 Welcome to the Graduation Ceremony for Officer Candidate School Class of 05-2-4. Over the past 13 weeks, the class team has been responsible for developing today's graduates to serve as professional naval officers, worthy of special trust and confidence. The 05-2-4 class team includes class officers Lieutenant Colton and Lieutenant Stike, class recruit division commander, Senior Chief Petty Officer Long, and class drill instructor, Henry Sergeant Casper. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the arrival of the official party and the main standing for the national anthem and invocation. The Training Command Newport arriving, Naval Education and Training Command arriving. Let us pray. Eternal Father, strong to say, you have called us United as one body and service to our country. We are warriors of the seas and protectors of our American way of life. May we never forget your call to leave and to serve. We thank you for our friends and family that have supported us through this journey. Much will be demanded of them in the future. Lord, bless them with faith, hope and love. Protect us as we travel home to a new school or a new duty station. Go before us, may we all do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you. We pray this in your eternal name. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Class. Ladies and gentlemen, Captain Everett Alcorne, commanding officer, officer training command Newport. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Cherico, I'm Alcorne, General Gray, Captain Martinson, Colonel Bennett, distinguished guests, veterans, service members, officer training command staff, family members and friends, and most importantly, the soon-to-be commissioned officers of OCS.0524. Good morning. Good morning, sir. I'm excited to welcome 62 newest graduates into one of the most challenging and fulfilling careers, that of the NATO officer. To the family and friends joining us, I applaud you for the great work you did preparing these impressive young leaders prior to their arrival here. Your love, support and encouragement have produced a remarkable individual seed in here. It's enabled them to make sound choices, and we are grateful to these graduates for their choice to serve. They could not have gotten to this point without a careful guidance and support, family and friends. On behalf of the Navy and the Great Nation, please accept my most sincere thank you to the graduates here today. I'm proud of each and every one of you. You all have many other options than volunteering to serve your country, that you chose this path. I thank you for your patriotism and your willingness to serve. I assure you that a life of service holds many rewards and will bring you fulfillment. You have completed your military, academic and physical training. You've overcome obstacles. Nothing was handed to you except opportunity. The opportunity to make something more of yourself, to learn, to grow, and to leave. You've seized that opportunity and today you reap its rewards. I congratulate you for this significant and memorable achievement. It's now time to embrace a new opportunity to lead what is truly the Navy's most precious resource, the backbone of the force, the sailors and the fleet. In the years ahead, your knowledge and leadership skills will contested often. You'll be standing watch and working alongside fellow officers and sailors around the world, around the clock. Know that you are doing significant and meaningful work for our country. The mission of the Navy is of tremendous importance to our nation and the world. America is counting on you to deter aggression, defend our national security interests, and preserve our way of life. Work hard, learn the warfare of your professional skill and your designator. Strive to do the best and give your country 100% effort. Nothing else is suffice. The nation and the Navy expect the best from you, the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, excellence in leadership, and a strict adherence to the Navy's core values, honor, courage, and commitment. Applaud your accomplishments and perseverance. You're about to embark on a great adventure, one in which I hope you find professional success a personal fulfillment. It will be unlike any other job you'll ever have, regardless of how long you show your nation, but most assuredly be a time in your life where you will look back upon your pride and satisfaction. Congratulations, I wish you fair wins and follow-up scenes. It is now my privilege this morning to introduce you to our guests of honor, Rear Admiral Jeffrey Cherico, Commander in Naval Education and Training for me. Honorable Cherico is a native of Saginaw, Michigan and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds a Master's Degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. At sea, he's deployed with the TAC Squadron 75 and the Board of USS Enterprise and the Strike Fighter Squadron 81 and the Board of USS White P. Adam Howard, both with Carrier Air Wing 17. He's completed the Department Head Tour with BFA 136, Tatch the Carrier Air Wing 7, and the Board of USS John Kennedy, and the USS George Washington. He commanded the Blue Diamonds of BFA 146 and deployed twice in the Board of USS Johnson Stennis as part of Carrier Air Wing 9. He also commanded Carrier Air Wing 2, outside of the USS Ronald Reagan, and the Strike Warfare Commander for Carrier Strike Group 9. Sure, Simon is a two-fleet replacement squadron instructor pilot, assistant safety officer, and assistant training officer, while assigned to BFA 106. He was the electronic warfare branch chief for the joint staff, deputy director for mobile operations, and the resource sponsor for Naval Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities and director of battle space awareness. He stood up the Digital Warfare Office as acting director on the Navy staff, and he served as chief of staff for Commander Naval Air Forces, and completed additional tours with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group as battle director for the Combined Air and Space Operations Center and IUD Cutter. As a flag officer, he served as deputy director for mobile operations on the joint staff, director for fleet integrated readiness and analysis, U.S. Police Forces Command, and his commander, Carrier Strike Group 4. February of 2023, the president nominated promotion in the second star, and in June of 2023, became the 21st commander of the Naval Education and Training Command. His leadership is essential to the continued success of the world's greatest Navy and the training naval forces to prevent and decisively win the wars. We are privileged to have him here with us today to share his thoughts. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our guest of honor today, Rear Admiral Jeff Caesar, the chairman. Thanks, Kevin. Trigger down, tracking. We flew up 16, south flew up 18, so there's always a little tension in the road, and two fighter pilots are near each other. We likely did not fight in training, but if we did, I'll give you credit for this one. So welcome. All right, thanks for inviting me here to honor these soon-to-be ensigns. I know we have a lot of veterans in the crowd. I know we have a lot of friends and family. We're all here to welcome these men and women into the profession of arms. If you serve on active duty, if you're a veteran, please stand up. Please. Thank you. Please have seats. The active duty around you, these veterans who just stood up, know best the challenges and opportunities that these new ensigns are going to experience when they start learning to leave. For the moms and dads, family, friends, this may be your first exposure to the United States military and the United States Navy. Five of my children are serving in the Navy. I trust the Navy. I care very deeply how leave home survivable the Navy is. Thank you for raising that. I've got a man. The theme of this ceremony is character and service. General James Anderson, he's a West Point graduate, wrote a book. Said it's called Becoming a Leader and Character. And he stated that our character starts with our thoughts. Our thoughts influence our words. Our words lead to our actions. And our actions, repeated over time, become our habits. And finally, our habits form our character. I start off with that quote from an Army soldier at a Navy commissioning ceremony. Because General Anderson wore our nation's cloth for 41 years. And I did it for that specific reason. Because anyone who learned to lead over 41 years might be worth listening to, even though they're from the Army. I love my Army brothers and sisters. So perhaps for today, I found myself trying to remember with the speaker at my graduation and commissioning at the Naval Academy. I said 33 years ago, I don't have the faintest memory. I truly don't. My mom reminded me recently, she was the vice president of the United States, and I'm no vice president. So I'll do my best to tell you something memorable. And I guarantee you will remember something. Anyway, when I was in your shoes, right in front of me, all I could think about was being able to walk across the stage as fast as possible, receive my diploma, take my commissioning oath, and drive as fast as legally non-tickable down to Pensacola to start pursuing my dream of becoming a carrier of the Army. So in an effort to help you remember something from this speech, I want to provide a few quotes for people that I consider leaders of character. People who have served for me as guideposts as I've navigated my career in three years. All right, Peter Roosevelt, if you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you would not sit down for a month. Soon, each of you will be placed in positions of leading sailors. I have found that there are two frames of reference through which to lead. Trust the best in everyone you meet until they prove otherwise. Or force them to prove through fear that they're worthy of your attention. I strongly recommend you lean in towards the former by demonstrating trust. When you demonstrate your trust in your sailors and your chiefs through leadership, you truly will avoid being the one kicking your own butt. General Patton said, never ever tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. The greatest thing you men and women can do as leaders of character is aside what needs to be done and spend your time describing the why to your sailors. Following this advice, I'm more often than not been absolutely delighted with how my teams have solved the problem. I remember a few times I've been shocked once I was very frightened and a few other times I had no idea what they just did. But giving your sailors ownership of the solution and top cover when they make an honest mistake builds the strongest team. General Polo Powell said, the most important thing I've learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes, you can lecture them forever, but it's your personal example that they will follow. Put another way, if someone had a phone out while you were exercising world leadership, would you want to be used in a training video for your division before you're at work? You are always being watched. This quote comes back to the habits developed through your thoughts, words, and actions. Don't leave in fear. Leave from a position of empathy, humility, and always courage. You will make mistakes, learn from them, and more importantly, be honest with your sailors. Be honest when you make a mistake. None of us are interfoundable, and those you leave will move mountains for the leader of character who is honest and courageous. Stop the more words of advice. Be accessible. That means go to your sailors and remove barriers. Ask them if there's anything they need to do their job better, faster, safer, or more efficiently. Be approachable. Be ready to answer a lot of questions, but don't be afraid to ask. Show those you lead that you care. Words are cheap, but action is priceless. Be reasonable. Listen to your sailors' ideas. Be willing to take some risks so that they can try. And sometimes the 80% solution is perfect. And sometimes the 51% solution is good enough. It's your job to know when that distinction matters. Be humble. Being a leader is not about being the person in charge. It's about taking care of your people and helping them be successful. There is much joy in other people's success, and every parent in this room knows that's true. Be persistent. Get after the tasks you know are important and never let them go. And be positive. Find the belief in the goodness in every person you need. And support them in every challenge they face and they will face more. And finally, be passionate. In other words, be committed to the cause. Be committed to your service. Be invested in the care of your sailors. That's the real burden of leadership. I started this out with a trigger down-tracking. So I gotta finish this sea story here. Just trust me, a hundred palates time on stage with a mic isn't complete until I dare. It does start with another quote from Martin Luther King. If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep the streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of Heaven