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Ladies and gentlemen , the president of 

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the United States , Joe Biden win 

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presents 

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Wing or harms . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , please welcome 

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the graduating class of 2023 . 

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Yeah , 

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graduates . Holt left has 

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wing present harms . 

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Please remain standing for the playing 

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of the national anthem and the 

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invocation 

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or harm at ease . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , chaplain , 

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Colonel Julian C Gaither , United 

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States Air Force Academy Command 

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chaplain . 

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Let us pray almighty God 

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in the shadow of these Majestic 

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mountains and campus steeped with a 

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rich tradition and history . We are 

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grateful to gather our Commander in 

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Chief Air Force Space Force , 

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senior leaders , Air Force Academy , 

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faculty , staff , family , 

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and especially our graduates to honor 

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and celebrate the completion of a long 

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four year journey . In June 

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2019 , cadets , you 

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arrived anxiously excited about I day . 

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You thought basic cadet training was 

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the hardest part . You did not know 

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what was ahead . We did not know what 

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was ahead . The world did not know 

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what was ahead . We did not know a 

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virus would shape and reshape your 

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educational athletic and military 

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journey . COVID reminded us 

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all that we must be prepared for the 

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unexpected challenges of our world . So 

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today , we are grateful that these 

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graduates understand the importance of 

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being ready and staying ready 

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cadets in a few minutes . You will no 

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longer be first , you will be United 

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States Air Force Academy graduates and 

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second lieutenants in the Air or Space 

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Force . Joining the long blue line of 

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leaders . You are in doubt with a 

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degree like no other . Your degree from 

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the United States Air Force Academy 

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comes with an expectation that you are 

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ready . You have been trained to lead 

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honorably and accelerate change as we 

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protect our country and our world . 

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You are the hopes and dreams of many 

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watching this momentous celebration . 

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We thank God for your parents , family , 

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friends and teachers who have molded 

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you . We are grateful for all the love 

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and support . They have shown you on 

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this journey and as you complete this 

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chapter of your life , remember it is 

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only a chapter we believe the promise 

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for . I know the plans I have for you 

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plans to prosper you and not to harm 

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you plans to give you hope and a future 

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graduates today , you will join the 

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long blue line much like I day in 

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2019 , it comes with new sacrifices 

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to defend our country . All the Air 

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Force Academy graduates , welcome you , 

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all our veterans , welcome you and all 

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of us still standing to watch . Welcome 

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you or we must stay ready with great 

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determination and bold resilience 

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class of 2023 . You have , 

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you have prevailed through the academic 

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rigor , physical endurance and the 

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global pandemic . Yet you did not give 

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up . You did not stop you . Did you 

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continue to prepare for victory ? May 

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God continue to fill you with 

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compassion for those in need and 

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inspire you to live by our core values 

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that oppression might cease , freedom , 

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might prevail and dignity and honor , 

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might reign your God has and will 

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provide everything you need for the 

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journey ahead . So all of us here today , 

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look forward to serving by your side as 

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you lead our air and space forces into 

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the future . Prepare for victory 

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class of 2023 . And congratulations , 

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we pray this prayer always in your 

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holy name . Amen . 

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Graduates take seats . Ladies and 

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gentlemen , please be seated . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , Lieutenant 

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General Richard Clark , the 

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Superintendent of the United States Air 

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Force Academy . 

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All right . What a beautiful day we 

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have and I hope it stays beautiful . 

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But today we are here for one reason 

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and one reason only and that is to 

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honor the commitment , the sacrifice , 

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the dedication of the US Air Force 

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Academy class of 2023 . 

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So now let me uh open my folder and see 

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what chat GP T gave to me 

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too soon . All right , I'm sorry . But 

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you got to admit artificial 

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intelligence is pretty awesome . I 

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think next year I may not be standing 

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here . They may have uh chat S U P T . 

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Right . But that's not all bad . I need 

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all the help I can get . So , but 

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seriously , to get started today , I'd 

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like to quote my football coach when I 

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played here at USA , a Fisher de Beri . 

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And he used to always tell us any time 

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you see a turtle sitting on a fence 

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post , you know , it didn't get there 

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by itself . It had some help and that 

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help extends all the way from the White 

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House , the Department of the Air Force , 

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our local community and our loved ones . 

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So today , we are honored to welcome 

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the 46th president of the United States 

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President Joe Biden as our commencement 

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speaker . What a profound honor for our 

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academy and our graduates , Mr 

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President . To have you here today . We 

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thank you and we welcome you to your 

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United States Air Force Academy . 

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We're also honored to welcome the 26th 

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Secretary of the Air Force , the 

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honorable Frank Kimba , honorable Frank 

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Kendall and his spouse , Beth , his son 

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James , our 22nd chief of Staff of the 

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Air Force and the next chairman of the 

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joint , well , the nominated chairman 

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of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General 

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Charles Q Brown and his wife , Shereen , 

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the second Chief of Space Operations 

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for the United States Space Force 

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General , Chance Saltzman and his 

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spouse Jennifer , the 19th chief master 

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Sergeant in the Air Force Chief , 

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Joanne Bass , the first chief master 

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sergeant of the Space Force chief Roger 

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Tober , president of the Falcon 

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Foundation General , retired Steve 

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Lorenz , commander of the Space 

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Operations Command , Lieutenant General 

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Stephen Whiting , and his spouse , 

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Tammy Ceo of the Association of 

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Graduates and the Air Force Academy 

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Foundation . Lieutenant General , 

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retired Mike Gould and his wife Paula , 

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the president of the Association and 

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the Air Force Academy Foundation . Mr 

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Mark Hilly , our elected officials , 

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mayor of Monument Mitchell Laine and 

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Colorado Springs , mayor elect Jimmy 

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Mola and his spouse , Abby . And 

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last but certainly not least my wife , 

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Amy . Round applause roll . 

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I want to welcome all of our guests and 

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thank you for supporting our mission 

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here in Colorado and Washington DC and 

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throughout our military community . And 

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I look upon all of our soon to be 

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lieutenants . And I remember when I sat 

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right where you are 37 years ago , 

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almost to the day . And my academy 

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experience really built the foundation 

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that would carry me through every phase 

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phase of my career and bring me to this 

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amazing institution for four 

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assignments . First , as a cadet , then 

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as a graduate assistant football coach , 

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then as commandant of cadets . And now 

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is your superintendent . And I am 

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grateful to have spent more time at the 

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Air Force Academy than anywhere else in 

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my entire life . And I have to admit 

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when I was sitting in your seats , I 

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was grateful to be leaving the Air 

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Force Academy . But every other time I 

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was grateful to be coming back but 

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regardless of why we're grateful , it's 

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always important to express our 

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gratitude . So to all of our graduates , 

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be sure to take time to thank those 

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people who put you on the fence post . 

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And I'll start by expressing my 

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gratitude to your parents , your 

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families , your guardians , your 

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friends , your loved ones , because we 

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understand that their support was vital 

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to your success . And I know that 

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raising Children is the hardest job in 

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the world . I know because I have to in 

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college myself . And if your kids were 

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like mine , they're tearing up your 

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house , they're eating all your food , 

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they're topping teenage attitudes , 

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they're spending all your money . And I 

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know that some of you thought how in 

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the world is this person going to be a 

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functioning adult ? But today , I 

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guarantee you these graduating cadets 

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are far more than that . They are the 

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most promising young leaders of our 

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nation with a sense of duty and honor 

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to serve and lead our airmen and our 

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guardians . Thank you for preparing 

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them for their noble destiny . Now , 

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clearly getting them to this point 

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takes a village so we can't forget to 

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thank our dedicated faculty , our A O 

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CS , our A P S , our coaches , our 

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staff members , mentors and sponsor 

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families early in their early in these 

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cade careers . They too probably wonder 

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is this person going to actually make 

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it . But here we are and there is no 

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doubt in any of our minds that they are 

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ready finally to the members of the 

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long blue line , our local leaders , 

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our community partners and the 

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lifeblood of our academy , the 10 th 

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air base wing . Thank you for the 

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unwavering support that you have shown 

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our entire academy . So how about a 

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round of applause for the entire 

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village that brought these cadets to 

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where they are right now ? 

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And when I think about what this class 

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has been through over the last four 

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years , I'd sum it up in one word , 

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resilient . When you chose your 

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exemplar , you chose Colonel Leo Thorne . 

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And little did you know the 

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similarities that you would share with 

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Leo Thor together ? You embodied the 

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closing words of the airman's creed . I 

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will never falter and I will not fail 

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for those of you unfamiliar . Each 

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class of our academy selects an 

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exemplar whose qualities they hope to 

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emulate . And each time someone says 

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their class year 2023 

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they will shout the name of their 

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exemplar . Leo thus was a Vietnam era 

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fighter pilot who on April 19th , 

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1967 led a flight of four F 

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105 S on a mission in North Vietnam . 

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When one of his wingmen was shot down 

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despite extreme danger and personal 

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risk , he decided to stay and to 

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protect his wingman and to protect the 

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rescue effort . And when a big 17 

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fighter rolled in then major , thus 

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immediately turned his nose engaged the 

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enemy in a dog fight and shot down that 

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now he was low on gas . So he departed 

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to refuel . But after learning there 

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were more hostile aircraft inbound . He 

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returned to the scene alone . He 

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00:23:10,650 --> 00:23:12,869
spotted four big 17 s over the downed 

275
00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,609
air crew and in true American fighter 

276
00:23:15,619 --> 00:23:18,300
pilot fashion , he thought four of them . 

277
00:23:18,589 --> 00:23:21,109
One of me , the odds are in my favor . 

278
00:23:22,599 --> 00:23:24,655
He attacked the formation , damaging 

279
00:23:24,655 --> 00:23:26,599
one of the one of the aircraft and 

280
00:23:26,599 --> 00:23:28,877
driving the others away from the scene . 

281
00:23:28,877 --> 00:23:32,589
Major Thor did not falter and he did 

282
00:23:32,599 --> 00:23:35,439
not fail . He later received the 

283
00:23:35,449 --> 00:23:37,505
congressional medal of honor for his 

284
00:23:37,505 --> 00:23:40,099
heroism . But his sacrifices did not 

285
00:23:40,109 --> 00:23:42,530
end there 11 days after that mission , 

286
00:23:42,540 --> 00:23:44,900
he was shot down and captured by the 

287
00:23:44,910 --> 00:23:47,349
Viet Cong becoming a prisoner of war 

288
00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,689
for over six years . He never gave up . 

