Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) Graduation, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, May 13, 2022.

Transcript

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the commanding Officer Officer training Command Newport’s welcome to the graduation ceremony for officer candidate school class 10 tech to to guests are encouraged to take photographs from the seating area at any time during the ceremony except during the playing of the national anthem. The order of events. Today’s ceremony is as follows. At 1000 Commander Hoffman, Director of Officer candidate school, United States and Vice admiral boxes. Director for structure, Resources and Assessment, United States Navy. The guest honor for today’s ceremony will arrive. Guests will be asked to rise for the arrival the official party and remain standing for the playing of the national anthem and invocation. The director and guest of honor will address the graduating class and administer the office office. The graduates will then be recognized through the presentation of their commission by the director and the guest of honor guests will be asked to rise for playing in the service songs in the final dismissal. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the arrival of the official party and remain standing for the national anthem and invocation. Director, Officer candidate school arriving, Vice Admiral Force, structure Resources and Assessment arriving. Ladies and gentlemen, chaplain, buts will now offer the invocation. Let us pray eternal father. You have fashion and created us as a people and called us as a nation to a place of trust and leadership in the world. We honor this day our newest naval officers and we ask for your special blessing upon them as they embark on their journey into the fleet Father today. Our hearts rejoice in the day. These graduates. The day these graduates have dreamed of has finally arrived. So many are proud of their achievements. However, we are mindful that our achievements are possible only through the life you have given us through the parents who have loved and nourished us through the host of peers and friends along life’s way. Who encouraged us. And those here at Officer training Command, who guided and molded each life, developing them into our nation’s newest naval leaders. No one person is an island and none are perfect and each is a witness to your watchful care and forgiving grace with every accomplishment and privilege. Came added responsibility. And each one of these officers stands here today accepting of the duty that our nation has entrusted to them. That’s all who stood by these. We honor and give them an extra portion of your love. Watch over and protect them as they head off to their new commands Today they stand on the shoulders of the greatest naval leaders of history who have inspired generations to fight for the freedoms that make our country great. Give them the strength and courage to carry on that legacy. Be with us today and forever amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, Commander Les Hoffman Director Officer candidate school. Thank you sir. Thank you, guess. Thank you Lieutenant. I’d like to offer greetings. Admiral Box Law, Distinguished visitors, otc and staff, family, friends and guests. And of course our soon to be commissioned officers of Class 10 tax to two. Good morning, I’m excited to welcome our 70 newest graduates into one of the most prestigious, challenging and rewarding professions in our nation, that of a naval officer to family and friends joining us. I applaud you for the great work you’ve done in preparing these impressive men and women for their arrival here. It’s enabled them to make sound choices and we’re grateful to these graduates for their choice to serve. Moreover, we remain grateful to you for your continued support as they set out on their journey to the graduates. I’m proud of all of you. You all had many other options available to you. Yet you chose this path you chose to serve your nation. I thank you for your patriotism and your willingness to serve. I can assure you that a life of service holds many rewards and will bring you great fulfillment During your time here you completed rigorous military academic and physical training. You overcame obstacles. Nothing was handed to you except an opportunity, an opportunity to make something more of yourself to learn to grow and to lead. You seized that opportunity. You embraced it today you reap its rewards and now it’s time to embrace a new opportunity, an opportunity to go lead sailors in the fleet. You may recall that in your second week. I welcome this very class personally and offered my perspective on leading sailors also shared with you some advice for creating your future success. And I’d like to reinforce that advice. Now, before you go off to lead it all comes down two choices. An attitude, both of which ultimately shape your character character matters, Your character matters. To further develop your strong character, you must continue to make sound choices. You must continue to demonstrate a favorable attitude in the face of adversity. With your strong character. I call you to always uphold the highest standards of excellence and integrity for yourself and for others around you. You must commit to this daily. So when you tie your shoes each morning, pause to reflect, reaffirm yourself to this commitment, commit each morning to make the right choices and to bring the right attitude. And I’m confident that this approach will serve you well. Shipmates. Your time here at O. C. S. Is coming to a close. So are my remarks. I applaud your perseverance and your accomplishments. Each of you are