1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,262 Ladies and gentlemen , it's my distinct 2 00:00:03,262 --> 00:00:05,373 honor to introduce the 28th Secretary 3 00:00:05,373 --> 00:00:07,596 of Defense . The honorable Lloyd Austin 4 00:00:07,596 --> 00:00:09,429 clean ! Welcome me and welcoming 5 00:00:09,429 --> 00:00:11,151 general , join me in welcoming 6 00:00:11,151 --> 00:00:13,800 Secretary Austin ? Mm hmm . Okay , mm 7 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,550 hmm . Okay . 8 00:00:19,340 --> 00:00:22,860 Okay . Mhm . Okay . 9 00:00:27,940 --> 00:00:31,640 Good morning . Before I begin this 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,410 morning I wish to extend 11 00:00:35,420 --> 00:00:38,800 my condolences and those of the entire 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,650 department to the people 13 00:00:43,210 --> 00:00:46,690 of you . Valdez all of us here 14 00:00:46,690 --> 00:00:49,660 today . Our moms and dads , 15 00:00:50,740 --> 00:00:53,950 brothers and sisters , Sons and 16 00:00:53,950 --> 00:00:57,460 daughters and our hearts break 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,510 for them and for the unspeakable 18 00:01:02,510 --> 00:01:05,750 grief that they are enduring . 19 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:10,130 Mhm . We cannot assuage 20 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:12,960 that grief , we know that , 21 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:17,440 but we can endeavor to keep them and 22 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,900 the loved ones that they lost close to 23 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:24,250 our hearts and deepen our prayers . 24 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,210 So today we are all 25 00:01:30,220 --> 00:01:33,490 citizens of Vivaldi . 26 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,496 Well , thank you . Secretary Kendall 27 00:01:40,496 --> 00:01:43,900 for that kind introduction . Mm I'm 28 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:46,220 also delighted to be joined by General 29 00:01:46,220 --> 00:01:50,060 Raymond and General and mrs Brown . 30 00:01:52,940 --> 00:01:55,250 You know , it takes an exceptional team 31 00:01:55,250 --> 00:01:58,250 to produce exceptional leaders . 32 00:01:59,540 --> 00:02:01,840 So let me thank General Clark and 33 00:02:01,850 --> 00:02:04,700 Brigadier General Smoke A and Sandra 34 00:02:04,710 --> 00:02:08,240 and Chief Master Sergeant Sparks in the 35 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,640 academy's faculty and staff for the 36 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:13,751 tremendous work that they have done . 37 00:02:13,751 --> 00:02:15,584 Let's give them another round of 38 00:02:15,584 --> 00:02:16,584 applause . 39 00:02:24,140 --> 00:02:25,960 Now a class of 2022 , 40 00:02:29,540 --> 00:02:31,540 you're all here to get an important 41 00:02:31,540 --> 00:02:35,120 promotion . So let me be the 42 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:36,676 first to make it official . 43 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,160 Congratulations . Lieutenants . 44 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:47,050 Yeah . 45 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:51,160 Okay . Mm hmm . Mm hmm , mm hmm . It's 46 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,327 gonna take a little while to sink in . 47 00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:56,980 But that's where we're headed . How 48 00:02:56,980 --> 00:03:00,270 soon before we continue , I'd like to 49 00:03:00,270 --> 00:03:02,326 get one piece of business out of the 50 00:03:02,326 --> 00:03:05,320 way in coordination with yourself and 51 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,610 the commandant of cadets . I hereby 52 00:03:08,610 --> 00:03:12,190 waive any confinements and restrictions 53 00:03:12,190 --> 00:03:15,130 from minor cadet disciplinary system 54 00:03:15,130 --> 00:03:17,460 violations during the academic year . 55 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,760 Up to the start of today's ceremony . 56 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:25,660 Oh , 57 00:03:32,140 --> 00:03:34,307 you know , I've wanted to do that ever 58 00:03:34,307 --> 00:03:36,220 since I was a cadet . Mm hmm . 