 Good morning ladies and gentlemen on behalf of the commanding general the officers and drill instructors of third recruit training battalion I would like to welcome you to the graduation ceremony of company K This morning's ceremony will begin with calling the company to attention at this time. The guests are requested to remain seated Spiritual development plays an important part in the making of a United States Marine Lieutenant Elysio Morales Chaplain Corps United States Navy will deliver the graduation prayer This will be followed by our national anthem Ladies and gentlemen, please rise Let us pray Mighty one. We thank you for your presence here today We thank you for the young man of kilo company who came in as recruits and are leaving as Marines To the hard work and perseverance. They now joined the family and ranks of the finest fighting force on earth Within each and every one of them runs a war fighting spirit of a Marine that never gives up no matter the odds We thank you for their friends and family who provided support through thoughts prayers and letters of encouragement May they rejoice in this great celebration We thank you for these drill instructors for they have made Marines through their leadership discipline and sacrifice They have instilled the honor courage and commitment that is woven into the very fabric of this core It is because of these drill instructors that these new Marines cannot live out the great honor traditions to always be faithful First to fight and most ready when the nation is least ready Mighty one. We thank you for your presence once again And as always we ask that you continue to bless this core and country now and always amen Ladies and gentlemen our national anthem. Please be seated Throughout our nation's history millions of men and women have earned the title United States Marine Many who have helped shape our history join us here today in keeping with the tradition of once a Marine always a Marine We would like to recognize them at this time those in audience who have served as Marines, please rise Ladies and gentlemen a round of applause for their dedicated service the core and country you please be seated Ladies and gentlemen the battalion commander for a third recruit training battalion Lieutenant Colonel Christopher A. Aschinhurst To welcome him to the graduation ceremony for company care It is also my disdain pleasure to introduce our guest a lot Who's impressive by But first let me draw your attention to those impressive Marines wearing those distinctive green They certainly do not need an introduction from me, but we all know them as a legendary From the moment we arrived aboard the deal there is a drill instructor with them 24 hours a day seven days a week Every where they go For this is real sure that it's the heart of what it takes to transform the civilian into a United States Marine Of the thousands of people we will meet throughout our lives. That's the honest most of them But no Marine anywhere will ever forget the name the face or the gentle-loving voice Also see over here the families of the officers and drill instructors These families know first-hand time dedication and sacrifice takes to make the rings and we could not do it without their love and support So if you at all We also know that And it all begins with the hard-working Who are straight throughout the straight country today? I'm a pretty substation for Collins, Colorado Brown was the recruiter for our company on the ground. It was Who first gave They are truly some of the best this country has to offer Every single one of them is a high school graduate But furthermore, they display the courage and they commit that most of their careers could never muster And they raise their right hand and store that solenoid to support the Constitution of the United States They come from every expanse of the globe in this case seven different countries Somewhere from as far away as Vietnam and Thailand Others are from just across the street here in San Diego But it was a single that brought the 460 of them together and that goal was to earn the title Three months ago, they embarked on the world's most demanding entry-level training And they got off those buses and set foot in the hour of historic Yellowford And trust me throughout their time here, they have undoubtedly been tested They have been trained and evaluated in the attributes that make the poor but unique and get it We have developed in each of them a physical and mental toughness that will never quit or give up despite the obvious They've been indoctrinating our core values on courage and commitment so that we create more use of the temporary character Look at peace and at war They've been trained, they've got to feel tested war fighting skills so that when this nation calls its Marines always win And thanks to the marksmanship instructors of Weapons Day of training battalion up in Camp Hamilton When these Marines arrive on their objective, they are capable of delivering precision like a flyer And a big-point target at staggering distances out to 500 yards And finally, we created small unit leaders out of each of them And we have value and availability to the side, act, and communicate with a biased or intelligent action For that is what the future operating environment will be Now in addition to all of that, I hope yesterday you noticed a few other upgrades we could still have They should have stood a little taller They certainly looked a little leaner They should have looked in the eyes and said these strange phrases like, yes sir, yes ma'am Mom's and dad's, it should be a long time before you have to tell one of these Marines to get a job or a haircut And I assure you, they know how to clean up after themselves and make their beds But it is the change of the thing that we are the most proud of After having been indoctrinating our core values and then by virtue of the fact that they're sitting here today That they've embraced those values as ever And so because of