about to embark upon a great adventure in which I hope you find both professional success and personal fulfillment. It’ll be unlike any other experience you’ve ever had or any that you ever will, regardless of how long you choose to serve. It will most assuredly be a time in your life upon which you will look back with great pride and satisfaction. Congratulations to each and every one of you. I wish you all fair winds and following seas Now it is my honor and privilege to introduce to you our guest speaker, Vice Admiral Ronald Box, all Director for force structure, resources and Assessment on the Joint Staff. A native of Holland, patent New York. He attended the Pennsylvania State University and was commissioned in 1984. He also attended the Naval postgraduate school in Monterey California, where he earned a master of Science and Information systems and later attended the Naval War College here in Newport’s earning a master of Arts in national Security and strategic studies In a sea duty assignments. He served as Commander Carrier Strike Group three and he held command of both U S. S. Lake Erie and USS Carney. He also has served in various other surface warfare assignments and has led to numerous high profile Navy and Joint Service tours to include as I learned serving aboard one of the last ships to have been home ported here in Newport. His leadership is essential to the continued success of the world’s greatest navy and we’re fortunate to have him here today with us to share his thoughts. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our guest of honor. Vice Admiral Ronald Fox, Thank you Commander Hoffman and thank all of you. What a great day as I said before. Um, so nice to be back in Newport. I mean, it’s It’s not the Pentagon # one that makes it the nicest thing uh, this morning, I missed the chairman’s usual meeting with, you know, talking about everything going on in Ukraine right now. It’s a tough, tough days every day. It’s important things going on in the world and it’s really nice to get out up here and uh, and just observe this. As I said, my, um, my last, I was one of the last CEO, not last CEOs last ships to leave new part with the USS Simpson here. And it was a typical day like today, it would always be gray and kind of foggy and we’d get underway and we’ve had right for the bridge stanchions. Try not to hit him. That was our goal every morning. And so as I think about that today, it was really fun for me knowing that, you know, a morning like today would, would start off like this. You head off to see and you try not to hit the stanchion and you try not to hit any of the boats in the harbor and you’d get out there. And as soon as you got there, you hit about eight ft seas of the north Atlantic. It was a lot of fun and a little frigate. So none of you will be doing that today. Oh by the way, the knife hands, things, you guys are relaxed at ease. Does that work? I want to see hands moving. There we go. There we go, move them. Yes, I know the guns have done a great job training. You’re doing an awesome job. But uh, I need a little reaction from your, this can be a long speech anyway. Great seeing you all. Uh, it’s really good to be here. Uh, so good morning. Distinguished guests, family members and our commission class of 10 tech to two. It is an honor for me and a little surreal for you to be the last group of officers that I will have the privilege of commissioning as incense in the United States Navy. You see the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, my boss will be retiring me in just a month from now. So pardon me for being a little nostalgic Henson Box Hill was commissioned in 1984 at Penn State. And be honest, I don’t remember who spoke or what he or she might have said. So I’ll keep that in mind. As I finish here today marks the culmination, you’re demanding officer training where you’re challenged physically and mentally to prepare to join the fleet as naval officers. I and the folks gathered here today can justifiably stand at ease knowing that Americans of your talent and character are taking the watch, only the best and brightest are selected. These leaders in the world’s finest Navy and you should take great pride in this accomplishment. We also know you didn’t get here alone. The parents, family members, friends and supporters here today. Please accept my thanks for all you have done to prepare your daughters, sons, sisters, brothers. To accept this challenge from dinner table conversations, the sporting event road trips to the example you’ve set personally, you have instilled in these women and men and willingness to serve others and we thank you. But as I said, things were very different back in 1984. It was the Reagan build up. We were in the midst of a Cold war with the soviet union. The iron curtain had not yet fallen. We were all prepared for a potential conflict with an adversary who had high end nuclear submarines, a fleet of long range missile shooting ships and an ability to project maritime power far from their shore’s. And our Navy and Marine Corps grew to meet that challenge. A few years later the wall came down and with it a peace dividend dividend that saw the world without a near peer competitor to the United States and the size of the Navy was reduced accordingly, terrorist attacks on 9 11 shifted us to take on the threat in the Middle East and the other terrorist havens around the world. That caused us to shift the skill sets needed by our Navy and Marine Corps from a blue water power to a maritime power that can project power to support land campaigns and generally less contested environments. Fast forward to today. There’s the largest war on the European continent