59 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,407 Lieutenant . It's great to join all of 60 00:03:41,407 --> 00:03:43,660 you here at Falcon Stadium . The view 61 00:03:43,660 --> 00:03:45,604 here at the foot of the rockies is 62 00:03:45,604 --> 00:03:48,110 absolutely breathtaking . Or maybe 63 00:03:48,110 --> 00:03:49,499 that's just the altitude 64 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,810 in graduating from this academy is 65 00:03:58,810 --> 00:04:01,490 a huge achievement and your families 66 00:04:01,490 --> 00:04:03,601 and loved ones walk this journey with 67 00:04:03,601 --> 00:04:06,120 you and held you up with their love and 68 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,920 their support and they've done so much 69 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,210 to make today possible . So we have 70 00:04:12,210 --> 00:04:14,210 already applauded them once . Let's 71 00:04:14,210 --> 00:04:16,321 give them another round of applause . 72 00:04:16,840 --> 00:04:19,760 Yeah . Mm hmm , 73 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:25,080 mm hmm . Class of 2022 . You have 74 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:26,080 shown , 75 00:04:28,940 --> 00:04:31,690 you have shown outstanding talent , 76 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:35,200 guts and grit and today you proudly 77 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,880 join the next generation of Air force 78 00:04:37,910 --> 00:04:41,040 and Space force leaders . You've 79 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,984 completed one of the most rigorous 80 00:04:42,984 --> 00:04:45,060 academic workloads in the country . 81 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,870 We've got holiday scholars and marshall 82 00:04:48,870 --> 00:04:52,870 scholars here and champion debaters and 83 00:04:52,870 --> 00:04:56,630 engineers and inventors and your 84 00:04:56,630 --> 00:04:59,240 achievements go far beyond academics . 85 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,060 You conquered the o course and the a 86 00:05:03,060 --> 00:05:05,890 course as well as the slopes of 87 00:05:05,900 --> 00:05:08,060 keystone and Breckenridge . 88 00:05:11,340 --> 00:05:13,460 You survived the dreaded Jax hack , 89 00:05:15,540 --> 00:05:18,910 you beat recognition And you 90 00:05:18,910 --> 00:05:21,690 overcame the irresistible draw of your 91 00:05:21,690 --> 00:05:23,460 red blankets during M5 . 92 00:05:26,840 --> 00:05:29,380 You've excelled in sports . Now we've 93 00:05:29,380 --> 00:05:31,269 got conference champions here and 94 00:05:31,269 --> 00:05:34,070 swimming and soccer in water polo , 95 00:05:34,070 --> 00:05:37,290 gymnastics and more and I hear that we 96 00:05:37,290 --> 00:05:39,346 even have a national champion in the 97 00:05:39,346 --> 00:05:42,470 freshman class . The suit Soon to be 98 00:05:42,470 --> 00:05:45,460 3rd class Scott rocket beat out the 99 00:05:45,460 --> 00:05:49,050 country's best in air rifle , including 100 00:05:49,540 --> 00:05:52,620 an Olympian medalists . Let's give God 101 00:05:52,620 --> 00:05:53,250 a hand . 102 00:05:56,540 --> 00:05:57,540 Mm hmm . 103 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:05,960 That's a great name scott rocket . 104 00:06:08,140 --> 00:06:10,084 I'm sure that you're already being 105 00:06:10,084 --> 00:06:13,160 recruited by the space force . But 106 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,271 scott that the way that you shoot the 107 00:06:15,271 --> 00:06:17,327 army and the marines are looking for 108 00:06:17,327 --> 00:06:16,860 you too . 109 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:23,050 Graduating from this academy is hard 110 00:06:23,050 --> 00:06:26,280 enough without a global pandemic and 111 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,310 after and and graduating after years of , 112 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,320 of being clouded by covid shows shows 113 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,950 serious courage and character and I 114 00:06:34,950 --> 00:06:37,117 know it's been a time of challenge and 115 00:06:37,117 --> 00:06:39,270 loss for many of you and I know how 116 00:06:39,270 --> 00:06:41,492 hard it was to be sent home during your 117 00:06:41,492 --> 00:06:44,010 sophomore year and to have to finish 118 00:06:44,010 --> 00:06:46,360 your service academy curriculum online . 119 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:51,490 But what counts , what counts is 120 00:06:51,490 --> 00:06:55,180 how you respond to hard times . And I'm 121 00:06:55,180 --> 00:06:57,347 told that during lockdown you kept the 122 00:06:57,347 --> 00:07:00,250 swing flying and you insisted on taking 123 00:07:00,250 --> 00:07:03,900 care of each other . Your class motto 124 00:07:03,910 --> 00:07:07,640 is strength and sacrifice and drawing a 125 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,770 once in a generation pandemic . That's 126 00:07:10,770 --> 00:07:12,260 exactly what you showed . 127 00:07:14,740 --> 00:07:17,120 So before you even graduated , you 128 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,287 passed your first test of leadership . 