The virtual graduation ceremony for Training Group 49 at Recruit Training Command. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Spencer Fling)
Transcript
(upbeat music) (Officer yells command) (upbeat drum music)
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. On the bus. 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 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. alot 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?
We were designed to develop skillsets that sailors can carry throughout their entire career. We push hard on physical fitness, watch standing, and creating a warrior mindset.
Now with the mental scan you’re going to be focused on your mind.
A true body, mind, and soul approach. All of our recruits receive training that will help them the second they get to the fleet. Firefighting, damage control, weapons and seamanship. Our crews get hands on training and application with them all.
Because once we find this evolution again I’m going to expect you to adapt overcome. Work together as a team, execute the mission. The next time I see you, you’ll be saved.
Everything they learn is tested in a battle station.
Okay?
Jeez, division zeros or one, A 24 hour event where the recruit ceases to exist and a 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. Ryan Anderson commanded by Gregory.
The second class Nick Williams and the recruits. The see this breath Brandon weather’s be Orleans, Louisiana Three, two petty first class and a Krista Latasha Lawrence and the recoup would be Texas city Three cannibis chief petty, officer flowers. First-class Dominic Dickerson Anthony Pittman, and their recruits. from Virginia Beach Virginia. Commanded by senior chief petty officer Jack Jonathan Jack, first class petty officer Steven Fellini with Greenville, South Carolina. This is three commanded by Christopher Crawford, David LaCour and the recruit chief petty officer Steven, Victor Hawley from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Petty officer Mitchell. First last and the recruit chief petty officer Parco Palm go America Three seven commanded by chief petty officer God honey. How’s her first class. First class Charles Smith. As a recruit from San Juan Puerto Rico Dream commanded by chief petty officer Michael Petty officer first class Jonathan boy, and the recruits you see me and my Bishop alabaster Alabama Three nine plenty officer first class James Johnson, first class and their backer chat with me, Germany, Zero commanded by chief petty. Officer James has seal at Lexus bargains and there is the officer Olivia parser from Oregon. Hey buddy. Awesome Rivera. And the recruits Alexander predator. Second off Texas
Congratulations sailors. You’ve all made it. You’re graduating from bootcamp 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 forge through shared adversity confident in their abilities and certain in their conviction that they are ready to handle any challenge. The RTC staff and you’re already sees see these traits within each of you. I personally could not be more proud of how you’ve risen to the challenge as we presented and proven that you have what it takes to be 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 firefighting 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 another and being relied upon you demonstrated the warrior spirit of sailors and earn 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 bootcamp but we’re not just congratulating you today. We’re welcoming new members of the Navy family watching from afar while 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 going to 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’re all very proud of you. Take care of one another and stay in the fight.
Let us pray. Oh, mighty God. We joined 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 work long hours and sacrifice greatly. We ask that you would give them rest in coming days for the adders here at recruit training who are poor with time and knowledging to these sailors give them the strength to carry on day to day. 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 commit it to constantly improving not just individually, but now there as well for you all word simple for this, amen.
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. Cause here’s what I’m gonna 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 has hit the back of the ship and fell in the water. And now you go to mass casualty and start rescuing people. One of you going to be eaten well, the mess decks. And you’re going to hear the flight deck. Fire drove 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 like you responded and took action. Your test is coming. Are you ready? Yes Are you ready? 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 who y’all.