289
00:23:51,109 --> 00:23:54,180
And once again , he did not falter , he 

290
00:23:54,189 --> 00:23:57,359
did not fail . Now , during your time 

291
00:23:57,369 --> 00:23:59,536
at the Air Force Academy , I saw first 

292
00:23:59,540 --> 00:24:02,989
hand the hardship of the class of 2023 

293
00:24:04,540 --> 00:24:07,689
had and how you reflected the qualities 

294
00:24:07,699 --> 00:24:10,959
of your exemplar like Leo Thor , you 

295
00:24:10,969 --> 00:24:13,080
did not falter and you did not fail . 

296
00:24:13,670 --> 00:24:15,837
You saw challenges like no other class 

297
00:24:15,837 --> 00:24:18,079
before you . During your first year , 

298
00:24:18,089 --> 00:24:20,311
you found yourselves in the middle of a 

299
00:24:20,311 --> 00:24:23,079
worldwide pandemic . And we sent you to 

300
00:24:23,089 --> 00:24:25,810
sent you home to learn virtually the 

301
00:24:25,819 --> 00:24:28,449
deans staff and faculty pivoted on a 

302
00:24:28,459 --> 00:24:30,479
dime and moved from in person 

303
00:24:30,489 --> 00:24:33,339
curriculum to distance learning let's 

304
00:24:33,349 --> 00:24:36,000
be honest . How many times did you 

305
00:24:36,010 --> 00:24:38,066
forget to hit the mute button or how 

306
00:24:38,066 --> 00:24:40,232
many times did you wear COVID casual , 

307
00:24:40,232 --> 00:24:42,239
which is uniform on top DJ s on the 

308
00:24:42,250 --> 00:24:45,790
bottom ? You know , you did it . But 

309
00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,199
that was the world we were in then in 

310
00:24:49,209 --> 00:24:51,320
the middle of the pandemic . When the 

311
00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:52,876
situation was uncertain and 

312
00:24:52,876 --> 00:24:55,042
uncomfortable , we brought you back to 

313
00:24:55,042 --> 00:24:57,349
us , a other universities were forced 

314
00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:00,160
to shut down but we couldn't because 

315
00:25:00,170 --> 00:25:02,719
your country needed you . This was a 

316
00:25:02,729 --> 00:25:04,785
heavy lift , but we made it happen . 

317
00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,569
You made it happen , there were 

318
00:25:07,579 --> 00:25:09,746
challenges and still you lifted up one 

319
00:25:09,746 --> 00:25:11,859
another . You adapted and you set the 

320
00:25:11,869 --> 00:25:14,069
example as upper class men , you 

321
00:25:14,079 --> 00:25:15,912
stepped up , you pulled the wing 

322
00:25:15,912 --> 00:25:17,839
through this huge change and you 

323
00:25:17,849 --> 00:25:20,750
brought us back to normalcy . I'm proud 

324
00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,959
to say you didn't just survive . You 

325
00:25:22,969 --> 00:25:25,800
thrived militarily . You stood up 

326
00:25:25,810 --> 00:25:27,921
combat survival training . After a 10 

327
00:25:27,921 --> 00:25:30,410
year hiatus , you were laser focused on 

328
00:25:30,420 --> 00:25:33,260
future conflict and you led our school 

329
00:25:33,270 --> 00:25:35,300
in the development of leaders of 

330
00:25:35,310 --> 00:25:37,689
character to win our nation's wars . 

331
00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,369
Your class is graduating with a 

332
00:25:40,380 --> 00:25:43,969
cumulative GPA of 3.11 . 

333
00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,687
So I guess that means you all made the 

334
00:25:46,687 --> 00:25:50,290
dean's list . It's awesome . See here 

335
00:25:53,030 --> 00:25:54,939
in your ranks , you have a Rhodes 

336
00:25:54,949 --> 00:25:57,380
scholar , a Marshall scholar , two 

337
00:25:57,390 --> 00:25:59,168
Truman scholars , two Fulbright 

338
00:25:59,168 --> 00:26:02,520
scholars and over 230 of you have been 

339
00:26:02,530 --> 00:26:05,979
selected to go on to get your advanced 

340
00:26:05,989 --> 00:26:09,069
degrees next year and on the fields of 

341
00:26:09,079 --> 00:26:11,412
friendly strife . Just in the last year , 

342
00:26:11,510 --> 00:26:13,910
you won four conference championships . 

343
00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,119
You had 49 all American athletes and 

344
00:26:16,130 --> 00:26:19,910
you ranked 42 out of 325 schools in the 

345
00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,160
LA field Cup competition , which is a 

346
00:26:22,170 --> 00:26:24,390
compilation of all NCAA sporting 

347
00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,739
competitions . This placed you number 

348
00:26:26,750 --> 00:26:28,972
one in the Mountain West Conference and 

349
00:26:28,972 --> 00:26:31,839
number one among all service academies 

350
00:26:31,849 --> 00:26:35,130
far , far above West Point and 

351
00:26:35,140 --> 00:26:35,920
Annapolis . 

352
00:26:43,839 --> 00:26:46,061
And not to mention you brought home the 

353
00:26:46,061 --> 00:26:48,172
commander in chief trophy . Thank you 

354
00:26:48,172 --> 00:26:49,172
for that . 

355
00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,150
I am so honored to be your 

356
00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,216
superintendent because when the odds 

357
00:26:56,216 --> 00:26:58,770
were against you , you did not falter , 

358
00:26:59,079 --> 00:27:01,859
you did not fail and you not only 

359
00:27:01,869 --> 00:27:05,290
survived but you thrived . And it's my 

360
00:27:05,300 --> 00:27:07,300
honor to serve alongside you in the 

361
00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:09,699
mightiest military force in the world . 

362
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,800
There is absolutely no doubt that you 

363
00:27:12,810 --> 00:27:14,921
left this institution better than you 

364
00:27:14,921 --> 00:27:17,050
found it . And there is no doubt that 

365
00:27:17,060 --> 00:27:19,282
you are ready to support and defend the 

366
00:27:19,282 --> 00:27:21,670
constitution of the greatest country on 

367
00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,260
the planet on behalf of our entire 

368
00:27:24,270 --> 00:27:27,300
academy community . Thank you and 

369
00:27:27,310 --> 00:27:29,640
congratulations to the United States 

370
00:27:29,650 --> 00:27:32,109
Air Force class of 2023 . 

371
00:27:41,420 --> 00:27:43,587
And now , ladies and gentlemen , it is 

372
00:27:43,587 --> 00:27:45,587
my distinct pleasure to welcome the 

373
00:27:45,587 --> 00:27:47,589
26th Secretary of the Air Force , 

374
00:27:49,770 --> 00:27:53,339
the honorable Frank Kendall . Sir . 

375
00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:55,333
We are proud to have you here to 

376
00:27:55,333 --> 00:27:57,569
celebrate these amazing cadets , these 

377
00:27:57,579 --> 00:28:01,020
resilient cadets and an incredible 

378
00:28:01,030 --> 00:28:03,219
group of leaders . Thank you , sir , 

379
00:28:10,839 --> 00:28:12,839
General Clark could not resist that 

380
00:28:12,839 --> 00:28:14,895
little West Point thing . Could he ? 

381
00:28:16,290 --> 00:28:19,219
Congratulations . Class of 2023 . 

382
00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:24,069
Congratulations . Also to the parents , 

383
00:28:24,079 --> 00:28:26,920
family members , loved ones and friends 

384
00:28:26,930 --> 00:28:30,449
of the class . Well done , Mr President . 

385
00:28:31,030 --> 00:28:33,329
Thank you for being here today to help 

386
00:28:33,339 --> 00:28:35,506
launch these outstanding young men and 

387
00:28:35,506 --> 00:28:37,506
women onto their careers in the Air 

388
00:28:37,506 --> 00:28:40,839
Force and Space Force Clark and the 

389
00:28:40,849 --> 00:28:43,069
entire US Air Force Academy leadership 

390
00:28:43,079 --> 00:28:45,680
team and staff . Thank you for your 

391
00:28:45,689 --> 00:28:47,856
leadership as you have work to prepare 

392
00:28:47,856 --> 00:28:49,745
this class for a bright future of 

393
00:28:49,745 --> 00:28:52,390
service to our country . It does not 

394
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,622
escape my notice that I just may not be 

395
00:28:54,622 --> 00:28:56,733
the speaker . You are most interested 

396
00:28:56,733 --> 00:28:58,956
in hearing from today . I promise to be 

397
00:28:58,956 --> 00:29:01,122
brief . There are a few things I would 

398
00:29:01,122 --> 00:29:03,209
like to say to the class of 

399
00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:05,170
2023 

400
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,359
first . I want to encourage you to 

401
00:29:12,369 --> 00:29:14,800
savor this moment . It marks a major 

402
00:29:14,810 --> 00:29:17,032
accomplishment in your lives and it's a 

403
00:29:17,032 --> 00:29:19,310
culmination of years of work and study . 

404
00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:21,602
You have overcome some serious 

405
00:29:21,602 --> 00:29:23,713
obstacles and challenges to have been 

406
00:29:23,713 --> 00:29:25,824
admitted to and to be graduating from 

407
00:29:25,824 --> 00:29:27,991
one of our nation's military academies 

408
00:29:28,699 --> 00:29:30,969
are joining a select group of military 

409
00:29:30,979 --> 00:29:33,250
academy graduates , a group from which 

410
00:29:33,260 --> 00:29:35,427
some of our nation's most accomplished 

411
00:29:35,427 --> 00:29:38,479
leaders have come as you celebrate . I 

412
00:29:38,489 --> 00:29:40,322
would also like you to give some 

413
00:29:40,322 --> 00:29:42,045
thought to the new and awesome 

414
00:29:42,045 --> 00:29:44,267
responsibilities that are about to rest 

415
00:29:44,267 --> 00:29:46,569
on your shoulders . The mission of the 

416
00:29:46,579 --> 00:29:48,900
Air Force Academy is to build leaders 

417
00:29:48,910 --> 00:29:52,660
of character . Now , you will have the 

418
00:29:52,670 --> 00:29:54,949
mission of being leaders of character . 