129 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,280 So I want everyone in the audience here 130 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,600 to give the class of 2020 to another 131 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,060 round of applause . 132 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,340 Yeah . 133 00:07:38,070 --> 00:07:40,440 Now I'd like to offer you five pieces 134 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,490 of advice as you start your careers 135 00:07:42,490 --> 00:07:46,260 that I know will be outstanding . First . 136 00:07:47,140 --> 00:07:49,140 Always remember that you didn't you 137 00:07:49,140 --> 00:07:52,410 didn't just join any Air force . You 138 00:07:52,410 --> 00:07:56,060 joined the United States Air Force and 139 00:07:58,340 --> 00:07:59,340 mhm 140 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,390 Okay , okay . And you're not 141 00:08:06,390 --> 00:08:10,150 just any guardians , your United States 142 00:08:10,150 --> 00:08:10,870 guardians 143 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:18,490 that we're here to 144 00:08:18,490 --> 00:08:21,740 defend America's security and when 145 00:08:21,750 --> 00:08:25,340 America's wars , but we're also here to 146 00:08:25,340 --> 00:08:29,120 safeguard America's values . So that 147 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,170 means that a love of service for your 148 00:08:32,170 --> 00:08:35,920 classmates , to your community and to 149 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,240 your country . It means that you will 150 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,730 never lie , cheat or steal . Yeah , it 151 00:08:42,730 --> 00:08:44,810 means that you treat everyone with 152 00:08:44,820 --> 00:08:48,160 dignity and respect and it means a 153 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,560 lifelong passion for our core 154 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:54,260 values of democracy , 155 00:08:54,740 --> 00:08:57,450 liberty and the rule of law . 156 00:08:58,740 --> 00:09:01,560 Your country expections . 157 00:09:02,740 --> 00:09:06,630 Your troops deserve it in your 158 00:09:06,630 --> 00:09:08,460 world needs it . 159 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,520 Lieutenants . These principles will be 160 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,300 your North Star and they will always 161 00:09:17,540 --> 00:09:21,220 always guide you home . So that 162 00:09:21,220 --> 00:09:23,050 brings me to my 2nd point . 163 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:29,360 Sure , our times change . Our 164 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,690 world changes , but our 165 00:09:32,690 --> 00:09:35,160 ideals never waver . 166 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,862 And in just four years you've seen more 167 00:09:39,862 --> 00:09:42,160 change than many . See in a lifetime . 168 00:09:43,540 --> 00:09:47,410 A pandemic reminded us that some of 169 00:09:47,410 --> 00:09:49,660 this century's biggest threats don't 170 00:09:49,660 --> 00:09:53,300 even notice borders . America's 171 00:09:53,300 --> 00:09:56,320 longest war one that spanned nearly all 172 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,760 of your lifetimes . Mhm Came to an end 173 00:10:01,140 --> 00:10:03,030 in Russia's cruel and unprovoked 174 00:10:03,030 --> 00:10:06,170 invasion of Ukraine dragged europe into 175 00:10:06,170 --> 00:10:08,560 its largest security crisis since World 176 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:12,550 War II . Today , 177 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,840 America's adversaries are testing the 178 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,660 very values that you swore to defend 179 00:10:22,140 --> 00:10:24,307 Putin's war of choice is an affront to 180 00:10:24,307 --> 00:10:27,510 the rules based international order and 181 00:10:27,510 --> 00:10:29,288 it's a challenge to free people 182 00:10:29,288 --> 00:10:33,050 everywhere . But the 183 00:10:33,050 --> 00:10:35,217 world has been inspired by the bravery 184 00:10:35,217 --> 00:10:37,439 of the Ukrainian people and I know that 185 00:10:37,439 --> 00:10:40,200 you have been as well and we're 186 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,144 standing strong with Ukraine as it 187 00:10:42,144 --> 00:10:43,830 defends its democracy and its 188 00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:47,570 sovereignty . And I hope that 189 00:10:47,580 --> 00:10:50,660 their fight reminds us all that 190 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,980 we should never take our freedoms for 191 00:10:53,980 --> 00:10:57,160 granted . And as a late 192 00:10:57,740 --> 00:11:00,210 great congressman , john Lewis used to 193 00:11:00,210 --> 00:11:03,750 say quote democracy is not a 194 00:11:03,750 --> 00:11:06,560 state , it's an act . 