since World War two, Russia has invaded a democratic Ukraine to the condemnation of most of the free world NATO unity in Europe is the re re awakened with a threat on their doorstep. And while Russia is the acute and near term threat, china is the long term pacing challenge. As a country that is trying to unilaterally rewrite the global norms, they have dramatically improved their military capabilities specifically to use its power to prevent the United States and other countries from being able to operate with freedom in the Western pacific. And now we have a new defense strategy that focuses our joint force against this long term competition with china. The role of the navy is back front and center in this blue water transition back to our naval nations roots. And you will lead the way and you will contribute to a well integrated joint force that will include elements of all elements of national military power, working closely with our allies and partners to continue our mission of keeping open international sea lanes of communication that are so vital to the world and to our own economy. One thing that did not change in 1984 was the oath that you will take in a few moments if the chairman were here today, he would remind us that we are the only nation whose military takes an oath to a piece of paper to the constitution, not to the head of state or to a king or to a ruling party, but to the very foundation on which our country is built. You today will swear to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The solemn oath you will take is shared by all of us who have served in the past, those who serve today and those who will continue to serve in the future. And when I was, where you were almost 38 years ago, I never really thought much about what I would be doing in the next year or so. But trust me, it comes faster than you think some of you will be landing at night on the pitching deck of an aircraft care or a ship in stormy seas. Some of you could be the officers responsible for the safe navigation of a warship transiting Taiwan straits. One of you could be the officer responsible for the safe operation of a nuclear powered propulsion plant in a submarine hundreds of feet beneath the ocean in missions that you’ll never be able to talk about. One of you could be leading a platoon of seals on a secret mission and dangerous lands or some of you will be in positions directly supporting sailors and marines who have come into harm’s way, providing networks, intelligence, logistics, cryptology, support, or providing strategic communications. No matter where you are the Navy’s mission, the safety and well being of your shipmates and billions of dollars of government equipment, material, personnel will depend on how well you understand your craft and execute to get to this point, many of you have demonstrated superior academic achievement and some of you are very high honor. You should be very proud of that when I graduated, I wasn’t in that category. When you get your first command, you’ll find from this point forward, you’ll be evaluated very differently and you’ll never know when the test is for which you will be graded. You see, your sailors won’t care what your grades were and neither will your captains and commanders. What they’ll care about is whether or not they trust you to do the right thing. As we say in the fleet, sailors don’t care what you know until they know that you care and once they do trust and performance rise dramatically. Your reputation as an officer who can be trusted starts today. And just as your grades will no longer be the primary means by which you are assessed. Neither can you continue to align your priorities solely by your own individual success. As most of your efforts have been rightfully focused to date in the fleet, you will live and die as a team period. It won’t matter how well you’re performing as an individual. If your crew or unit fails to meet the overall mission. So when you report to your first commands, bring your enthusiasm, bring your curiosity, bring your integrity and character, bring your professionalism and commitment to excellence and as you perform those duties. Remember the fundamental tenets of leadership. Take care of your people, maintain a questioning attitude. Keep the commitment to safety, demand, procedural compliance, serve as a forceful back back back up to your shipmates. I strive every day to learn more about your division, your equipment, yourself and your tactics and always, always act with unassailable integrity and all that you do. And if you can do that with a positive, can do attitude, attitude, and good humor, then you will do great. So I’m counting on you and more importantly, our country is counting on you. I know I speak for all Americans. When I say we are proud of you, we’re thankful for you. We’re praying for you. You have no idea the adventures and experiences that await you. God bless you. Your families are navy and welcome to the fleet and you can clap. The graduating class will now receive the oath of office. Would all military personnel in uniform please come to the position of attention. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. The distinguished graduates assembled will now be recognized by the director for their achievements while undergoing training here at officer training command Newports, It’s a no lender and stan Olander has been awarded the Rear Admiral Stephen be lucy award for obtaining the highest academic average while attending officer candidate school and stan Olander has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to L. H A seven USS Tripoli home ported in san Diego California and sent Taylor and ST Taylor has been awarded lieutenant Thomas E. Dewey award for achieving the highest average in academics, military training and physical fitness. Vincent Taylor has been designated as a cryptologic Warfare Officer and has been assigned to cryptologic Warfare Group six. Located in Fort Meade Maryland Edson. Taylor has been designated as a Distinguished Naval Graduate. Hansen Ringle and then Ringo has been awarded the chapel Florida. United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Award for obtaining the highest overall grade and physical fitness. Benson Ringle husband designated as a special Warfare Officer and has been assigned to Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command. Located in san Diego California. Hansen Randall has been designated as a distinguished Naval graduate and sent Sharma and since Sharma has been awarded the chapel Florida. United States Marine Corps Physical fitness Award for obtaining the highest overall grade in physical fitness. Hansen Sharma is currently awaiting designation and has been assigned to Officer Training Command. Newport Rhode I Ensign Davis. Ensign Davis has been awarded the Commander Jack Levin Leadership Award having been chosen by his peers as a candidate who most inspired his class and personifies the highest standards of personal example, sound management practice and more responsibility. Ensign Davis has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to C G 55 Leyte gulf for imported and home ported in Norfolk Virginia. We will now recognize the remaining graduates. Vincent Jackson has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to LCS 213 USS Jackson home ported in san Diego California. Vincent Feliciano has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LSD 50 USS carter Hall Home Ported in Norfolk Virginia. Vincent von Sternberg has been designated as a surface warfare officer, has been assigned to DDG 112. USS Michael Murphy Home Ported in Honolulu Hawaii in ST jones has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to L. C. S. 1 to 4 USS Cooperstown Homeport in Mayport Florida and Send jones has been designated as a Distinguished Naval Graduate and Send dossier has been designated as an Information Professional officer and has been assigned the Information Warfare Basic School in Norfolk Virginia. It’s in Van Blackcomb has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to DDG 91 USS Pinckney Homeport in san Diego California. Hansen Pachenko has been designated as an aviation maintenance duty officer and has been assigned to Naval Air Station. Whidbey Island located in Oak harbor Washington, instant. White has been designated as an Information professional officer and is awaiting following orders for next assignment and some White has been designated as Distinguished Naval Graduate and Saint Garcia has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to LCS one to U. S. S oh Maha. Homeport in san Diego California instant Glatt has been designated as a supply officer has been assigned to Supply School located in Newport Rhode island instant Hamlin has been designated as a submarine officer and has been assigned to Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, located in Charleston south Carolina. And soon Adams has been designated as a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida. It’s an alexander has been designated as an intelligence officer and has been assigned to Dam Neck Naval Base located in Virginia beach Virginia. It’s an Alex Allison has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to DDG 1 to 5 USS Jack H. Lucas Homeport in san Diego California and Saint Bartlett has been designated as a student Naval Flight officer has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida instant Brackman has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to DDG 76 USS. Higgins Home ported in Yokosuka, japan and some burgers has been designated as an information probe professional officer and has been assigned to Information Warfare Basic School in Norfolk Virginia instant Carmichael has been designated as a cryptologic warfare officer and has been assigned to cyber protection Team. 90 Like located in Fort Meade Hansen Captain Garrett has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to DdG 100 U. S. S. Kidd Homeport in Everett Washington instant Clark has been designated as a student Naval flight officer has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida instant Clinton has been designated as a service Warfare officer. Has been assigned to DDG 94 U. S. S. Nitze Home Ported in Norfolk Virginia instant ko has been designated as a cryptologic warfare officer and has been assigned to Naval Information Operations Command. Located in Kona Hawaii instant cox has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to DDG 67 U. S. S. Cole Home Ported in Norfolk Virginia. Hansen Crippen has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to CG 59 USS Princeton home ported in san Diego California and encryption has been designated as a Distinguished Naval Naval Graduate. Hansen Cruz has been designated as a public affairs officer and has been assigned to C. V N 71 USS Theodore Roosevelt Home ported in Burlington Washington, Vincent Dunn has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LCS 214 USS Manchester Homeport in san Diego California instant Ferrin has been designated as an information professional officer and has been assigned to Information Warfare Basic School in Norfolk Virginia and suffering has been designated as a distinguished naval graduate instant Florida has been designated as an information professional officer and is awaiting following orders for next assignment and sent forth