this journey they have made Because of the physical, mental, and neural development they've displayed Which was built upon the foundation that you owe late That I am proud to present 460 young men Who through their own blood, sweat, and tears Can now and forever claim the title United States Marine Excuse me for a moment while I address our new Marines One by son Good morning Marines Good morning son Did you all hear that? It's your pride That it's pride in themselves and pride in the title they've heard Now, kind of a company I know we were right here so many weeks ago The last thing on your mind is graduation You're probably thinking What in the world have I gotten myself into? And how do I get them to stop yelling at me? If you stay here today as America's newest Marines How do you accomplish something that most would never dare attempt? When you get home this weekend People are going to look up to you They're going to be proud of you As they should And your friends are going to ask you how you did When they ask you that I want you to take me for a walk Down to you at the pretty station For a few years Because I can promise you Your drill instructors Would love to teach your friends But remember that with this new title There's a great responsibility For the strength of the Marine Corps Is not found in any weapons system Or piece of equipment It is found in the war fighting spirit Of the individual Marine That is what matters most in combat And that is what makes us different This world is a dangerous and chaotic place But that is why we have you And the legacy of our Corps Not only being the first to fight But to always win And that belongs to you now for safety And that people will thank you That we gave you on top of the Reaper Represents two hundred and forty six years Of all the Marines that you all were for To be proud of yourself Be proud of what you have accomplished But remember who you now are And who you now represent And always remember to protect What you know And so on behalf of the officers The drill instructors And all of the support personnel Here aboard the Marine Corps In 354 St. Diego Let me be the first to wish you The Marines following seas Secretize our Marines Welcome to our Corps Now taking his position Center stage is today's guest of honor Lieutenant General Christopher Mahoney Deputy Commandant Programs and resources Lieutenant General Christopher Mahoney Deputy Commandant Programs and resources Lieutenant General Mahoney was born In South Weymouth, Massachusetts And graduated from Holy Cross In June 1987 He completed the basic school And the infantry officers course In Virginia, graduating in March 1988 He went on to complete flight training In Pensacola, Florida And was designated naval aviator Lieutenant General Mahoney has served In a variety of challenging billets In numerous commands to include Instructor at Marine Aviation And Tactics Squadron 1, Yuma, Arizona Chief of Staff at Joint IED Defeat Organization National Training Center Fort Irwin, California Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commodon At Programs and Resources Headquarters Marine Corps Deputy Commander at Marine Forces Pacific Director of Strategy and Plans At Headquarters Marine Corps Deputy Commander at United States Forces Japan And Commanding General at Third Marine Aircraft Wing Lieutenant General Mahoney currently serves As the Deputy Commodon for Programs And Resources Headquarters Marine Corps Lieutenant General Mahoney is a graduate Of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course WTI The Marine Division Tactics Course MDTC And the Naval Fighter Weapons School Top Gun Naval Flight Forward Air Controller And Parachutist Lieutenant General Mahoney has over 5,000 hours Of flight time in the A-6, F-5, F-18, and F-35 Ladies and Gentlemen Please welcome Lieutenant General Christopher Mahoney The next portion of the ceremony Will be the traditional function Of retiring the Guidons The Guidons have been carried by the platoons Throughout recruit training And are being retired to symbolize The disbanding of platoons All similar units in the Marine Corps Carry such Guidons Which identify the unit Or a source of pride to each individual member Note that the honor of carrying these Guidons Is bestowed upon those Marines Who displayed outstanding leadership qualities Motivation and enthusiasm And were selected as the Platoon Honor graduates The Honor graduates are recognized As being the most outstanding Marines in their platoons The Platoon Honor graduates Compete for the titles of series And Company Honor Graduate They are considered the top Marines Graduating today And have demonstrated the highest potential For future leadership And responsibility in the Marine Corps The Honor graduates will now be presented Applied by the Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ashenhurst And the Battalion Sergeant Major Sergeant Major Cruz Ladies and Gentlemen Please hold your applause Until all Honor graduates have been recognized The Honor graduate for Platoon 3,225 is Private First Class Alex G. Barajas From Heber City, Utah The Honor graduate for Platoon 3,226 And the Company Honor Graduate is Lance Corporal T.C. Browning From Fort Collins, Colorado Lance Corporal Browning is also the recipient Of the Chesty Puller Award For his outstanding meritorious performance While in recruit training And the Honor graduate for Platoon 3,227 Is Private First Class Nicholas A. Sapon From Reading, California Ladies and Gentlemen The Honor graduates of Company J Ladies and Gentlemen Please rise for the playing of Anchors Away Followed by the Marines Hymn The Zoom up to the shores of triple trees The paddles in the air on the sea First to fight for... The senior drill instructors Will now dismiss their platoons This will be the last command The new Marines receive From their drill instructors And the most welcome command They have received Throughout recruit training Ladies and Gentlemen This concludes today's ceremony