195 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,760 And each generation , let's do as part 196 00:11:12,740 --> 00:11:16,050 your class in your generation . 197 00:11:17,140 --> 00:11:19,360 Now stand ready to do your part 198 00:11:21,220 --> 00:11:23,109 as president biden has said , the 199 00:11:23,109 --> 00:11:25,109 United States leads not just by the 200 00:11:25,109 --> 00:11:28,100 example of our power but by the power 201 00:11:28,110 --> 00:11:32,100 of our example . So Lieutenant 202 00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:34,790 I want you to think about the example 203 00:11:34,790 --> 00:11:38,160 that you will set by your conduct , 204 00:11:39,340 --> 00:11:43,280 by your courage and by your devotion to 205 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:44,460 the constitution . 206 00:11:47,380 --> 00:11:49,290 That brings me to a third lesson 207 00:11:51,740 --> 00:11:53,790 in uniform or as a civilian . I've 208 00:11:53,790 --> 00:11:56,220 learned that lasting success comes 209 00:11:56,220 --> 00:11:59,670 through teamwork . You've seen that in 210 00:11:59,670 --> 00:12:02,930 this class . We just get more done when 211 00:12:02,930 --> 00:12:05,940 we come together As President 212 00:12:05,940 --> 00:12:08,730 Eisenhower said in 1959 at the North 213 00:12:08,730 --> 00:12:11,460 Atlantic Council , look at the hand , 214 00:12:12,740 --> 00:12:16,350 each finger in and of itself is mhm 215 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,351 not a very good instrument for either 216 00:12:19,351 --> 00:12:22,600 the defense or the offense , but close 217 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,990 it in a fist and it can become a very 218 00:12:25,990 --> 00:12:28,760 formidable weapon of defense . 219 00:12:30,340 --> 00:12:32,284 And that's why America's unrivaled 220 00:12:32,284 --> 00:12:35,360 network of allies and partners is so 221 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,310 important . They're crucial to what I 222 00:12:38,310 --> 00:12:40,780 call integrated deterrence . They 223 00:12:40,780 --> 00:12:43,430 extend our strength , they magnify our 224 00:12:43,430 --> 00:12:45,860 power and they deepen our security . 225 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,840 So I'm especially glad that we 226 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,640 have 16 graduates from allied and 227 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,807 partner countries here with us today . 228 00:12:56,740 --> 00:12:58,796 I want to thank you all for being on 229 00:12:58,796 --> 00:13:00,907 the team . And ladies and gentlemen , 230 00:13:00,907 --> 00:13:03,660 let's give them a round of applause . 231 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,662 You know , the power of partnership has 232 00:13:14,662 --> 00:13:16,670 helped us rush aid to let Ukraine 233 00:13:16,670 --> 00:13:20,460 defend itself and in the indo pacific 234 00:13:20,460 --> 00:13:22,571 it's helping us to counter aggressive 235 00:13:22,571 --> 00:13:24,738 behavior from the people's Republic of 236 00:13:24,738 --> 00:13:27,050 china which are new national defense 237 00:13:27,050 --> 00:13:30,150 strategy calls the pacing challenge for 238 00:13:30,150 --> 00:13:33,300 the U . S . Military . You'll see the 239 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:36,110 power of teamwork as chairman and 240 00:13:36,110 --> 00:13:40,020 guardians and war fighters and it is 241 00:13:40,020 --> 00:13:43,960 central to our strength . You know . 242 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,280 In 2003 , early in the 243 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,790 Iraq war , my division was pushing 244 00:13:50,790 --> 00:13:54,420 towards Baghdad on the ground and above 245 00:13:54,420 --> 00:13:57,130 us . An Air Force Lieutenant Colonel 246 00:13:57,130 --> 00:14:00,220 named Richard Clarke and the squadron 247 00:14:00,220 --> 00:14:02,442 were in the skies and they were putting 248 00:14:02,442 --> 00:14:04,940 bombs on target . And thanks to your 249 00:14:04,940 --> 00:14:08,560 soup , nobody ever came close to us 250 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:11,620 back then . And no one comes close to 251 00:14:11,620 --> 00:14:14,960 us today . And thanks to all of you , 252 00:14:15,940 --> 00:14:18,162 No one will come close to us tomorrow . 253 00:14:22,540 --> 00:14:23,540 Mm hmm . 254 00:14:27,740 --> 00:14:30,960 Here's a 4th lesson and it evokes the 255 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,300 spirit of the air force and the space 256 00:14:33,300 --> 00:14:36,790 force . You're joining services that 257 00:14:36,790 --> 00:14:39,970 are relentless about innovation in 258 00:14:39,970 --> 00:14:42,260 restless for ways to push the envelope . 259 00:14:44,140 --> 00:14:46,362 Lieutenants innovation is the ball game 260 00:14:46,362 --> 00:14:49,290 for the 21st century and countries 261 00:14:49,290 --> 00:14:51,401 either lead or they get left behind . 