The virtual graduation ceremony for Training Group 42 at Recruit Training Command, the Navy’s only bootcamp. The reviewing officer was Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, commander, Naval Service Training Command. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Spencer Fling)
Transcript
(soldier shouts) (militant drumming) (woman singing call & response with recruits)
Hello everyone I’m Captain Eric Thors, 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 they will 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.
Hurry up let’s go, get on the bus. Let’s go. (intense music) (bus braking)
Out of the bus, in the building.
Recruit training command is the quarterdeck 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 going to make you a part of the greatest naval force the world has ever known. This training will not be easy. It wasn’t meant to be.
Our training environment is controlled chaos.
All you guys lack discipline today. (soldier shouting)
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? (crowd shouts reply)
We are designed to develop skill sets that sailors can carry throughout their entire career. We push hard on physical fitness, (Man shouting) Watch standing,
You’re not looking man, look! Try it read it and look.
And creating a warrior mindset.
Now with the mental scan you’re gonna be focused on your mind.
A true body, mind and soul approach.
When I say gas, gas, gas, you’ll have 15 1-5 seconds to don your faces, tighten your straps, check for seal and put your hands in your pockets.
All of our recruits receive training the will help them the second they get to the fleet.
Arms up, this side put your visors down all the way
Fire fighting, damage control, weapons and seamanship our recruits get hands on training and application with them all.
Put my hands in front of your faces to stop shooting okay? All right, looking good.
Stand by. (Man Shouting)
All right, looking beautiful. (gun shots)
Again, one breath. Face comes up, one breath, back down. (shouting orders)
So I need everything you got because once we start this evolution again I’m going to expect you to adapt, overcome and beast.
Petty Officer always stands ready. Petty Officer always stands ready. (bell rings)
Work together as a team, execute the mission and the next time I see you you’ll be sailors. Hoo yah navy. (group shouts reply)
Everything they learn is tested in a battle station. (Speaker buzzing)
Identify yourself.
Chief division 001 manned and ready for battle station chief.
Very well.
You will not relax anything that is on you.
A 24 hour event where the recruit ceases to exist and a sailor is forged. (man shouting orders)
Breathe (men shouting)
Maybe bootcamp really is a machine. With a swarm of moving parts. All working toward the same goal. Making a sailor. (group taking oath, indistinct)
The sailors forged here are the bedrock of our naval forces. They give our navy it’s 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. (marching drumbeats)
Presenting division two six seven. Commanded by Chief Petty Officer Gene Porter. Petty Officer First Class Sarah Mills. And the recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Eric White from Fredrick, Maryland. (militant drumming) Division two nine three, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Theo David. Petty Officer First Class Rod Lewis. And the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Joseph Pride from Bloxom, Virginia. (militant drumming) Division two nine four commanded by Petty Officer First Class Shaun Berta Petty Officer Second Class Rodrigo (indistinct) The Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Elizabeth Ross from Tucson, Arizona. (militant drumming) Division two nine five Commanded by Chief Petty Officer Justin Rony, Petty Officer Second Class Patrick Gasby, And the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Hajari Herrington from Cheraw, South Carolina. (militant drumming) Division two nine six, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Hector Gutierrez, Petty Officer First Class Sarah Marie Mason, Petty Officer First Class Kenroy Maldonado, and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Diane (indistinct) from Houston, Texas. (militant drumming) Division two nine seven, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Brent Pierre, Petty Officer First Class Terrance Jackson, and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Maxwell Lynen from Denver, Colorado. (militant drumming) Division two nine eight, commanded by Petty Officer First Class James Johnson, Petty Officer First Class Megan Nottingham, And the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Benjamin Rodriguez from Wesley Chapel, Florida. (militant drumming) Division two nine nine, Commanded by Chief Petty Officer Matthew Fetiwal, Petty Officer First Class Andrew Foler, and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Cody Verdit from Alhambra, Illinois. (militant drumming) Division three zero zero, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Ryan Luthor, Petty Officer First Class Russel Bart, Petty Officer First Class Rachel Eve, and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Morgan Davis from Moreno Valley, California. (militant drumming) Division three zero one, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Lazar, Petty Officer First Class Kevin Herburger, Petty Officer First Class Daekwon (indistinct), And the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Lonnie Ololigan from Atlanta, Georgia. (militant drumming) Division three zero two, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Eliza Pochoa, Petty Officer second class Dennis Aiken, and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Heidi Navarro from Wilmington, North Carolina. (militant drumming) Division three zero three, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Bardell Angelo, Petty Officer First Class John Porter, Petty Officer First Class Edward Kerr, And the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Reese Depitello from Battle Ground, Washington. (militant drumming) Division three zero four, commanded by Chief Petty Officer Jacques (indistinct), Petty Officer First Class Shane McCormack, and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer Seaman Brandon Williams from Aurora, Colorado. (militant drumming) This concludes today’s ceremony, thank you very much for coming.
