) Division 952 provides the arrival honors staff, honor guard, the recruit review commandant, adjutant, and graduates who provide support assignment 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. (audience cheering) Forward platoon, formation march. (rhythmic percussion music) State flags, order arms. Parade, right.
[Announcer] Divisions, countermarch. (rhythmic percussion music) (audience applauding) 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 11 divisions comprised of 735 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 Airman Antonio Oliva from Kissimmee, Florida. Let’s give him a hand, folks. (audience applauding) Performing today is the triple threat unit on their sixth week of training, state flags unit on their seventh week of training, and staff 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 and 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 supervise 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 405, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Richard Leavis, Petty Officer First Class Kevin Johnson, Petty Officer First Class Michael Smith, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Ariel Olivar from Houston, Texas. Division 406, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Michelle Goji, Petty Officer First Class Jerry Ketelin, Petty Officer Second Class Alexander Baker, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Tamara Chief Montanes from Dallas, Texas. Division 407, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Randon Thomas, Petty Officer First Class Dominick Lacossi, Petty Officer Second Class Erwin Priap, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Emiliano Montez from Los Angeles, California. Division 408, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Anthony Amara, Petty Officer First Class Chase Presco, Petty Officer Second Class Jasper Santilion, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Chatanya Ajarano from Tampa, Florida. Division 409, commanded by Senior Chief Petty Officer Matthew Taylor, Petty Officer First Class Jeffrey Mauver, Petty Officer First Class Troy Trider, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Seamus Mooney from Newark, Delaware. Division 410, commanded by Senior Chief Petty Officer Matthew Mall, Petty Officer First Class Robert Stillwell, Petty Officer First Class Faith Ocabo, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Robert Bobbles Los Angeles, California. Division 411, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Eric Webb, Petty Officer First Class Anna Christina Nguyen, Petty Officer First Class Christopher Henkins, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Anoshka Santana Delapasa from Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. Division 412, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Clifford Salvatore, Petty Officer First Class Sarah Sanders, Petty Officer First Class Cody Cassie, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Connor Carry from Syracuse, New York. Division 415, commanded by Chief Petty Officer James Gary, Petty Officer First Class Jordan Barrett, Petty Officer Second Class Vincent Proseco, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Rocky Tabares from Houston, Texas. Division 416, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Reuben Fletcher, Petty Officer First Class Philip Hill, Petty Officer First Class Zachary Fairfield, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Donald Johnson from San Diego, California. Division 952, commanded by Chief Petty Officer James Clinton, Petty Officer First Class Carl Craft, Petty Officer First Class Luciano Ginzani, and their recruit chief petty officer, Seaman Antonio Oliva from Kissimmee, Florida. 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. Order, march. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Order, march. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Left. Order, halt. Left, face. Order, arms. At a normal interval, dress left, dress. Ready, front. Parade, rest.
[Adjutant] Divisions, attention.
[Leader] Phase 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.
[Admiral] Very well.
Inspection, arms. (stately music) Thank you for your inspection comments, sir. March order, arms. Forward face, march. Right, face. Forward, march. 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 Keller will offer this morning’s invocation.
Let us pray. Almighty God, we join together today to celebrate the accomplishment of these sailors, having completed Navy recruit training. We know success was earned by these sailors, not given, and yet we also know that there were many who were involved in helping them along the way. For the RDCs who worked long hours and sacrificed greatly, we ask that you would give them rest in coming days. For the others here at Recruit Training who poured time and knowledge into these sailors, give them the strength to carry on day to day. For the families, many of whom are here today, who supported their sailor through this journey, we ask that you would encourage them with this graduation. And finally, God, would you from this moment on be with these sailors, helping them to act honorably in the challenges of life, courageously when temptations arise, and committed to constantly improving not just individually but one another as well, 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 will 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 show how orders are passed through the chain of command.
[Adjutant] Divisions, report.
Division 405 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 406 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 407 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 408 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 409 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 410 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 411 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 412 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 415 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 416 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well.
Division 952 all present or accounted for, sir.
[Adjutant] Very well. All divisions present or accounted for, sir.