262 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,650 So we are lucky to have your hunger for 263 00:14:55,650 --> 00:14:59,270 progress . This class 264 00:14:59,270 --> 00:15:02,240 includes Andrew Pond , Zarella and 265 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,760 Joshua and Jim Wayne . 266 00:15:06,340 --> 00:15:08,396 I'm told you developed , developed a 267 00:15:08,396 --> 00:15:10,451 great app to automatically track key 268 00:15:10,451 --> 00:15:12,830 statistics across the lane From 269 00:15:12,830 --> 00:15:15,150 evaluation scores , two parking tickets 270 00:15:15,150 --> 00:15:18,570 to room inspections . Of course I know 271 00:15:18,860 --> 00:15:20,582 no one here ever failed a room 272 00:15:20,582 --> 00:15:24,240 inspection . In 273 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,150 fact , This class helped produce 18 274 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,910 18 patents Including 275 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,220 one for 3 D printed spacecraft 276 00:15:35,220 --> 00:15:38,690 shielding . So as a department , we 277 00:15:38,690 --> 00:15:40,412 used together our concepts and 278 00:15:40,412 --> 00:15:42,860 capabilities in new and network ways 279 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,620 we're going to call on you . You can 280 00:15:45,620 --> 00:15:49,270 count on it and that forward looking 281 00:15:49,270 --> 00:15:51,610 spirit shines especially bright in our 282 00:15:51,610 --> 00:15:54,360 newest service . The Space Force 283 00:15:55,140 --> 00:15:58,820 one former airman Jay Raymond became 284 00:15:58,820 --> 00:16:00,060 Guardian # one 285 00:16:03,140 --> 00:16:07,110 Double General in 286 00:16:07,110 --> 00:16:09,166 the in the Space Force is an academy 287 00:16:09,166 --> 00:16:12,200 graduate , Lieutenant General Nina 288 00:16:12,210 --> 00:16:14,860 Armando Class of 88 . 289 00:16:16,650 --> 00:16:18,960 These outstanding leaders have helped 290 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,990 stand up a service that is digital and 291 00:16:21,990 --> 00:16:25,040 driven and rooted in innovation and 292 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,880 ingenuity . Today . The Space Force 293 00:16:28,890 --> 00:16:32,440 and the Air Force are working on what's 294 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,590 called Joint all Domain Command and 295 00:16:35,590 --> 00:16:38,310 control a concept that will allow the 296 00:16:38,310 --> 00:16:41,350 Joint Force to work better across every 297 00:16:41,350 --> 00:16:45,350 potential domain of conflict . You know , 298 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,730 we can't possibly know what challenges 299 00:16:48,730 --> 00:16:52,170 and surprises tomorrow will bring . But 300 00:16:52,170 --> 00:16:54,226 I'm going to report to the president 301 00:16:54,226 --> 00:16:57,080 with great pride that we now have 302 00:16:57,090 --> 00:17:00,850 973 brand new US Air 303 00:17:00,850 --> 00:17:03,120 Force Academy graduates to tackle those 304 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,050 challenges with the right training 305 00:17:06,930 --> 00:17:08,208 and the right spirit . 306 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:14,020 Now one final piece of 307 00:17:14,020 --> 00:17:17,700 advice and trust me on this 308 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:23,620 discipline matters . So work 309 00:17:23,620 --> 00:17:27,340 hard , master your craft and 310 00:17:27,340 --> 00:17:31,140 stay focused as cadets . You are no 311 00:17:31,140 --> 00:17:33,220 strangers to putting in the reps and 312 00:17:33,220 --> 00:17:35,960 sets that it takes to be successful 313 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,760 as lieutenants . I hope that you'll 314 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,390 keep up that persistence as your soup 315 00:17:44,390 --> 00:17:47,810 has noted your class Exemplar chapter , 316 00:17:47,820 --> 00:17:50,660 General chappie James believed that 317 00:17:50,670 --> 00:17:52,500 nothing was more important than 318 00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:55,900 preparation . General James like to 319 00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:59,060 quote his mother who taught him , quote 320 00:18:00,140 --> 00:18:02,590 you be prepared with your bags of 321 00:18:02,590 --> 00:18:05,240 knowledge , your patriotism , your 322 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,900 honor . And when somebody opens the 323 00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:10,070 door , you charging 324 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,760 for four years , Lieutenants , you've 325 00:18:14,770 --> 00:18:18,550 