and Earth will pause to say, here live the great street sweeper who did his job well. It's probably the most forwarded quote of my career. So where am I going with this? As you men and women, head out to the police, you should be really excited to take on the world. I was. Approximately 30 years ago, I just completed my fleet replacement syllabus and was qualified to fly the Venerable A-60 Intruder in combat. I could fly 200 feet off the ground at 540 knots at night. I could take it down to 100 feet during the day in the mountains in any weather. I could make my bomb hit the target to the split second and I could catch the free wire on my aircraft carrier in torrential rain at night. So as I walked into my first fleet squadron, I was in the Paralloc, which holds your flight gear. And I was turning a big heavy bag of flight gear over to the petty officer's second class and he said, hey sir, Skipper just called. He wants you up in his office. I knew I hadn't been in the squadron long enough to do anything wrong, so I probably wasn't in trouble. But I was thinking, oh yeah, it's her to me. I'm that guy. I'm going to tell me I'm going to take over some pretty important job, maybe air to ground weapons training officer. A little unheard of for a brand new JG. But I mean, it was me, right? I could drop the bomb and do a barrel in the bottom of the range. It made total sense. I knew I was a new guy, but it figured the squadron really needed somebody just like me to train them. I remember all this was inner monologue. I was whisper thinking. I did not say I thought I may have a good imagination, but I'm not stupid. While the CO's out of monologue went a little bit like this, hey Lieutenant JG, chair wacko. And that's not how you say my name. I need you to do something for me. Whisper thinking, here it comes. I stood up a little straighter. You know, he and all the weather attack pilot was pretty glamorous. He said we got a big day tomorrow, so I said, I shouldn't do it. I'm going to be really busy. And I was thinking here it comes. I wonder what he wants me to do. He said to me, we've got a unit to sweep. I was definitely not ready for that. Some of you in the audience know what a unit sweep is. Let me explain it. It means that yours truly was now the your analysis officer. This is what you're going to remember from the speech. Not the airing out training officer, not the line division officer, nothing close. I can't believe he said your analysis officer. I still can't believe I just said it now. But he continued, he said hey, the Sunday punches are a huge swatling. Started with the plate. We've got 350 officers and sailors. That's a lot of them. A lot of them. He said don't screw it up. I'm outside giving the paperwork. That was my intro to the fleet. What do I do? Well, I don't know how you put lipstick on that pig, but I did. Did some quick soul searching and I decided I could come to Michelangelo of your analysis paperwork. The Beethoven of bottles. The Shakespeare of very securely taping boxes of bottles. You get the picture. The figures I haven't forgot my moment. And how it taught me to do whatever job I was given. Every job from that day. So unlike me, maybe now you will remember something. Think character, not your analysis, but it depends on where you are. So I'm going to leave you on charge. Everyone of you looking to be right now. Whatever you do, endeavor to become the best. Enable service is the world's greatest princess program. And you all have the ability and the opportunity to pursue perfection in everything you do. You may not reach perfection, but the sailors you are about to leave and the nation you are about to serve both need you to try. Thank you. The graduating class will now receive the O's of office. All military personnel informed, please come to the position of attention. Class zero five, tact two, four. Attention. Class, raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I state your name. I state your name. Having been appointed an ensign in the United States Navy. Having been appointed an ensign in the United States Navy. Do hereby accept such appointment. Do hereby accept such appointment. And do solemnly swear. And do solemnly swear. That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. And I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion in that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to answer. So help me God. Welcome to the floor. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. The distinguished graduates of the symbol will now be recognized by the commanding officer and the guests of honor for their achievements will be the first to be presented by the Honorable Underground Training here at Officer Training Command, Newport. Lieutenant Thomas Eddie Honor Award is presented for the ensign who achieved the highest overall average in academics, military training, and physical fitness. This award will be presented to Ensign Smith. Ensign Smith has been designated as an intelligence officer and is designed to intelligence officer basic course in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The rear Admiral Stephen E. Lucy Academic Support is presented to the ensign who achieved the highest academic average. This award is being presented to Ensign Dow. Ensign Dow has been designated as a nuclear submarine officer and has been assigned to naval diving and salvage training center in Panama City, Florida. Ensign Dow is a distinguished naval graduate. The Chappelle-Clarity United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Award is presented to the ensign who achieved the highest overall grade in physical fitness. This award is being presented to Ensign Maswell. Ensign Maswell has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LCS 30, USS Canberra, home ported in San Diego, California. The Commander Jack Levin Leadership Award is presented to the ensign chosen by the class to the peer who most inspired them and personifies the high standards of personal example, sound management practice and more responsibility. This award is being presented to Ensign Gray. Ensign Gray has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Ensign Barrie. Ensign Bodger. Ensign Bodger has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Ensign Bodger has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Ensign Garrett has been designated Incident Cabrera has been designated as a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Cabrera is a distinguished naval graduate. Incident Faircloth has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Glass has been designated as