419
00:29:56,290 --> 00:29:58,401
United States taxpayers paid for your 

420
00:29:58,401 --> 00:30:00,750
education are now entrusting you with 

421
00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:02,816
our national security and with their 

422
00:30:02,816 --> 00:30:05,630
safety and freedom . This is a sacred 

423
00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:08,150
responsibility , an obligation . You 

424
00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:11,170
should never take lightly . Our nation 

425
00:30:11,180 --> 00:30:13,770
supports our military academies because 

426
00:30:13,780 --> 00:30:15,724
our country needs strong leaders , 

427
00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,382
leaders who will serve America . Well , 

428
00:30:18,382 --> 00:30:21,130
in times of crisis , as an officer in 

429
00:30:21,140 --> 00:30:23,362
the military of the United States , you 

430
00:30:23,362 --> 00:30:25,140
will take on unique and special 

431
00:30:25,140 --> 00:30:27,790
obligations a few years ago , while I 

432
00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:29,911
was out of government , I was invited 

433
00:30:29,911 --> 00:30:31,800
to Singapore by their Minister of 

434
00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:33,967
Defense to receive an award . I had to 

435
00:30:33,967 --> 00:30:35,744
obtain permission from both the 

436
00:30:35,744 --> 00:30:37,411
Department of Defense and the 

437
00:30:37,411 --> 00:30:39,411
Department of State to accept . Not 

438
00:30:39,411 --> 00:30:41,522
because I had been an under Secretary 

439
00:30:41,522 --> 00:30:43,633
of defense . Not because I had been a 

440
00:30:43,633 --> 00:30:45,800
member of the Federal Senior Executive 

441
00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,022
Service because I had been a lieutenant 

442
00:30:48,022 --> 00:30:50,244
colonel , a commissioned officer in the 

443
00:30:50,244 --> 00:30:52,244
United States Army . It was only in 

444
00:30:52,244 --> 00:30:54,467
this capacity that I was subject to the 

445
00:30:54,467 --> 00:30:56,578
emoluments clause of the constitution 

446
00:30:56,578 --> 00:30:58,744
that restricts foreign gifts for those 

447
00:30:58,744 --> 00:31:01,189
who hold an office of trust . You are 

448
00:31:01,199 --> 00:31:04,069
now holding an office of trust , trust 

449
00:31:04,079 --> 00:31:06,300
by the American people . When you 

450
00:31:06,310 --> 00:31:08,366
accepted your commission yesterday , 

451
00:31:08,366 --> 00:31:10,532
you took on a very special role in our 

452
00:31:10,532 --> 00:31:13,150
American system . When you took your 

453
00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:15,049
oath , swearing allegiance to the 

454
00:31:15,049 --> 00:31:17,216
constitution , you accepted a duty and 

455
00:31:17,216 --> 00:31:19,160
a responsibility for honorable and 

456
00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:20,993
faithful service to the nation . 

457
00:31:21,650 --> 00:31:23,483
Whether you will be operating in 

458
00:31:23,483 --> 00:31:25,372
aircraft or spacecraft worth many 

459
00:31:25,372 --> 00:31:27,317
millions of dollars or controlling 

460
00:31:27,317 --> 00:31:29,317
weapons that could take millions of 

461
00:31:29,317 --> 00:31:31,680
lives . After today , you will be one 

462
00:31:31,689 --> 00:31:34,020
of the people our nation counts on for 

463
00:31:34,030 --> 00:31:36,469
your maturity , your professionalism , 

464
00:31:36,890 --> 00:31:39,829
your expertise , your integrity and 

465
00:31:39,839 --> 00:31:41,709
your judgment as you control our 

466
00:31:41,719 --> 00:31:44,719
nation's most powerful arms . We are 

467
00:31:44,729 --> 00:31:46,673
accepting a leadership role in the 

468
00:31:46,673 --> 00:31:48,729
military in the midst of a strategic 

469
00:31:48,729 --> 00:31:50,562
competition . That is as great a 

470
00:31:50,562 --> 00:31:53,300
challenge as we have faced in decades . 

471
00:31:53,319 --> 00:31:55,640
Certainly in my career , you will be 

472
00:31:55,650 --> 00:31:57,817
challenged to meet the requirements of 

473
00:31:57,817 --> 00:31:59,983
our current missions . While preparing 

474
00:31:59,983 --> 00:32:02,094
for an uncertain future , you will be 

475
00:32:02,094 --> 00:32:04,150
challenged to get everything you can 

476
00:32:04,150 --> 00:32:06,317
out of today's force and to help build 

477
00:32:06,317 --> 00:32:08,428
tomorrow's force . The resources will 

478
00:32:08,428 --> 00:32:09,872
always be limited and the 

479
00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,047
responsibilities will always be vast . 

480
00:32:13,099 --> 00:32:15,043
You will be challenged by changing 

481
00:32:15,043 --> 00:32:17,266
technology that alters the character of 

482
00:32:17,266 --> 00:32:19,550
war . You will need to adapt as 

483
00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:21,616
emerging technologies , create risks 

484
00:32:21,616 --> 00:32:24,709
and opportunities equally significant . 

485
00:32:25,199 --> 00:32:27,199
Our nation's parents are entrusting 

486
00:32:27,199 --> 00:32:29,032
their sons and daughters to your 

487
00:32:29,032 --> 00:32:31,900
supervision and care . As the leader of 

488
00:32:31,910 --> 00:32:34,400
character , you are now responsible for 

489
00:32:34,410 --> 00:32:36,180
creating and strengthening the 

490
00:32:36,189 --> 00:32:38,300
readiness of the units you will serve 

491
00:32:38,300 --> 00:32:41,469
in and lead as commission officers . 

492
00:32:41,479 --> 00:32:43,701
You will be responsible for the example 

493
00:32:43,701 --> 00:32:45,890
you set for the conduct of those under 

494
00:32:45,900 --> 00:32:48,219
your supervision and for shaping the 

495
00:32:48,229 --> 00:32:50,719
culture of the organizations you lead 

496
00:32:50,729 --> 00:32:54,250
are a part of as cadets . You have 

497
00:32:54,260 --> 00:32:56,204
already experienced organizational 

498
00:32:56,204 --> 00:32:58,316
cultures that you are part of shaping 

499
00:32:58,316 --> 00:33:00,969
in your squadrons in the cadet wing and 

500
00:33:00,979 --> 00:33:02,923
in other organizations here at the 

501
00:33:02,923 --> 00:33:05,709
academy starting today , you will take 

502
00:33:05,719 --> 00:33:07,775
on the responsibility every military 

503
00:33:07,775 --> 00:33:09,775
leader bears not just for their own 

504
00:33:09,780 --> 00:33:11,810
conduct but for the organizational 

505
00:33:11,819 --> 00:33:13,939
climate in your unit . And for the 

506
00:33:13,949 --> 00:33:15,838
conduct of all the people in your 

507
00:33:15,838 --> 00:33:18,709
organization , you will be the people , 

508
00:33:18,719 --> 00:33:20,941
setting the standards for the units you 

509
00:33:20,941 --> 00:33:23,300
lead . Let me give you one piece of 

510
00:33:23,310 --> 00:33:25,780
hard won leadership wisdom . Your 

511
00:33:25,790 --> 00:33:27,901
standards will not be defined by what 

512
00:33:27,910 --> 00:33:30,750
you say . It will be defined by the 

513
00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:34,020
conduct that you accept . You will also 

514
00:33:34,030 --> 00:33:35,863
begin your career at a time when 

515
00:33:35,863 --> 00:33:37,974
political polarization in our country 

516
00:33:37,974 --> 00:33:40,619
is particularly severe in the summer of 

517
00:33:40,630 --> 00:33:42,969
2020 before the election , I wrote an 

518
00:33:42,979 --> 00:33:45,201
article about what I thought the future 

519
00:33:45,201 --> 00:33:47,368
president's greatest national security 

520
00:33:47,368 --> 00:33:49,423
challenge would be . I don't know if 

521
00:33:49,430 --> 00:33:51,430
then candidate Biden never saw that 

522
00:33:51,430 --> 00:33:53,374
piece and I think it still applies 

523
00:33:53,374 --> 00:33:55,670
today . The challenge was to restore 

524
00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:57,920
mutual respect and trust in a deeply 

525
00:33:57,930 --> 00:34:00,890
divided country . I think that job is 

526
00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,709
well begun but not finished . As 

527
00:34:03,719 --> 00:34:05,941
President Lincoln , eloquently observed 

528
00:34:05,941 --> 00:34:08,108
a nation divided against itself cannot 

529
00:34:08,108 --> 00:34:10,909
stand a military divided , also cannot 

530
00:34:10,919 --> 00:34:13,479
effectively defend the nation . That 

531
00:34:13,489 --> 00:34:15,711
challenge will now be your challenge as 

532
00:34:15,711 --> 00:34:17,600
well . We are a diverse country , 

533
00:34:17,899 --> 00:34:20,399
diverse from many perspectives . And 

534
00:34:20,409 --> 00:34:22,242
after today , you will share the 

535
00:34:22,242 --> 00:34:24,298
responsibility for leading a diverse 

536
00:34:24,298 --> 00:34:26,239
American military along with our 

537
00:34:26,250 --> 00:34:29,199
commander in chief myself , John Brown 

538
00:34:29,209 --> 00:34:31,929
and General Salman . I know that you 

539
00:34:31,939 --> 00:34:33,995
are ready to face these challenges . 

540
00:34:34,139 --> 00:34:36,195
You have been educated , trained and 

541
00:34:36,195 --> 00:34:38,830
inspired by loved ones , by leaders and 

542
00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:40,951
you have put in your work to continue 

543
00:34:40,951 --> 00:34:43,229
your journey of leadership and service . 

544
00:34:43,340 --> 00:34:45,830
Congratulations . Class of 2023 . 

545
00:34:47,729 --> 00:34:49,673
It is now my pleasure and distinct 

546
00:34:49,673 --> 00:34:51,673
honor to introduce our commander in 

547
00:34:51,673 --> 00:34:53,507
chief President Biden has a long 

548
00:34:53,507 --> 00:34:55,507
history in the business of national 

549
00:34:55,507 --> 00:34:57,729
security . Serving for a dozen years as 

550
00:34:57,729 --> 00:34:59,785
a chairman , a ranking member of the 

551
00:34:59,785 --> 00:35:01,951
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and 

552
00:35:01,951 --> 00:35:04,007
eight years as vice president before 

553
00:35:04,007 --> 00:35:06,173
his election by the American people as 

554
00:35:06,173 --> 00:35:08,340
our president , ladies and gentlemen , 

555
00:35:08,340 --> 00:35:10,673
the 46th president of the United States , 

556
00:35:10,673 --> 00:35:09,580
Joe Biden , 

557
00:35:15,270 --> 00:35:16,270
the 

558
00:35:22,620 --> 00:35:23,889
the falcons . 

559
00:35:27,429 --> 00:35:28,280
Good day . 

560
00:35:31,020 --> 00:35:32,909
Great to be back at the Air Force 

561
00:35:32,909 --> 00:35:36,540
Academy at the altitude of 7258 

562
00:35:36,550 --> 00:35:40,159
ft above sea level , far , far above 

563
00:35:40,169 --> 00:35:41,969
that of West Point Annapolis . 

