The All Academy Ball - Phoenix
Note: Comments in here were used by me in a previous All Academy Speech in Orlando, FL.
Good evening Cadets and Midshipmen,
Parents, Family and Friends
Before I get started, let me recognize and acknowledge the Air Force Academy’s Commander in Chief trophy accomplishment. The only other thing this old Army guy would say is, enjoy it while you have it, because there is a good chance you’re not going to have it much after this year! But seriously, congratulations.
And let me also congratulate my alma mater on their 2nd overtime victory over our arch rival Navy. It certainly could have gone either way. In my opinion though, the real winner was the American people. Because when they watch the service academies play, and when they watch the cadets and mids in the stands, they don’t see a bunch of academy football players, or a bunch of cadets and midshipmen, they see the future leaders of our Nation, and when America looks at the threats that are out there, they can’t help but feel good about the future leaders who will stand in the gap to protect our Nation and its citizens. So congratulations Air Force, and Army, and Navy, and Coast Guard for a great showing and for earning the trust and confidence of the American people.
And a big shout out to the all the parent societies for helping put tonight together. And a very special thanks to Brian and Rose Esterly for all they’ve done to make tonight happen. How about joining me in a warm thanks to all who were involved in the great evening you all are having. Thanks so much.
Thank-you all, for allowing me to take about 10-15 minutes of your time in an exciting evening with family and friends. Some of you may wonder why you’re here – maybe for the fellowship, or friendship. Maybe because your Mom or Dad made you come. But if you would ask me, I would say we’re here in celebration. To celebrate finishing another semester. Or if you are a plebe or doolie, to celebrate that you made it through your first half year at your Academy. Congratulations.
I would offer one other reason to celebrate. And that is to celebrate your decision to serve your country. And although you had many options of what you would do or where you would go when you graduated from High School, contrary to the vast majority of your peers, you elected to stand in the gap between the evil that threatens our Nation and our way of life. And because of that, you have joined the generations who have gone before you. Those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, who fought in the jungles of Vietnam, who celebrated Christmas in the trenches in France during The Great War. But as someone who has stood in your ranks and served for 43 years, I could not be more proud of each and every one of you for your decision to serve your country.
A couple of weeks ago was the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor leading to our involvement in World War II. The men and women who served during World War II are part of what has often been referred to as the “Greatest Generation.” That’s a term that journalist Tom Brokaw coined, arguing that these men and women fought, not for fame and recognition, but because, in Brokaw’s words, it was the right thing to do.
Some dignitaries have referred to your generation as the new “Greatest Generation” – although I consider you all the 9-11 generation – a generation that knew your country was attacked shortly before most of you were born, and as you grew up, you recognized the fact that our very way of life was threatened, and as a result, you decided to do something about it.
When you reported to your Service Academy, our nation was at the cusp of war, where freedom and rights were at risk across the world, as they are even today. And when you came, each of you knew full well that you could join a Military at war. And yet, you came nonetheless. You came with the deep desire to serve, to stand for something much bigger than yourselves. You came because it was the right thing to do.
Each of you are special for many reasons, but the fact that you stood up and said “Send me” speaks volumes about your character. Becoming a member of the United States military is always a big decision, but to do so in times when our national security is most at risk, is perhaps the noblest thing you could ever do. For you have already internalized the ethic of “Duty” and service to “Country” when you reported on your R-Day, because like 99.5 percent of your peer group, you could have easily opted for a safer existence. The fact you are where you are right now truly makes you the best and brightest we have in this nation.
I have had the honor to serve with some of the greatest leaders in our generation. The Ray Odierno’s, Mark Milley’s, David Goldfein’s, John Richardson’s, Karl Schultz’s, Lloyd Austin’s, Scotty Miller’s, Joe Votel’s, Steve Gilland’s, Richard Clark’s, and many more. And while serving with them, I have learned so much.
I learned that the best and brightest are not necessarily on campuses or in the corporate headquarters. Don’t ever think for a minute that those running around on some college campus or in some corporate business have anything on you. They don’t. You are privileged to have the one advantage that all of them desire to know – you will know many of life’s truths, you’ll know about the goings on in Iraq, Korea, Ukraine, Poland, Afghanistan, Israel, Qatar, Yemen, Iran, and many other places. You will know some of life’s hardest truths and some of its purest failures. You will never have to guess.
I learned that leading our Service Members is not coddling them, but to hold them to the highest of standards. They are Americans, and more than anything, they want to be a winner and they want to be part of a winning team. High standards make them the best and that is what they want. I encourage you to lead with the highest of standards in everything you do. Don’t baby them; develop them and build their pride as a result of the high standards and tough, difficult training you will lead them through.
I learned that the greatest privilege our Nation can give you is to lead such magnificent men and women – America’s sons and daughters. They will challenge you, and maybe, even disappoint you, but when the chips are at their worse, they will never let you down. They will even give their life for you so that you can lead their brothers and sisters in arms another day.
I learned that our best leaders lead from the front. I watched GEN Odierno walking the streets in Mosul, or GEN Austin leading his entire Division from the berms of Kuwait to downtown Baghdad. Inspiring Service Members to move when common sense would tell them otherwise not to. But they followed their leaders who were leading from the front every time, and that is what made the difference. I’ve seen Division commanders visiting Soldiers in the motor pools and visiting their troops manning the guard posts over the weekends, and elsewhere in the most crapiest of places. A simple hello, or a nod shows you care, and it makes a difference every time.