a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Able has been designated as an oceanography officer and has been assigned to basic oceanography accession training in Gulfport, Mississippi. Incident Rodriguez has been designated as an information professional officer and has been assigned to information professional basic course in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incident Able has been designated as a student naval flight officer and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Able has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LCS 20 USS Oakland in San Diego, California. Incident Anderson has been designated as a supply officer and has been assigned to supply school in Newport, Nevada. Incident Arcus Honeycutt has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Austin has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Babiak Jr. has been designated as a supply officer and has been assigned to supply school in Newport, Rhode Island. Incident Ballesteros has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Burnett has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Violet has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in the Pensacola floor. Incident Beaver has been designated as an intelligence officer and has been assigned to intelligence officer basic course in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incident Bland has been designated as a service worker officer and has been assigned to LSD46 USS Tortuga, home ported at Little Creek, Virginia. Incident Lynch has been designated as a service worker officer and has been assigned to LSD42 USS Germantown, home ported in San Diego. Incident podcast has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in the Pensacola floor. Incident Capers Senior has been designated as a nuclear service worker officer and has been assigned to LPE22 USS San Diego, home ported in San Diego, California. Incident Cabaret has been designated as a civil engineering officer and has been assigned to naval submarine base Kings Bay in Kings Bay, Georgia. Incident Clayball has been designated as a supply officer and has been assigned to supply core school in Newport, Rhode Island. Incident Crosby has been designated as an intelligence officer and has been assigned to intelligence officer basic course in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incident Crosby is a distinguished naval graduate. Incident Dean has been designated as a civil engineering officer and has been assigned to Marine Corps Air Station near Mar and near Mar, California. Incident Luna has been designated as an information professional officer and has been assigned to information professional basic course in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incident DTSS-5 has been designated as a supply officer and has been assigned to supply core school in Newport, Rhode Island. Incident Faulkner has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to naval flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Dr. Jr. has been designated as a cryptologic warfare officer and has been assigned to cryptologic warfare officer basic course in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Goggin has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incident Green has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Incent Green is a distinguished naval graduate. Incent Hortons has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Incent Hoffman has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LCS 30, USS Canberra, home port in San Diego, California. Incent Isadas has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Incent Lugo has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Incent Lugo has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to CG 60, USS Normandy, home port in Norfolk, Virginia. Incent Lugo has been designated as a surface warfare officer and has been assigned to LCS 14, USS Manchester, home port in San Diego, California. Incent Lugo has been assigned as a surface danger officer and has as a basic course at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incin Muni is a distinguished naval graduate. Incin Nelson has been designated as an intelligence officer and has been assigned to intelligence officer basic course at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incin Peters should have been designated as a supply officer and has been assigned to supply course role in Newport, Rhode Island. Incin Ramos have been designated as a cryptologic worker officer and has been assigned to cryptologic worker officer basic course at Pensacola, Florida. Incin Rendon has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school at Pensacola, Florida. Incin Roberson has been designated as an information professional officer and has been assigned to information professional basic course at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Incin Robinson has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school at Pensacola, Florida. Incin Ruffin has been designated as a student naval aviator and has been assigned to flight school at Pensacola, Florida. Vincent Ruffin is a Distinguished Naval Graduate. Vincent Slade has been designated as Supply Officer and has been assigned to Supply Course Rule in Newport, Rhode Island. Vincent Schwartz has been designated as a Surface Warfare Officer and has been assigned to DDG 87, USS Mason, home ported in Mayport, Florida. Vincent Valdez has been designated as the Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer and has been assigned to help proceed combat squadron 25 in a ground on the ground. Vincent Wilson has been designated as a Surface Warfare Officer and has been assigned to LCSA, USS Montgomery, home ported in San Diego, California. Vincent Slade has been designated as a Student Naval Aviator and has been assigned to Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. Vincent Norman has been designated as a Supply Officer and has been assigned to Supply Course Rule in Newport, Rhode Island. Vincent Norman is a Distinguished Naval Graduate. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing the United States Navy's newest agents. Please rise for a playing of the service songs and a final dismissal. Class Zero, five, tact two, four, attention! Ladies and gentlemen, we will now conclude the ceremony. Please remain in your places until after the graduating class has taken their photograph and remember the only authorized visual locations are K-Hawk and Nimitz PT Field. On behalf of the commanding officer, thank you for attending today's ceremony.