564
00:35:46,540 --> 00:35:49,239
I figured I should say that . So my Air 

565
00:35:49,250 --> 00:35:51,479
Force one pilots , Colonel Kirkland 

566
00:35:51,639 --> 00:35:54,060
class of 99 Colonel Donnelly class of 

567
00:35:54,070 --> 00:35:56,629
one , make sure they are willing to 

568
00:35:56,639 --> 00:36:00,449
take me back to DC . Also brought today 

569
00:36:00,459 --> 00:36:02,610
my Air Force and Space Force military 

570
00:36:02,620 --> 00:36:04,919
aides , Lieutenant Colonel John Rowe , 

571
00:36:04,959 --> 00:36:07,590
class of seven , Lieutenant Colonel 

572
00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:10,370
Anne Hughes . Class of eight . These 

573
00:36:10,379 --> 00:36:12,360
officers travel the world with me 

574
00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,704
demonstrating and I mean , this is 

575
00:36:14,704 --> 00:36:16,927
really demonstrating the values of this 

576
00:36:16,927 --> 00:36:20,699
institution every single day . It's no 

577
00:36:20,709 --> 00:36:24,570
exaggeration to say I trust my life to 

578
00:36:24,580 --> 00:36:27,340
academy graduates and some of my team 

579
00:36:27,350 --> 00:36:30,090
members have trusted their lives to 

580
00:36:30,100 --> 00:36:33,870
academy cadets . Few months ago , I 

581
00:36:33,879 --> 00:36:36,101
called to speak to my national security 

582
00:36:36,101 --> 00:36:39,500
advisor was out here , but I was told 

583
00:36:39,510 --> 00:36:43,330
he was unavailable . Turns out first 

584
00:36:43,340 --> 00:36:45,550
the Andrew diver had him out doing 

585
00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:47,449
loops and bar rolls on a glider . 

586
00:36:53,419 --> 00:36:55,800
I asked if I could do that today and 

587
00:36:55,810 --> 00:36:58,032
the secret service said no , we'll have 

588
00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:01,699
to shoot it down work . 

589
00:37:02,399 --> 00:37:04,566
Thank you , Colonel Clark . Lieutenant 

590
00:37:04,566 --> 00:37:07,129
Lieutenant General Clark , and to all 

591
00:37:07,139 --> 00:37:09,028
the faculty and staff here at the 

592
00:37:09,028 --> 00:37:10,806
Academy for your dedication and 

593
00:37:10,806 --> 00:37:12,528
commitment in shaping the next 

594
00:37:12,528 --> 00:37:14,583
generation of American air power and 

595
00:37:14,583 --> 00:37:17,520
space power . And thank you to all the 

596
00:37:17,530 --> 00:37:20,110
parents and families and sponsor 

597
00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:22,520
families out there in the stands . You 

598
00:37:22,530 --> 00:37:24,752
supported these cadets throughout their 

599
00:37:24,752 --> 00:37:27,086
lives . You taught them how to stand up . 

600
00:37:27,086 --> 00:37:29,252
Never bow , never bend , never yield , 

601
00:37:29,449 --> 00:37:33,419
inspired them to put integrity first 

602
00:37:34,399 --> 00:37:37,290
choose service over self . Sounds like 

603
00:37:37,300 --> 00:37:39,522
hyperbole , but it's literally what you 

604
00:37:39,522 --> 00:37:41,899
did to pursue excellence and all they 

605
00:37:41,909 --> 00:37:44,790
do . But I know you're bursting with 

606
00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,000
pride at what they've already 

607
00:37:47,010 --> 00:37:49,790
accomplished . So graduates give your 

608
00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,120
family round of all , stand up and give 

609
00:37:52,129 --> 00:37:53,629
them a round of applause . 

610
00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:58,909
Show them your appreciation . 

611
00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:19,429
I think you're excited . 

612
00:38:25,750 --> 00:38:27,861
The only thing your moms and dads are 

613
00:38:27,861 --> 00:38:30,028
saying is I wish I could have paid for 

614
00:38:30,028 --> 00:38:33,959
this education every 

615
00:38:33,969 --> 00:38:36,191
other graduation I do . And I've done a 

616
00:38:36,191 --> 00:38:37,802
lot of graduations , college 

617
00:38:37,802 --> 00:38:40,399
graduations . I usually say parents 

618
00:38:40,409 --> 00:38:42,520
today you all get a pay raise no more 

619
00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:46,429
tuition . But Secretary Kendall General 

620
00:38:46,439 --> 00:38:49,469
Brown General Saltzman , thank you for 

621
00:38:49,479 --> 00:38:51,479
leading our Air Force and our space 

622
00:38:51,479 --> 00:38:53,701
force to take on the missions that most 

623
00:38:53,701 --> 00:38:56,870
matter , most matter for today and the 

624
00:38:56,879 --> 00:39:00,580
future . So we can continue to 

625
00:39:00,590 --> 00:39:03,590
maintain aerospace superiority just as 

626
00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,729
we have in every US conflict in this 

627
00:39:06,739 --> 00:39:10,419
century . But graduates , you're not 

628
00:39:10,429 --> 00:39:12,540
just commissioning into the Air Force 

629
00:39:12,540 --> 00:39:14,707
and Space Force , you're commissioning 

630
00:39:14,707 --> 00:39:17,860
into a joint force . One thing working 

631
00:39:17,870 --> 00:39:19,703
more closely together across the 

632
00:39:19,703 --> 00:39:21,800
service branches than ever before in 

633
00:39:21,810 --> 00:39:25,030
new , new ways to deter if necessary 

634
00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:27,750
defeat every threat to our nation . 

635
00:39:28,520 --> 00:39:31,399
Last week , I was proud and I mean to 

636
00:39:31,409 --> 00:39:33,969
sincerely to nominate your Air Force 

637
00:39:33,979 --> 00:39:36,500
Chief General C Q Brown Junior , the 

638
00:39:36,510 --> 00:39:38,840
next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 

639
00:39:38,850 --> 00:39:42,610
staff , stand up 

640
00:39:42,620 --> 00:39:43,229
General 

641
00:39:49,969 --> 00:39:52,889
General , our country . Thank you . And 

642
00:39:52,899 --> 00:39:55,360
I look forward to working with you as 

643
00:39:55,370 --> 00:39:59,010
chairman , these graduates who have the 

644
00:39:59,020 --> 00:40:01,429
additional pride of starting their 

645
00:40:01,439 --> 00:40:03,550
careers as a service led by a general 

646
00:40:03,550 --> 00:40:05,780
that might say , but kicking American 

647
00:40:05,790 --> 00:40:08,899
airmen , I think you used that phrase 

648
00:40:11,729 --> 00:40:14,010
class of 2023 . 

649
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,949
Alright man , you better . This is a 

650
00:40:18,959 --> 00:40:22,540
day you've worked hard to reach , think 

651
00:40:22,550 --> 00:40:25,189
back to that first day of basic when 

652
00:40:25,199 --> 00:40:27,250
the bus dropped you off at the 

653
00:40:27,260 --> 00:40:29,959
footprints , didn't know what the hell 

654
00:40:29,969 --> 00:40:33,459
lied ahead . Maybe you're wondering 

655
00:40:33,469 --> 00:40:36,260
what exactly you've got yourself into . 

656
00:40:37,010 --> 00:40:39,850
And then after a few days of 

657
00:40:39,860 --> 00:40:42,909
acclimating , getting yelled at non 

658
00:40:42,919 --> 00:40:46,149
stop by your cadre here , he knows 

659
00:40:46,159 --> 00:40:49,580
words that mean it would only get worse . 

660
00:40:50,510 --> 00:40:54,030
The P T ban has been lifted as if 

661
00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:55,707
that's a good thing . Right . 

662
00:40:57,669 --> 00:41:01,560
P T ban has been lifted marching down 

663
00:41:01,570 --> 00:41:03,649
to Jack's building tent city even 

664
00:41:03,659 --> 00:41:06,110
sweeping the dirt to make it look like 

665
00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:09,439
there were hallways , you know , before 

666
00:41:09,449 --> 00:41:11,505
making a pass , the assault course , 

667
00:41:11,505 --> 00:41:15,379
fall and assault course Nunes , Nunes 

668
00:41:17,489 --> 00:41:20,060
and I tell you what , you're all crazy . 

669
00:41:20,070 --> 00:41:23,790
But anyway , kidding , remember , 

670
00:41:24,219 --> 00:41:26,899
remember the pride you felt joining the 

671
00:41:26,909 --> 00:41:30,689
flying wedge and theo the first 

672
00:41:30,699 --> 00:41:33,590
time during an acceptance day parade 

673
00:41:34,610 --> 00:41:37,000
only to face an even more difficult 

674
00:41:37,010 --> 00:41:39,399
challenge when the school year began 

675
00:41:40,350 --> 00:41:43,989
academics . It wasn't all push 

676
00:41:44,010 --> 00:41:46,770
ups and cramming for Prague week 

677
00:41:47,580 --> 00:41:49,802
though , uh to set the Guinness Book of 

678
00:41:49,802 --> 00:41:52,050
Records . World Records . Most 

679
00:41:52,060 --> 00:41:54,399
simultaneous push ups there had to be 

680
00:41:54,409 --> 00:41:57,889
an enormous amount of push ups beyond 

681
00:41:57,899 --> 00:42:01,120
you . We are . But all of you , I think 

682
00:42:01,129 --> 00:42:03,949
you had some fun along the way , may be 

683
00:42:03,959 --> 00:42:05,949
a good use of epic passes . 

684
00:42:10,659 --> 00:42:12,770
That would be reason enough to join . 

685
00:42:14,590 --> 00:42:17,360
Had a few steaks and Toni dinners 

686
00:42:17,770 --> 00:42:21,739
celebrate commitment and job drops . I 

687
00:42:21,750 --> 00:42:23,750
got to see some of you at the White 

688
00:42:23,750 --> 00:42:25,989
House a few weeks ago to celebrate 

689
00:42:26,159 --> 00:42:28,270
winning the commander in Chief trophy 

690
00:42:28,750 --> 00:42:31,409
for the 21st time 

691
00:42:38,830 --> 00:42:41,108
when I was graduating from high school . 