I learned that great leaders perform with excellence in everything they do. Excellence is performing to the upper level of one’s potential, but it is also moving toward areas that are not common or comfortable. Great leaders are not afraid to move in that direction, knowing they will make mistakes, but they will learn and get stronger and better as a result. Great leaders also encourage their subordinates to stretch knowing they too will make mistakes, but great leaders underwrite their mistakes as an opportunity to grow and learn and become better as a result.
Great officers are risk takers, and the greatest risk is not necessarily making a mistake -- but failing to stand up for what is right. Character is the principle measure of one’s worth, and great leaders will always, always choose the harder right despite the outcomes every time. You can be number 1 in your class, but if you fail in character, you fail in leadership. Subordinates and bosses no longer trust you. Be a leader of character. It is as simple as that.
I have learned that great leaders build inclusive teams where everyone feels valued, respected, that they contribute to their unit and its mission, and they are safe and secure both emotionally and physically, despite their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, faith or no faith, gender orientation, or even their political affiliation. Great leaders never accept indifference or injustice, but will judge only on standards and how well their people do their job.
I learned that whether you serve 5 years or 43, you will never regret your decision to serve your Country. And contrary to the vast majority of your peers, you have elected to do what others would never dream of doing. And when 50 years from now, your grandchildren are studying U.S. wars in their classrooms, and when they sit on your lap asking you, “Grandma and Grandpa, what did you do in this war on terror?”, you can proudly say that when your country needed you the most, you answered the call of duty and served. Your only regret will be that you could not have served longer.
But what is the most important thing I learned? That there is no nobler and honorable calling in the world than to be a Soldier, or a Sailor, or an Airman, or a Coast Guardsman, or a Merchant Marine in service to the United States of America.
Yet, life as a member of our military is not easy. That is why it was the collective goal of those responsible for your training to make sure you understand that. Your TACs, TAC NCOs, Phys Ed cadre, and your instructors, – they all know what awaits you when you assume leadership of your Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen or Coastguardsmen. Their duty was to ensure that you are prepared. The vast majority of your staff and faculty have been to the battlefield and they have put into action much of what they are teaching you. They have moved under fire, seen the enemy up close, and they know that this business is deadly serious.
This is why duty demanded that the training you receive at your Academy presents the toughest of challenges. It’s why you did all those pushups...and why you’ll do many, many more. It’s why you ran all those miles…and will run many more. It’s why you fired hundreds of rounds on the rifle range, it’s why you marched and marched. It’s why you had to succeed on your PT test – or for you grey hogs – that you had to pass the IOCT. It’s why you competed on the fields of “friendly strife” in order to develop the discipline to be part of a team and learn to play with pain, because your teammates counted on you.
It’s why your parents can see the changes in you, simply by the way you stand.
For you are the latest band of brothers and sisters making things happen in the very best way you can. The techno wannabees in the corporate world can’t begin to imagine the vast responsibilities you have accepted. You will be scrutinized like never before. You’ll hold more responsibility and do more in the next few years than most people will do in a lifetime. High expectations for sure…but like those who went before you, you will succeed.
I think I’ve talked my allotted time, so let me leave with a couple final thoughts.
#1. I will never apologize for being a member of the United States Military and don’t ever feel that you have to either. This is the life I have chosen – the life I have lived for just over 43 years. It isn’t risk free, and it isn’t always easy. But in the humble opinion of this proud Grunt, it’s always been a life worth living. There is no more noble profession than the one of which you are about to enter. It is a portion of your life spent in the cold, hot, snow or rain – facing danger during peace and war, while making the best friends you will ever have, men and women who will have your back no matter what life brings. As Americans, we aren’t perfect – but I can think of no better place to serve.
#2. Draw your strength in the days ahead from your values, particularly the values of your Academy. Let them be the moral compass that guides you in the decisions you will make and always, not matter what the cost -- do the harder right. It is not worth selling your honor for the sake of saving you from being embarrassed, and I can speak from experience on that.
#3. Recognize that the friends you are making among your classmates and your teammates are relationships that will last a lifetime. Through the shared hardships …... of sitting in the field in nights of freezing rain next to your battle buddy, or walking off demerits with your beast roommate, or finding humor studying for your final exams at 0300 – realizing all the while that the pure comradery created from shared hardships, that you are forming bonds that will last a lifetime. The brotherhood and sisterhood relations you’ll make with your classmates will be deeper than your own blood brothers and sisters.
#4. Lastly, don’t ever forget those who got you here, who stood by you through the good and the bad, through thick and thin, who supported you even when no one else did – your Mom and Dad and your family. They’ve gone through an emotional roller coaster while you are at your Academy, and they will continue as they watch you succeed and fail and get up and do it all over again. They love you more than you can imagine, unconditionally, and will be there for you no matter what. Please don’t forget to thank them and give them a hug as often as you can.
So, as I look out at you all right now, I am absolutely confident that our Nation is in very good hands. I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of you. And if the American people want to see what is right with America, all they have to do is to walk in this room and spend a couple minutes with each of you.
A huge thank-you to your parents and family members for your support and love of your cadet and midshipman. And thank-you all, for taking one of your nights back home, to come here in fellowship, celebrating your service to our Country.
Go Army!
Go Navy!
Go Airforce!
Go Coast Guard!
Go Merchant Marine!
Beat Everyone!
Thank-you.