has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to D. D. G 72 USS Mahan. Homeport in Norfolk Virginia. Hansen Gassy Lula has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LPD to seven USS Portland’s home ported in san Diego California Instant Gasman has been designated as a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida, instant Gasman has been designated as a Distinguished Naval Graduate and someone has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to LSD five to U. S. S. Pearl Harbor Home Ported in san Diego California. And since cell has been designated as an information professional officer has been assigned Information Warfare Basic School in Norfolk Virginia Vincent Harris has been designated as an Information Professional officer and has been assigned Information Warfare Basic School in Norfolk Virginia and Saint Harris has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to C G 56 USS SAn Jacinto Home ported in Norfolk Virginia Vincent Hernandez has been designated as a statement student Naval flight officer has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida instant King has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to L. C. S. 104 USS Milwaukee. Homeport of Mayport Florida Winston lobby has been designated as the Aviation maintenance duty officer has been assigned to C. V. N 71 USS Theodore Roosevelt Homeport in Bremerton Washington instant Larson has been designated as student naval flight officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida in some dollar has been designated as an information professional officer. Has been assigned to information more for a basic school in Norfolk Virginia instant Liotta has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to L H. D seven. USS Iwo Jima Homeport in Norfolk Virginia Vincent Mallory has been designated a surface warfare officer has been assigned to DDG 98 USS four Sherman Homeport in Norfolk Virginia. Manalo has been designated as a Civil Engineering Corps officer has been assigned to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast. Located in Gulfport Mississippi Vincent Marshak has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to C G 69 USS Vicksburg Home ported in Norfolk Virginia, john Morrissey has been designated a Civil Engineering Corps Officer has been assigned to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast located in Panama city Florida Hansen Mattingly has been designated a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida Quentin McDermott has been designated a student naval aviator has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida and to me has been designated as a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida Vincent Medeiros has been designated a Service Warfare officer and has Then assigned to CG 56 USS Sandra sent to homeport in Norfolk Virginia Clinton nelson has been designated surface warfare Officer and has been assigned to DDG 95 USS James E Williams Homeport in Norfolk Virginia instant. Nowicki has been designated surface Warfare Officer, has been assigned to DDG 97 USS hauls the homeport in san Diego California. Hansen O’Hearn has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to CG 71 USS Cape ST George Homeport in Everton Washington. Vincent Paniagua has been designated as a surface warfare officer has been assigned to DDG 1 to 5 USS Jack H. Lucas Homeport in san Diego California Vincent Peyton has been designated as a student Naval flight Officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida Hansen Ray has been designated an information professional officer has been assigned to Information Warfare Basic School in Norfolk Virginia. Hansen Rogers has been designated the Public Affairs officer has been assigned to Navy Public Affairs Support element East located in Norfolk Virginia Hansen Ryan has been designated as a supply officer has been assigned to Supply School located in Newport Rhode island and since Semenov has been designated surface warfare officer has been assigned to DdG 96 USS Bainbridge Homeport in Norfolk Virginia instance Stacy has been designated as an intelligence officer has been assigned to Dam Neck Naval Base located in Virginia beach Virginia. In theory, it has been designated a Student Naval flight officer has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida and sentiment has been designated as a supply officer has been assigned to Supply School located in Newport Rhode island and centrist has been designated as a surface Warfare officer has been assigned to L H. D. Five USS Bataan Homeport in Norfolk Virginia instant Valencia Lopez has been designated as a Civil Engineering Corps Officer has been assigned to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, located in Fort Worth Texas in Saint Valencia, Lopez has been designated its Distinguished Naval Graduate Vincent Walter has been designated as a student Naval Flight Officer has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida Ensign. Willis has been designated as a student Naval Flight Officer and has been assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command located in Pensacola Florida. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing the United States Navy’s newest officers. Please remain in places until after graduating class has been dismissed. And remember the only authorized visitor location is K Hall parking. No other locations permitted. We will now conclude the ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of the service songs and final dismissal on behalf of the Commanding officer officer Training Command. Newport’s Thank you for attending today’s ceremony. This concludes the graduation ceremony