692
00:42:41,108 --> 00:42:44,489
300 years ago , I 

693
00:42:44,500 --> 00:42:47,000
applied to the Naval Academy 

694
00:42:48,489 --> 00:42:52,449
and I was picked by Senator . There's 

695
00:42:52,459 --> 00:42:54,515
two ways senators can pick , you can 

696
00:42:54,515 --> 00:42:57,179
pick individually or they can name 10 

697
00:42:57,189 --> 00:43:00,379
people unless the academy choose I was 

698
00:43:00,389 --> 00:43:02,556
a relatively good football player , so 

699
00:43:02,556 --> 00:43:05,959
I had a shot . I remember the day that 

700
00:43:05,969 --> 00:43:08,191
a guy named Steve Dunning from my class 

701
00:43:08,191 --> 00:43:11,729
was also nominated , drove up was about 

702
00:43:11,739 --> 00:43:13,961
seven in the morning . We were going to 

703
00:43:13,961 --> 00:43:16,128
drive down to Annapolis and I had just 

704
00:43:16,128 --> 00:43:18,070
heard the night before they had a 

705
00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:21,189
halfback named Joe Bolio won the 

706
00:43:21,199 --> 00:43:23,810
Heisman trophy and a quarterback named 

707
00:43:23,820 --> 00:43:27,040
Roger Staubach . I went to Delaware 

708
00:43:30,399 --> 00:43:34,340
Blue Horizons Rocketry team 

709
00:43:34,540 --> 00:43:36,596
managed to send the superintendent's 

710
00:43:36,596 --> 00:43:39,729
fight cap all the way to space . I 

711
00:43:39,739 --> 00:43:41,906
don't know whether he knew it or not , 

712
00:43:41,906 --> 00:43:44,017
but even more impressive . You got it 

713
00:43:44,017 --> 00:43:47,830
back some 70 miles away . Of 

714
00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:50,050
course , there may also have been 

715
00:43:50,060 --> 00:43:52,227
achievements of less sterling nature . 

716
00:43:53,340 --> 00:43:56,860
Maybe he had to do a few tours , maybe 

717
00:43:56,870 --> 00:43:59,092
you're one of the cadets who decided to 

718
00:43:59,092 --> 00:44:01,037
enjoy the view from the top of the 

719
00:44:01,037 --> 00:44:02,148
chapel on the box . 

720
00:44:05,179 --> 00:44:07,719
So before I forget , since I was one of 

721
00:44:07,729 --> 00:44:09,951
those schools at a state university , I 

722
00:44:09,951 --> 00:44:12,270
found myself in a little bit of trouble 

723
00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:15,429
a couple of times . I really wish that 

724
00:44:15,439 --> 00:44:17,661
the commander in chief had spoken at my 

725
00:44:17,661 --> 00:44:19,828
graduation because I have the power to 

726
00:44:19,828 --> 00:44:22,689
hereby waive any confinement to 

727
00:44:22,699 --> 00:44:24,255
restrictions of minor cadet 

728
00:44:24,255 --> 00:44:26,780
disciplinary systems violations . They 

729
00:44:26,790 --> 00:44:28,860
are waived , man . 

730
00:44:30,860 --> 00:44:33,082
I wish my commencement speaker had that 

731
00:44:33,082 --> 00:44:33,610
power . 

732
00:44:36,760 --> 00:44:40,340
Look after four long 

733
00:44:40,350 --> 00:44:43,239
years , you push to the limits 

734
00:44:44,090 --> 00:44:46,449
and forges into leaders of character . 

735
00:44:48,060 --> 00:44:51,419
And after finally getting to jump into 

736
00:44:51,429 --> 00:44:55,030
the fountain , you commissioned as a 

737
00:44:55,040 --> 00:44:57,207
second lieutenant in the United States 

738
00:44:57,207 --> 00:44:59,207
Air Force , the United States Space 

739
00:44:59,207 --> 00:45:01,429
Force , part of the greatest , and this 

740
00:45:01,429 --> 00:45:03,540
is not hyperbole . You're part of the 

741
00:45:03,540 --> 00:45:05,707
greatest fighting force in the history 

742
00:45:05,707 --> 00:45:07,651
of the world . That is the truth . 

743
00:45:07,651 --> 00:45:09,818
That's the God's truth . That's not an 

744
00:45:09,818 --> 00:45:12,969
exaggeration , the finest military in 

745
00:45:12,979 --> 00:45:15,600
the history of the world . And you , 

746
00:45:17,060 --> 00:45:19,030
this day is the day to celebrate . 

747
00:45:20,830 --> 00:45:22,886
And as your commander in chief , I'm 

748
00:45:22,886 --> 00:45:24,997
honored to be here as you take on the 

749
00:45:24,997 --> 00:45:26,997
duties of serving and defending our 

750
00:45:26,997 --> 00:45:29,540
nation in the years to come . You'll 

751
00:45:29,550 --> 00:45:31,772
have a memorial of you . You'll take on 

752
00:45:31,772 --> 00:45:33,939
greater responsibilities and you'll be 

753
00:45:33,939 --> 00:45:35,828
challenged even beyond everything 

754
00:45:35,828 --> 00:45:38,320
you've yet experienced . But you have 

755
00:45:38,330 --> 00:45:42,010
those mountains , you leave them as you 

756
00:45:42,020 --> 00:45:44,187
look at you , I'm sure you're gonna be 

757
00:45:44,187 --> 00:45:46,187
thinking about this a lot as you're 

758
00:45:46,187 --> 00:45:48,131
moving through your careers as you 

759
00:45:48,131 --> 00:45:50,298
leave these mountains where the air is 

760
00:45:50,298 --> 00:45:51,964
rare and to take with you the 

761
00:45:51,964 --> 00:45:53,742
confidence that your years have 

762
00:45:53,742 --> 00:45:55,798
prepared you for whatever is ahead . 

763
00:45:56,320 --> 00:45:59,590
After all your time at this proud 

764
00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:01,780
institution is defined by so much 

765
00:46:01,790 --> 00:46:05,199
history , so much tradition marked by 

766
00:46:05,209 --> 00:46:07,153
significant changes was referenced 

767
00:46:07,153 --> 00:46:09,739
earlier , unlike classes that proceeded , 

768
00:46:09,750 --> 00:46:12,370
you , you've had to adapt and overcome 

769
00:46:12,379 --> 00:46:15,360
time and again to reorient yourself 

770
00:46:15,820 --> 00:46:17,876
together with your squadron and your 

771
00:46:17,876 --> 00:46:21,320
wing and find new ways to soar has been 

772
00:46:21,330 --> 00:46:23,274
mentioned already . When COVID hit 

773
00:46:23,274 --> 00:46:26,810
during the four degree year , you had 

774
00:46:26,820 --> 00:46:29,540
to , you had to excuse me , you had to 

775
00:46:29,550 --> 00:46:33,330
rapidly redeploy back to your homes and 

776
00:46:33,340 --> 00:46:36,399
learn new ways to study and maintain 

777
00:46:36,959 --> 00:46:40,739
camaraderie during COVID COVID se 

778
00:46:41,830 --> 00:46:44,149
and by the way , I wonder how many of 

779
00:46:44,159 --> 00:46:46,159
you had to kick your brother out of 

780
00:46:46,159 --> 00:46:48,326
your room when you went back . All kid 

781
00:46:48,326 --> 00:46:50,830
inside recognition may have been cut 

782
00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:53,709
short , but it came back in the fall . 

783
00:46:54,850 --> 00:46:57,310
You did the run to the rock . You 

784
00:46:57,320 --> 00:47:00,340
earned the prop and wings just like 

785
00:47:00,350 --> 00:47:03,729
every cadet before you resilience 

786
00:47:03,840 --> 00:47:06,010
creativity , endurance commitment . 

787
00:47:06,899 --> 00:47:10,010
These have been essential parts of a 

788
00:47:10,020 --> 00:47:13,030
unique academy training . You're going 

789
00:47:13,040 --> 00:47:15,770
to need those qualities as you continue 

790
00:47:15,780 --> 00:47:18,229
your careers . Because the world you're 

791
00:47:18,239 --> 00:47:20,350
graduating into would not only change 

792
00:47:20,350 --> 00:47:23,340
you rapidly , the pace of change is 

793
00:47:23,350 --> 00:47:26,479
accelerated as well . We're seeing 

794
00:47:26,489 --> 00:47:29,209
proliferating global challenges from 

795
00:47:29,219 --> 00:47:32,100
Russia's aggression and brutality in 

796
00:47:32,110 --> 00:47:35,429
Europe for our competition with China 

797
00:47:36,149 --> 00:47:38,205
and a whole hell of a lot in between 

798
00:47:38,870 --> 00:47:41,530
from growing instability , the food 

799
00:47:41,540 --> 00:47:43,707
insecurity and natural disasters , all 

800
00:47:43,707 --> 00:47:46,399
of which are being made worse by the 

801
00:47:46,409 --> 00:47:49,120
existential threat of climate change . 

802
00:47:50,280 --> 00:47:52,502
I don't hear many of my friends anymore 

803
00:47:52,502 --> 00:47:55,330
saying there's no climate change . We 

804
00:47:55,340 --> 00:47:57,750
finally figured it out and trying to 

805
00:47:57,760 --> 00:48:01,699
push that since 1981 . But we're seeing 

806
00:48:01,709 --> 00:48:03,431
engaging technology , emerging 

807
00:48:03,439 --> 00:48:07,409
technologies , all A I from A I 

808
00:48:07,419 --> 00:48:10,600
and 3D printing that could change the 

809
00:48:10,610 --> 00:48:14,360
character of conflict itself , not 

810
00:48:14,389 --> 00:48:17,260
gonna be easy decisions . Guy I met in 

811
00:48:17,270 --> 00:48:20,739
the oval office in my office with 12 

812
00:48:20,750 --> 00:48:22,972
leading there going to be eight leading 

813
00:48:23,229 --> 00:48:27,229
scientists in the area of A I some are 

814
00:48:27,239 --> 00:48:30,870
very worried that they are can 

815
00:48:30,879 --> 00:48:34,479
actually overtake you were thinking of 

816
00:48:34,489 --> 00:48:37,340
planet . So we got a lot to deal with 

817
00:48:37,790 --> 00:48:40,530
an incredible opportunity , a lot to do 

818
00:48:40,540 --> 00:48:42,949
with . We're also working across 

819
00:48:42,959 --> 00:48:44,848
multiple domains , developing new 

820
00:48:44,848 --> 00:48:47,500
capabilities like our new next GEN B 21 

821
00:48:47,510 --> 00:48:51,320
radar . You can be flying that 

822
00:48:51,330 --> 00:48:55,290
sucker . We're going to count on you . 

823
00:48:56,040 --> 00:48:58,040
Keep us at the forefront of air and 

824
00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:01,010
space dominance , enabling an entire 

825
00:49:01,020 --> 00:49:04,750
joint force to be stronger graduates . 