Congratulations sailors you’ve all made it. You’re graduating from boot camp and doing so in a time of extraordinary circumstances. Today we recognize your transformation from civilian to sailor. A sailor is a member of a profession forged through shared adversity confident in their abilities and certain in their conviction that they are ready to handle any challenge. The RTC staff and your RDC’s see these traits within each of you. I personally cannot be more proud of how you’ve risen to the challenges we presented and proven that you have what it takes to members of our navy and profession of arms. While your time here has been different than others have experienced in the past, fundamentally, most things haven’t changed. Like every sailor you’ve been trained in fire fighting, damage control, seamanship, small arms and watch standing. You proved you were tough mentally, morally and physically. You showed you could work as a team both relying on one and other and being relied upon. You demonstrated the warrior spirit of sailors and earned the right to wear that title. The Corona Virus has certainly impacted your experience, but the navy is inherently flexible and agile and excels when faced with challenges. Just like you’ve all done here during boot camp. We’re not just congratulating you today, we’re welcoming new members of the the navy family watching from afar. Well I wish you could all be here in person, I’m glad I’m at least able to virtually welcome you. The term navy family isn’t just a slogan it’s a real thing and I’m gonna let you families in on a secret; we need you to love and support us throughout our service to our nation. Thank you for your love and support of your sailor. You are truly part of our family and essential to the navy. To the sailors graduating today, well done. we are all very proud of you. Take care of one and other and stay in the fight.
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 RDC’s they were able to rise to the occasion. As they graduate and launch unto a remarkable journey, all powerful God, I ask that you would ground these sailors and their families in wisdom and peace. The fleet won’t be a walk in the park. There’ll be test and trials, there’ll be good days and bad days, but there’s someone powerful who can keep sailor’s 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 got what it takes. Amen. (cheerful orchestral music)
Throughout your time here you’ve been taught toughness. You have been taught to run to the fire. You have 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 your sitting here today says you’ve done that. ‘Cause here’s what I’m gonna tell you, your gonna be tested, it’s coming. One of you is gonna be sitting in your gym working out and your gonna hear a loud crash off the back of your ship. And when you get up topside a helicopter with 25 people has hit the back of the ship and fell in the water. And now you’ve got a mass casualty and start rescuing people. One of you is gonna be eating on the mess decks and your gonna hear the flight deck fire alarm go off and your gonna 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 planes on fire and you’ve gotta go combat the fire. One of you is gonna be sitting in combat off the coast of Africa and you’re gonna hear missiles inbound this is not a drill and your gonna have to react. Everything I just said has happened to our navy in the last four years. And sailors like you responded and took action. Your test is coming, are you ready? (graduates shout, indistinct) Weak, weak! Are you ready? (graduates shout, indistinct) I’m proud of each and everyone 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 everyday, I’m proud to call you shipmate, I look forward to seeing you in the fleet. I look forward to seeing you at graduation tomorrow, congratulations to your parents. Hoo yah.
Hoo yah!