[Antonio] Very well. The Sailor’s 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 city by the bay ♪ ♪ I am the southwest burning sand ♪ ♪ Burning sand ♪ ♪ I am New England’s forest land ♪ ♪ 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 ♪ (audience applauding)
[Drill Team] Hooyah Navy. ♪ Anchors aweigh, my boys ♪ ♪ Anchors aweigh ♪ ♪ Farewell to foreign shores ♪ ♪ We sail at break of daaaaay ♪ ♪ Through our last night ashore ♪ ♪ Drink to the foam ♪ ♪ Until we meet once more ♪ ♪ Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home ♪
[Leader] Drum Corps, ready, 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 Great Lakes in the cold weather. Brings new life into you, doesn’t it? I think what we’re gonna do is take a break from this script and give you an opportunity to scream, yell, stomp, do whatever the heck you gotta do. So on the count of three, make sure these sailors know how much we love them. All right, here we go, one, two, three, let it go. (audience cheering) All right, well done. All right, that’s great, well done. 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 952 graduates today. They are the staff unit, providing arrival honors staff, honor guard, recruit review commander, adjutant, and support for the ceremony. Please join me and give them a hand for their outstanding performances. Welcome to our reviewing officer, Rear Admiral James Sands, Commander, Naval Service Training Command. I would also like to welcome all the veterans in our audience for their service to our country. Would our veterans please stand? (audience applauding) 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 knowledge and 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 735 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 accomplishment. 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 409 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, Airman Oliva reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] It is our pleasure to recognize the review commander for today’s ceremony, Airman Antonio Oliva, Division 952, from Kissimmee, Florida. Throughout his training, Airman Oliva exhibited great pride in naval service and has consistently demonstrated his potential as an effective leader. He has maintained a high standard of personal appearance and a display of excellent military bearing and command voice. Congratulations on your outstanding achievement. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Captain, Fireman Hartzell reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] For achieving the highest overall academic score during recruit training, Fireman Rose Hartzell, Division 405, from Fairfax, Virginia 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. Fireman Hartzell receives a letter of commendation from the commanding officer. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Captain, Fireman Collison reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] For having displayed extraordinary qualities best expressing the American spirit of honor, initiative, and loyalty, Fireman Taylor Collison, Division 411, from Madisonburg, Pennsylvania is awarded the Navy League Award, which is sponsored by the Navy League of the United States. Fireman Collison is presented with a commemorative plaque and a letter of commendation from the commanding officer. Well done, Sailor.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Casper reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] Seaman Nathaniel Casper, Division 410, from Las Vegas, Nevada is the winner of the United Service Organization Award for best exemplifying the spirit and intent of the word shipmate. Seaman Casper is given a commemorative plaque from the United Service Organization. Well done, Sailor.
Thank you, Admiral.
Good morning, Captain, Seaman Chew reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] Seaman George Chew, Division 411, from Quakertown, Pennsylvania 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 Chew 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 Kanagymerrins reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
[Announcer] The Military Officers Association Leadership Award is presented to Seaman Niccolo Kanagymerrins, Division 410, from San Andreas, California for demonstrating exceptional tenacity and professionalism. Seaman Kanagymerrins is awarded a letter of commendation from our commanding officer. Well done, Sailor.
Thank you, Admiral.
Good morning, Captain, Airman Slater reporting.
[Erik] Very well.
Airman Christian Slater, Division 416, from Davison, Michigan 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. Airman Slater, the staff of Recruit Training Command salutes you as the finest of this group of graduates. Well done, Sailor.
Thank you, Admiral.
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 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 leaves 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 trust the welfare and basic training of almost 40,000 of our recruits to these two leaders each year. Gentlemen, thank you. We’re grateful for your leadership and for your role in changing 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 were enough. They wanted to know if they had what it took to become a US Navy Sailor. They’re different now than they were eight weeks ago. They did it. They were enough. 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 base professional indoctrination and training program. They’ve 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’ve been trained and tested in five warfighting competencies, firefighting, damage control, seamanship, watch stand, and small arms handling and marksmanship. They’ve 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. We need you to love and support us throughout our service to our nation. When we call you part of our Navy Family, we’re really recognizing the fact that you serve too. We don’t need you any less when we join the Navy. We need you more. And 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. 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. Graduated sailors are reminding to be in full uniform of the day before 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.