826
00:49:05,350 --> 00:49:07,406
You've made a noble choice to lead a 

827
00:49:07,406 --> 00:49:11,360
life of service . Now you also shoulder 

828
00:49:11,370 --> 00:49:13,129
a great privilege and a mighty 

829
00:49:13,139 --> 00:49:16,620
responsibility . Leadership . Yeah , 

830
00:49:16,629 --> 00:49:20,169
leadership word often used in the years 

831
00:49:20,179 --> 00:49:24,159
ahead . Your airmen and guardians 

832
00:49:24,479 --> 00:49:27,340
are going to look to you for guidance 

833
00:49:27,350 --> 00:49:29,406
and inspiration because the world is 

834
00:49:29,406 --> 00:49:32,199
going to get more confusing . They'll 

835
00:49:32,209 --> 00:49:35,629
put their trust in you and you in turn 

836
00:49:35,639 --> 00:49:37,583
must strive to always be worthy of 

837
00:49:37,583 --> 00:49:39,689
their confidence . Listen to them , 

838
00:49:40,479 --> 00:49:44,110
listen to them . I've always believed 

839
00:49:44,510 --> 00:49:46,677
that America is strongest when we need 

840
00:49:46,709 --> 00:49:49,189
not only by the example of our power , 

841
00:49:49,389 --> 00:49:52,330
but by the power of our example . Let 

842
00:49:52,340 --> 00:49:55,300
me say it again . I've traveled the 

843
00:49:55,310 --> 00:49:57,143
entire world and in almost every 

844
00:49:57,143 --> 00:50:00,449
country respect us so much is not just 

845
00:50:00,459 --> 00:50:03,439
our power but the power of our example 

846
00:50:04,639 --> 00:50:08,149
and it matters , it matters . The same 

847
00:50:08,159 --> 00:50:10,209
is going to be true in your own 

848
00:50:10,219 --> 00:50:12,540
experience of leadership . No matter 

849
00:50:12,550 --> 00:50:14,606
what changes or challenges come your 

850
00:50:14,606 --> 00:50:17,370
character , your moral clarity , your 

851
00:50:17,379 --> 00:50:20,139
capabilities must never waver 

852
00:50:21,719 --> 00:50:24,709
again , not hyperbole , the nation 

853
00:50:24,719 --> 00:50:28,330
needs you genuinely need you . 

854
00:50:29,270 --> 00:50:31,603
Our world stands at an inflection point . 

855
00:50:32,330 --> 00:50:34,386
I had a professor who used to say an 

856
00:50:34,386 --> 00:50:36,610
inflection point as when you're driving 

857
00:50:36,620 --> 00:50:38,731
your car down the highway at 60 miles 

858
00:50:38,731 --> 00:50:40,953
an hour and suddenly you turn the wheel 

859
00:50:40,959 --> 00:50:44,860
10 degrees , you can never get back on 

860
00:50:44,870 --> 00:50:47,840
the same track you're on before the 

861
00:50:47,850 --> 00:50:50,679
decisions we make today are going to 

862
00:50:50,689 --> 00:50:52,689
determine what the world looks like 

863
00:50:53,129 --> 00:50:56,580
decades from now . No , graduating 

864
00:50:56,590 --> 00:50:59,649
class gets to choose the world into 

865
00:50:59,659 --> 00:51:03,209
which they graduate . Every class 

866
00:51:04,020 --> 00:51:06,969
enters the history of a nation up to 

867
00:51:06,979 --> 00:51:09,040
the point that has been written by 

868
00:51:09,050 --> 00:51:12,189
others . A few classes 

869
00:51:12,790 --> 00:51:16,310
once every several generations at the 

870
00:51:16,320 --> 00:51:18,169
point in our history where they 

871
00:51:18,179 --> 00:51:20,899
actually have a chance to change , 

872
00:51:21,409 --> 00:51:23,576
change the trajectory of the country . 

873
00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:29,379
The only reason I ran said to our 

874
00:51:29,389 --> 00:51:31,959
speaker , I read his article , 

875
00:51:33,429 --> 00:51:35,485
that's why when I ran , I said I was 

876
00:51:35,485 --> 00:51:37,485
running for three purposes , two of 

877
00:51:37,485 --> 00:51:39,709
which were to restore the character of 

878
00:51:39,719 --> 00:51:42,419
this country to , to unite it . 

879
00:51:43,750 --> 00:51:45,917
You face that inflection point today . 

880
00:51:46,659 --> 00:51:48,659
And I know you're going to meet the 

881
00:51:48,659 --> 00:51:50,659
moment to make sure that the future 

882
00:51:50,659 --> 00:51:52,159
we're building is one that 

883
00:51:52,159 --> 00:51:54,326
fundamentally aligns with our values , 

884
00:51:54,399 --> 00:51:57,699
protects America's interest to make 

885
00:51:57,709 --> 00:52:00,510
sure that our skies and orbits remain 

886
00:52:00,520 --> 00:52:03,939
open and navigable to everyone to make 

887
00:52:03,949 --> 00:52:06,560
sure that new technology used to lift 

888
00:52:06,570 --> 00:52:08,459
people up to new heights , new 

889
00:52:08,469 --> 00:52:10,959
opportunities not hold them down or 

890
00:52:10,969 --> 00:52:14,060
exploit them . And to make sure that 

891
00:52:14,070 --> 00:52:15,939
the fundamental rules of the 

892
00:52:15,949 --> 00:52:18,005
international system we put in place 

893
00:52:18,005 --> 00:52:20,171
more than seven decades ago to prevent 

894
00:52:20,171 --> 00:52:23,850
another world war are upheld and 

895
00:52:23,860 --> 00:52:26,629
strengthened to address new threats . 

896
00:52:27,969 --> 00:52:30,449
One of the greatest strengths the 

897
00:52:30,459 --> 00:52:32,681
United States of America brings to this 

898
00:52:32,681 --> 00:52:35,050
effort as one of the greatest assets 

899
00:52:35,600 --> 00:52:37,433
you will harness throughout your 

900
00:52:37,433 --> 00:52:40,919
careers . It's our unmatched network of 

901
00:52:40,929 --> 00:52:43,879
alliances and partners , allies and 

902
00:52:43,889 --> 00:52:47,149
partners . I've spent the bulk of my 

903
00:52:47,159 --> 00:52:49,560
first year just reestablishing that , 

904
00:52:50,679 --> 00:52:53,709
meeting hundreds of hours with our NATO 

905
00:52:53,719 --> 00:52:57,090
allies and others . Those nations who 

906
00:52:57,100 --> 00:53:01,090
willingly stand beside us to face down 

907
00:53:01,100 --> 00:53:04,469
threats and solve shared challenges . 

908
00:53:05,300 --> 00:53:07,356
We already gotten some sense of that 

909
00:53:08,010 --> 00:53:10,010
with the friendship and bond you've 

910
00:53:10,010 --> 00:53:12,177
built with the cadets graduating today 

911
00:53:12,679 --> 00:53:14,568
who will commission in their home 

912
00:53:14,568 --> 00:53:17,820
militaries across Europe , Middle East , 

913
00:53:17,830 --> 00:53:21,570
North Africa and the Pacific . Our 

914
00:53:21,580 --> 00:53:25,320
partnerships , amplify our strength and 

915
00:53:25,330 --> 00:53:28,570
make us more effective and don't think 

916
00:53:28,580 --> 00:53:30,691
our adversaries don't understand it . 

917
00:53:31,010 --> 00:53:34,189
So they work so hard to try to split us . 

918
00:53:35,739 --> 00:53:38,179
We , we , we've seen it over and over 

919
00:53:38,189 --> 00:53:41,330
again , especially the global support 

920
00:53:41,590 --> 00:53:44,500
for the brave people of Ukraine as they 

921
00:53:44,510 --> 00:53:46,732
defended their families and their homes 

922
00:53:46,732 --> 00:53:49,030
against Russian brutal assault . 

923
00:53:49,350 --> 00:53:52,000
Remember or said Putin was certain 

924
00:53:53,639 --> 00:53:56,750
that NATO would crack that they would 

925
00:53:56,760 --> 00:54:00,169
not stand together . We put 40 nations 

926
00:54:00,179 --> 00:54:02,540
together . The United States has 

927
00:54:02,550 --> 00:54:05,360
rallied the world to stand strong with 

928
00:54:05,370 --> 00:54:08,399
Ukraine and defend the values that the 

929
00:54:08,409 --> 00:54:11,370
American people hold so dear freedom , 

930
00:54:12,169 --> 00:54:15,219
sovereignty , democracy , simple 

931
00:54:15,229 --> 00:54:18,800
dignity . Working with a coalition of 

932
00:54:18,810 --> 00:54:21,360
more than 50 nations . We've delivered 

933
00:54:21,370 --> 00:54:23,659
historic security assistance that has 

934
00:54:23,669 --> 00:54:26,780
enabled Ukraine to defend itself . I've 

935
00:54:26,790 --> 00:54:28,957
been there many times before the war . 

936
00:54:29,520 --> 00:54:31,464
Spoke of the Rod . I've been there 

937
00:54:31,464 --> 00:54:34,030
since the war began . The United States 

938
00:54:34,040 --> 00:54:36,262
Air Force and Space Force have been the 

939
00:54:36,262 --> 00:54:39,600
backbone of that operation , providing 

940
00:54:39,610 --> 00:54:42,209
airlift capacity and logistical , know 

941
00:54:42,219 --> 00:54:44,790
how to remove artillery ammunition , 

942
00:54:44,800 --> 00:54:46,989
fighting vehicles , anti tank and air 

943
00:54:47,000 --> 00:54:49,129
defense system , providing missile 

944
00:54:49,139 --> 00:54:52,379
warning space , space is r supporting 

945
00:54:52,389 --> 00:54:55,080
communications , no other nation in the 

946
00:54:55,090 --> 00:54:58,830
world , the whole world as the 

947
00:54:58,840 --> 00:55:02,320
enabling capacity we do and what we 

948
00:55:02,330 --> 00:55:04,790
have to do to thank you 

949
00:55:06,139 --> 00:55:08,989
and your immediate predecessors . Just 

950
00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:11,167
a few weeks ago , I was with President 

951
00:55:11,167 --> 00:55:14,300
Zelinsky and here is Shima , the G7 I 

952
00:55:14,310 --> 00:55:17,459
told him we work with our partners 

953
00:55:18,129 --> 00:55:20,280
began training Ukrainian pilots in 

954
00:55:20,290 --> 00:55:22,979
Europe on fourth generation fighter 

955
00:55:22,989 --> 00:55:26,449
aircraft , including the F-16 . So 

956
00:55:26,459 --> 00:55:28,870
Ukraine can defend itself today . And 

957
00:55:28,879 --> 00:55:31,689
in the future , Ukrainian people's iron 

958
00:55:31,699 --> 00:55:35,290
resolve to live in freedom will never 

959
00:55:35,300 --> 00:55:38,570
be broken . They are incredible 

960
00:55:39,379 --> 00:55:43,280
average women and men fighting , 

961
00:55:44,209 --> 00:55:48,159
giving their lives to their country and 

962
00:55:48,169 --> 00:55:50,419
their families and the American 

963
00:55:50,429 --> 00:55:53,360
people's support for Ukraine will not 

964
00:55:53,370 --> 00:55:56,310
waver . We've always stand up for 

965
00:55:56,320 --> 00:55:58,070
democracies . Always 

966
00:56:06,429 --> 00:56:08,596
ask you to contemplate what happens if 

967
00:56:08,596 --> 00:56:12,159
it wavers and Ukraine goes down ? 