been packing those bags and today 326 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,800 that door opens and it's time to charge 327 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,360 in . Now you're going to face hard 328 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:29,760 decisions . But this academy has taught 329 00:18:29,770 --> 00:18:33,710 you how to make those decisions and I 330 00:18:33,710 --> 00:18:36,680 know that you're ready and I know that 331 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:38,624 you're ready because I see academy 332 00:18:38,624 --> 00:18:41,450 graduates shine every day when I travel 333 00:18:41,450 --> 00:18:43,506 the world from eastern europe to the 334 00:18:43,506 --> 00:18:46,880 indo pacific to remote basis . I see 335 00:18:46,890 --> 00:18:49,400 young Lieutenants and captains , just 336 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:50,270 like yourself 337 00:18:54,420 --> 00:18:56,309 last year , your fellow graduates 338 00:18:56,309 --> 00:18:59,740 played a significant role As the United 339 00:18:59,740 --> 00:19:03,430 States evacuated 124,000 340 00:19:03,430 --> 00:19:07,410 people from Afghanistan , the largest 341 00:19:07,420 --> 00:19:10,060 air evacuation of civilians in our 342 00:19:10,060 --> 00:19:13,960 country's history . Young service 343 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,400 members showed courage , skill and deep 344 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,680 humility . And they got plane after 345 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,620 plane into the sky . And as 346 00:19:23,620 --> 00:19:26,700 we speak , airmen are working with our 347 00:19:26,700 --> 00:19:29,040 allies on air policing in the skies 348 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,360 over europe and guardians are ensuring 349 00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:34,582 that warfighters across the Joint force 350 00:19:35,140 --> 00:19:37,080 have satellite communications and 351 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,330 precision navigation . Mhm . And pilots 352 00:19:40,330 --> 00:19:42,386 will transform our moving heaven and 353 00:19:42,386 --> 00:19:44,552 earth to rush urgently needed security 354 00:19:44,552 --> 00:19:47,950 assistance to Ukraine . Most missions 355 00:19:47,950 --> 00:19:51,210 couldn't be couldn't possibly be more 356 00:19:51,210 --> 00:19:54,620 important . And we can carry them out 357 00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:57,130 because of the extraordinary services 358 00:19:57,130 --> 00:20:00,620 that you are joining services which 359 00:20:00,620 --> 00:20:04,360 provide airpower anytime , anywhere 360 00:20:05,340 --> 00:20:08,170 with space power always above . 361 00:20:09,940 --> 00:20:13,530 You know , no other military can do 362 00:20:13,540 --> 00:20:17,360 what we do because no other 363 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:20,360 military has people like you . Mm hmm . 364 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,151 Lieutenants . When we're earthbound , 365 00:20:24,151 --> 00:20:26,830 it's easy to lose perspective to get 366 00:20:26,830 --> 00:20:29,370 caught up in the day today . But 367 00:20:29,370 --> 00:20:31,259 there's a clarity that comes with 368 00:20:31,259 --> 00:20:34,760 flight in every respect . 369 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,620 You rise above . You don't get bogged 370 00:20:38,620 --> 00:20:41,160 down in the ugliness or division 371 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,129 because you're always chasing new 372 00:20:44,129 --> 00:20:47,910 horizons , you move faster . You 373 00:20:47,910 --> 00:20:50,760 see further . You fly higher . 374 00:20:53,740 --> 00:20:57,080 All of you have answered our country's 375 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,360 call with courage and 376 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:03,830 commitment with tenacity and 377 00:21:03,830 --> 00:21:06,740 teamwork and with strength 378 00:21:08,140 --> 00:21:12,060 and sacrifice and you know , 379 00:21:12,850 --> 00:21:15,072 With outstanding young leaders like the 380 00:21:15,072 --> 00:21:17,170 class of 2022 . 381 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,050 The future of our country is bright . 382 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,910 Congratulations . Lieutenants ! May God 383 00:21:26,910 --> 00:21:30,080 bless you and your families . May God 384 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,030 bless all our troops and May . God 385 00:21:33,030 --> 00:21:35,280 bless the United States of America . 386 00:21:35,290 --> 00:21:39,120 Thank you very much . Yes , 387 00:21:42,140 --> 00:21:43,140 mm hmm . 388 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:50,340 Thank you . Yeah .