 Good morning Marines Three months ago your series commander your senior drill instructor and myself stood in front of you in a very different setting We offered you a challenge a challenge where you would be reborn in all but name a Challenge where you would sacrifice self and place duty in country first and here you stand Over the past several days Once you have gone through will be difficult for an outsider to understand For the past few days you have demonstrated that you are all worthy of the title United States Marines I'm proud of you for what you've done over the last few days The Marine Corps calls this the crucible I'd like to think of it as a pilgrimage for those who came before This pilgrimage ends at this point here Overlooking the vastness of the Pacific Ocean where our forefathers fought Bled and died fighting a barbaric Empire in places like Guam Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Tarawa They wore the same cloth that you wear now. They carry the same emblem and the same title that you hold today The future of this institution is now placed squarely on your shoulders And you must defend it with every ounce of strength that you have