968
00:56:13,570 --> 00:56:15,570
What about Belarus ? What about the 

969
00:56:15,570 --> 00:56:17,429
rest of Eastern ? You 

970
00:56:19,139 --> 00:56:21,949
look , the G7 also demonstrated 

971
00:56:21,959 --> 00:56:24,459
remarkable unity in the world's leading 

972
00:56:24,469 --> 00:56:26,525
democracies when it comes to China , 

973
00:56:27,320 --> 00:56:29,153
United States , I've met with Xi 

974
00:56:29,153 --> 00:56:32,270
Jinping more than any more than any 

975
00:56:32,520 --> 00:56:34,659
leader in the world . Starting back 

976
00:56:34,669 --> 00:56:37,580
when I was vice President , the United 

977
00:56:37,590 --> 00:56:39,423
States does not seek conflict or 

978
00:56:39,423 --> 00:56:41,790
confrontation with China . China and 

979
00:56:41,800 --> 00:56:43,800
the United States should be able to 

980
00:56:43,800 --> 00:56:45,800
work together where we can to solve 

981
00:56:45,800 --> 00:56:47,911
some global challenges like climate . 

982
00:56:47,929 --> 00:56:50,389
But we are prepared for vigorous 

983
00:56:50,399 --> 00:56:54,179
competition and we will stand stand up 

984
00:56:54,399 --> 00:56:57,330
for our interest , for our friends and 

985
00:56:57,340 --> 00:57:00,639
for our values with our G7 partners . 

986
00:57:01,189 --> 00:57:03,245
We should a set of shared principles 

987
00:57:03,510 --> 00:57:06,709
for engaging with China and minimizing 

988
00:57:06,719 --> 00:57:09,080
the threats to our nations by 

989
00:57:09,090 --> 00:57:11,034
bolstering our economic security , 

990
00:57:11,550 --> 00:57:13,340
resisting economic coercion , 

991
00:57:14,209 --> 00:57:17,300
countering harmful practices and 

992
00:57:17,310 --> 00:57:19,989
protecting a narrow set of advanced 

993
00:57:20,000 --> 00:57:22,459
technologies critical to our national 

994
00:57:22,469 --> 00:57:26,070
security by not trading by working 

995
00:57:26,080 --> 00:57:28,136
together with nations that share the 

996
00:57:28,136 --> 00:57:30,889
most fundamental values . We multiply 

997
00:57:31,449 --> 00:57:35,010
one another's strength and firmly fix a 

998
00:57:35,020 --> 00:57:37,679
course toward our shared vision for the 

999
00:57:37,689 --> 00:57:41,050
future in every part of the world . We 

1000
00:57:41,060 --> 00:57:43,540
advanced our partnerships in concrete 

1001
00:57:43,550 --> 00:57:45,772
ways and strengthened American security 

1002
00:57:46,159 --> 00:57:48,600
in the Indo Pacific . We've deepened 

1003
00:57:48,610 --> 00:57:50,639
our alliance and our trivial 

1004
00:57:50,649 --> 00:57:54,449
cooperation with Japan and the Republic 

1005
00:57:54,459 --> 00:57:56,570
of Korea who are now talking together 

1006
00:57:56,570 --> 00:57:58,348
and working together to enhance 

1007
00:57:58,348 --> 00:58:00,340
deterrence against threats in the 

1008
00:58:00,350 --> 00:58:02,406
region including from the Democratic 

1009
00:58:02,406 --> 00:58:04,389
People's Republic of Korea . We've 

1010
00:58:04,399 --> 00:58:06,879
elevated the quad , bringing together 

1011
00:58:06,889 --> 00:58:08,778
Australia , India , Japan and the 

1012
00:58:08,778 --> 00:58:10,879
United States to advance an Indo 

1013
00:58:10,899 --> 00:58:12,621
Pacific that's free and open , 

1014
00:58:13,449 --> 00:58:16,449
prosperous and secure didn't exist 

1015
00:58:16,459 --> 00:58:20,379
before we're delivering on a , a new 

1016
00:58:20,389 --> 00:58:22,530
strategic partnership , brings the 

1017
00:58:22,540 --> 00:58:25,320
United States close together with 

1018
00:58:25,330 --> 00:58:28,159
Australia and the United Kingdom , two 

1019
00:58:28,169 --> 00:58:31,489
of our most capable allies . NATO 

1020
00:58:31,959 --> 00:58:34,669
is more energized and more united than 

1021
00:58:34,679 --> 00:58:37,110
it's been in decades . It's now even 

1022
00:58:37,120 --> 00:58:39,459
stronger with the accession of our 

1023
00:58:39,469 --> 00:58:43,340
newest ally Finland and soon Sweden 

1024
00:58:44,199 --> 00:58:46,270
the alliance as soon as possible . 

1025
00:58:49,310 --> 00:58:53,169
It will happen . I promise you working 

1026
00:58:53,179 --> 00:58:55,780
with Canada to upgrade no capabilities 

1027
00:58:56,530 --> 00:58:58,474
to ensure that North America's air 

1028
00:58:58,474 --> 00:59:00,530
defense surveillance systems are the 

1029
00:59:00,530 --> 00:59:03,290
best in the world . And in just the 

1030
00:59:03,300 --> 00:59:06,139
past 12 months , I've hosted in the 

1031
00:59:06,149 --> 00:59:08,205
United States , the leaders of every 

1032
00:59:08,205 --> 00:59:10,419
country in the western hemisphere , 

1033
00:59:10,820 --> 00:59:13,580
every country in Africa , Southeast 

1034
00:59:13,590 --> 00:59:17,360
Asia and the Pacific Islands . We are a 

1035
00:59:17,370 --> 00:59:20,770
Pacific nation . These nations may not 

1036
00:59:20,780 --> 00:59:23,189
agree with us on every issue but they 

1037
00:59:23,199 --> 00:59:25,979
want to work with us . They choose us 

1038
00:59:26,879 --> 00:59:28,935
not because of threats of coercion , 

1039
00:59:29,169 --> 00:59:31,280
but because of the common interest we 

1040
00:59:31,280 --> 00:59:33,280
pursue together to make the world a 

1041
00:59:33,280 --> 00:59:35,391
better and safer place for everyone . 

1042
00:59:35,689 --> 00:59:38,250
That , that is what the United States 

1043
00:59:38,260 --> 00:59:40,610
stands for . When people around the 

1044
00:59:40,620 --> 00:59:43,070
world see a United States gray tail 

1045
00:59:43,229 --> 00:59:45,909
flying overhead with the stars and 

1046
00:59:45,919 --> 00:59:48,429
stripes on your shoulders . They know 

1047
00:59:48,439 --> 00:59:50,949
what that means no matter where you go . 

1048
00:59:51,739 --> 00:59:55,449
Freedom , opportunity , possibilities , 

1049
00:59:55,459 --> 00:59:59,000
hope it's who we are . 

1050
00:59:59,439 --> 01:00:02,169
It's what we fight for . It's why we 

1051
01:00:02,179 --> 01:00:05,709
choose this path . So graduates 

1052
01:00:06,310 --> 01:00:08,830
as you head out , whether to graduate 

1053
01:00:08,840 --> 01:00:11,469
school or pilot training to serve as 

1054
01:00:11,479 --> 01:00:13,560
missiles or space operators , 

1055
01:00:13,919 --> 01:00:17,060
scientists or engineers never forget 

1056
01:00:17,989 --> 01:00:20,500
the sacred oath you swear and the 

1057
01:00:20,510 --> 01:00:23,600
mission you serve is something far , 

1058
01:00:23,610 --> 01:00:26,360
far greater than any person or 

1059
01:00:26,370 --> 01:00:29,020
president . It's our constitution , 

1060
01:00:29,719 --> 01:00:32,889
it's our country and it's our enduring 

1061
01:00:32,899 --> 01:00:36,679
American values . You know , we're the 

1062
01:00:36,689 --> 01:00:39,969
most unique nation in the world and say , 

1063
01:00:39,979 --> 01:00:42,035
well , everybody says , but we are , 

1064
01:00:42,239 --> 01:00:44,419
we're the only nation in the world 

1065
01:00:44,760 --> 01:00:48,629
formed . And based on an idea , an idea , 

1066
01:00:49,510 --> 01:00:51,454
every other nation in the world is 

1067
01:00:51,454 --> 01:00:53,677
formed based on things like geography , 

1068
01:00:53,770 --> 01:00:57,340
ethnicity , religion . We're the only 

1069
01:00:57,350 --> 01:01:00,689
nation building . An idea that we hold 

1070
01:01:00,699 --> 01:01:02,919
these truths to be self evident that 

1071
01:01:02,929 --> 01:01:05,151
all women and men are created equal and 

1072
01:01:05,151 --> 01:01:07,151
endowed by the creator with certain 

1073
01:01:07,151 --> 01:01:09,151
inalienable rights , life , liberty 

1074
01:01:09,151 --> 01:01:10,929
pursuit . That's the organizing 

1075
01:01:10,929 --> 01:01:12,300
principle of America . 

1076
01:01:21,729 --> 01:01:24,169
We haven't always lived up to it but we 

1077
01:01:24,179 --> 01:01:26,401
never except on one brief moment , even 

1078
01:01:26,401 --> 01:01:28,457
thought about walking away from it . 

1079
01:01:28,739 --> 01:01:30,628
Generations of our forebears have 

1080
01:01:30,628 --> 01:01:32,683
fought and sacrificed to defend it . 

1081
01:01:33,139 --> 01:01:35,600
Sacrifices . We honor earlier this week 

1082
01:01:35,780 --> 01:01:39,409
on Memorial Day , my 

1083
01:01:39,419 --> 01:01:43,000
son was an army 

1084
01:01:43,010 --> 01:01:45,719
officer major , the attorney general 

1085
01:01:45,729 --> 01:01:48,060
who sought permission to go fight with 

1086
01:01:48,070 --> 01:01:49,800
his unit in Iraq for a year . 

1087
01:01:51,459 --> 01:01:54,090
Unfortunately , the search was very 

1088
01:01:54,100 --> 01:01:57,620
close to these burn pits . He came home 

1089
01:01:57,989 --> 01:02:01,860
stage four ST and died . I 

1090
01:02:01,870 --> 01:02:03,926
remember looking at him in the bed . 

1091
01:02:03,926 --> 01:02:06,148
This is the God's truth . I had planned 

1092
01:02:06,148 --> 01:02:08,909
on saying this maybe I shouldn't . He 

1093
01:02:08,919 --> 01:02:11,370
looked at me . He said , we're talking 

1094
01:02:11,379 --> 01:02:15,290
about war . He 

1095
01:02:15,300 --> 01:02:18,780
said , dad , he was Attorney General . 

1096
01:02:19,310 --> 01:02:21,477
Odds on favored to become the governor 

1097
01:02:22,379 --> 01:02:24,435
said , dad , the proudest thing I've 

1098
01:02:24,435 --> 01:02:26,657
ever done in my life is putting on that 

1099
01:02:26,657 --> 01:02:30,590
uniform , proudest thing just 

1100
01:02:30,600 --> 01:02:32,767
before he passed it . I'm not afraid , 

1101
01:02:33,860 --> 01:02:37,340
I'm not afraid that's what you all are 

1102
01:02:37,350 --> 01:02:41,239
made of as well . Right ? 

1103
01:02:43,000 --> 01:02:45,889
Fried . Not in yourself and what you're 

1104
01:02:45,899 --> 01:02:49,699
fighting for . It's a sacred charge 

1105
01:02:51,030 --> 01:02:54,540
that you now inherit as well . This 

1106
01:02:54,550 --> 01:02:58,030
year marked the 75th anniversary , this 

1107
01:02:58,040 --> 01:03:01,850
year of an integrated force . The 

1108
01:03:01,860 --> 01:03:04,649
75th anniversary of women serving in 

1109
01:03:04,659 --> 01:03:07,909
the forest , the 50 th anniversary of 

1110
01:03:07,919 --> 01:03:10,320
an all volunteer military . 

1111
01:03:12,510 --> 01:03:16,209
And your class is one of the most 

1112
01:03:16,219 --> 01:03:18,386
diverse classes in the history of this 

1113
01:03:18,386 --> 01:03:20,441
academy or any academy to graduate . 

1114
01:03:20,441 --> 01:03:23,060
That's why we're strong . That's why 

1115
01:03:23,070 --> 01:03:25,629
we're who we are . That's why we'll 

1116
01:03:25,639 --> 01:03:27,939
never give up . That's why 

1117
01:03:31,330 --> 01:03:33,497
we also recognize that with every step 

1118
01:03:33,497 --> 01:03:35,274
we've taken to harness the full 

1119
01:03:35,274 --> 01:03:37,909
diversity of our nation to tap more of 

1120
01:03:37,929 --> 01:03:40,179
our indomitable American spirit . Our 

1121
01:03:40,280 --> 01:03:43,239
armed forces have only grown stronger , 

1122
01:03:43,570 --> 01:03:46,419
more effective and more admired . The 

1123
01:03:46,429 --> 01:03:49,510
same is true of this institution . This 

1124
01:03:49,520 --> 01:03:51,576
year's graduating class is among the 

1125
01:03:51,576 --> 01:03:53,687
most diverse in our academy history . 

1126
01:03:53,687 --> 01:03:55,353
You're graduating the highest 

1127
01:03:55,353 --> 01:03:57,570
percentage of women , by the way I met 

1128
01:03:57,580 --> 01:03:59,820
with uh who are those guys that fly 

1129
01:03:59,830 --> 01:04:02,052
over shortly ? You heard them , haven't 

1130
01:04:02,052 --> 01:04:04,389
you ? Three of them were women ? 

1131
01:04:10,379 --> 01:04:14,060
So don't screw around guys and the 

1132
01:04:14,070 --> 01:04:16,729
highest percentage of minority cadets 

1133
01:04:16,739 --> 01:04:19,939
in history . You're strengthening force , 

1134
01:04:19,949 --> 01:04:23,100
a force that depends , depends on 

1135
01:04:23,110 --> 01:04:25,850
American values and reflect America 

1136
01:04:25,860 --> 01:04:28,169
itself . And each of you has an 

1137
01:04:28,179 --> 01:04:30,209
obligation to treat the armor 

1138
01:04:31,370 --> 01:04:33,760
guardians , you lead and everyone you 

1139
01:04:33,770 --> 01:04:36,090
encounter with dignity , your honor 

1140
01:04:36,100 --> 01:04:39,139
code says we will not lie , steal or 

1141
01:04:39,149 --> 01:04:42,050
cheat or tolerate among us . Anyone who 

1142
01:04:42,060 --> 01:04:45,909
does so it's on all of you to 

1143
01:04:45,919 --> 01:04:48,086
root out the scourge of sexual assault 

1144
01:04:48,086 --> 01:04:50,889
and harassment in the military . They 

1145
01:04:50,899 --> 01:04:53,780
never tolerated among , never tolerated 

1146
01:04:54,340 --> 01:04:56,451
to make sure that every member of our 

1147
01:04:56,451 --> 01:04:58,562
forces , no matter who they are , who 

1148
01:04:58,562 --> 01:05:00,784
they love , feels safe and respected in 

1149
01:05:00,784 --> 01:05:03,530
the ranks . Class of 2023 

1150
01:05:05,110 --> 01:05:08,149
you've been trained to lead to set an 

1151
01:05:08,159 --> 01:05:10,381
example of your leadership for others . 

1152
01:05:11,229 --> 01:05:13,669
You've been given the skill set to 

1153
01:05:13,679 --> 01:05:15,520
think clearly and make strategic 

1154
01:05:15,530 --> 01:05:18,810
decisions and to do what is right under 

1155
01:05:18,820 --> 01:05:21,219
pressure . You've earned the trust and 

1156
01:05:21,229 --> 01:05:24,290
respect of your fellow cadets and your 

1157
01:05:24,300 --> 01:05:27,409
instructors . You are 

1158
01:05:28,360 --> 01:05:31,020
the very embodiment of the American 

1159
01:05:31,030 --> 01:05:34,479
Military of Excellence and you are 

1160
01:05:34,489 --> 01:05:37,889
ready for anything . Any , 

1161
01:05:39,209 --> 01:05:42,449
as I look out today , I give him my 

1162
01:05:42,459 --> 01:05:44,570
word as a bi and I've never been more 

1163
01:05:44,570 --> 01:05:46,909
optimistic . Never been more optimistic 

1164
01:05:46,919 --> 01:05:49,899
about the future of this country . No 

1165
01:05:49,909 --> 01:05:52,459
small part because of you . I mean it 

1166
01:05:52,469 --> 01:05:55,350
sincerely , four years ago , you 

1167
01:05:55,360 --> 01:05:59,139
arrived as individuals today . You're 

1168
01:05:59,149 --> 01:06:02,399
part of a long blue line . Future 

1169
01:06:02,409 --> 01:06:04,131
generations will stand in your 

1170
01:06:04,131 --> 01:06:07,780
footsteps , strive to meet the heights 

1171
01:06:07,790 --> 01:06:10,500
of your , of your expectations , draw 

1172
01:06:10,510 --> 01:06:13,590
inspiration of the example of honor and 

1173
01:06:13,600 --> 01:06:16,550
integrity you're going to set held 

1174
01:06:16,560 --> 01:06:19,149
aloft by the core values you learned 

1175
01:06:19,159 --> 01:06:22,209
here , our Air Force , our space force , 

1176
01:06:22,219 --> 01:06:24,330
our joint force . Indeed , our nation 

1177
01:06:24,340 --> 01:06:28,070
is safe and steady hands with all of 

1178
01:06:28,080 --> 01:06:32,070
you . May God protect you all 

1179
01:06:32,090 --> 01:06:34,719
as you set out in your journeys . And 

1180
01:06:34,729 --> 01:06:38,620
remember , remember never 

1181
01:06:38,629 --> 01:06:42,169
been , never buy never you . 

1182
01:06:42,820 --> 01:06:46,770
And remember who we are . May the Lord 

1183
01:06:46,780 --> 01:06:49,189
God and guide the ones who fly through 

1184
01:06:49,199 --> 01:06:52,560
great space in the sky and may God 

1185
01:06:52,570 --> 01:06:54,848
protect all those who wear the uniform . 

1186
01:06:55,250 --> 01:06:58,360
United States of America . Let us hear 

1187
01:06:58,370 --> 01:07:01,510
us one more time . The class of 

1188
01:07:01,520 --> 01:07:03,030
2023 

1189
01:07:48,459 --> 01:07:51,189
ladies and gentlemen , the cadet class 

1190
01:07:51,199 --> 01:07:54,709
president for 2023 cadet first 

1191
01:07:54,719 --> 01:07:57,949
class Yusa bomber , the summer cadet 

1192
01:07:57,959 --> 01:08:00,429
wing commander , cadet , first class 

1193
01:08:00,439 --> 01:08:03,090
Julia Gunlock , the fall cadet wing 

1194
01:08:03,100 --> 01:08:05,139
commander , cadet first class 

1195
01:08:05,149 --> 01:08:07,770
Christopher Von Hos and the spring 

1196
01:08:07,780 --> 01:08:10,620
cadet wing commander cadet first class 

1197
01:08:10,629 --> 01:08:12,939
Eric Kenneth will present the class 

1198
01:08:12,949 --> 01:08:14,949
gift to the president of the United 

1199
01:08:14,949 --> 01:08:15,590
States 

1200
01:08:30,668 --> 01:08:32,838
President Biden for your dedicated 

1201
01:08:32,849 --> 01:08:35,139
service to our nation , to the United 

1202
01:08:35,148 --> 01:08:37,092
States Air Force and to the United 

1203
01:08:37,092 --> 01:08:39,249
States Air Force Academy . It is with 

1204
01:08:39,258 --> 01:08:41,258
great pride that today's graduating 

1205
01:08:41,258 --> 01:08:43,969
class designates you by acclamation , 

1206
01:08:44,208 --> 01:08:46,430
an honorary member of the United States 

1207
01:08:46,430 --> 01:08:49,969
Air Force Academy's class of 2023 

1208
01:08:51,830 --> 01:08:55,720
right ? As tangible evidence of 

1209
01:08:55,729 --> 01:08:58,040
that honor . We ask that you accept 

1210
01:08:58,049 --> 01:09:00,271
this painting by Steve Weed . On behalf 

1211
01:09:00,279 --> 01:09:02,557
of the United States Air Force Academy , 

1212
01:09:02,557 --> 01:09:04,779
we will also present you with our class 

1213
01:09:04,779 --> 01:09:06,799
coin as a token of our appreciation