WEBVTT

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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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spotted four big 17 s over the downed

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air crew and in true American fighter

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pilot fashion , he thought four of them .

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One of me , the odds are in my favor .

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He attacked the formation , damaging

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one of the one of the aircraft and

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driving the others away from the scene .

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Major Thor did not falter and he did

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not fail . He later received the

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congressional medal of honor for his

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heroism . But his sacrifices did not

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end there 11 days after that mission ,

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he was shot down and captured by the

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Viet Cong becoming a prisoner of war

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for over six years . He never gave up .

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And once again , he did not falter , he

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did not fail . Now , during your time

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at the Air Force Academy , I saw first

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hand the hardship of the class of 2023

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had and how you reflected the qualities

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of your exemplar like Leo Thor , you

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did not falter and you did not fail .

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You saw challenges like no other class

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before you . During your first year ,

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you found yourselves in the middle of a

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worldwide pandemic . And we sent you to

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sent you home to learn virtually the

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deans staff and faculty pivoted on a

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dime and moved from in person

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curriculum to distance learning let's

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be honest . How many times did you

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forget to hit the mute button or how

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many times did you wear COVID casual ,

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which is uniform on top DJ s on the

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bottom ? You know , you did it . But

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that was the world we were in then in

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the middle of the pandemic . When the

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situation was uncertain and

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uncomfortable , we brought you back to

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us , a other universities were forced

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to shut down but we couldn't because

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your country needed you . This was a

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heavy lift , but we made it happen .

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You made it happen , there were

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challenges and still you lifted up one

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another . You adapted and you set the

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example as upper class men , you

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stepped up , you pulled the wing

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through this huge change and you

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brought us back to normalcy . I'm proud

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to say you didn't just survive . You

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thrived militarily . You stood up

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combat survival training . After a 10

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year hiatus , you were laser focused on

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future conflict and you led our school

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in the development of leaders of

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character to win our nation's wars .

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Your class is graduating with a

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cumulative GPA of 3.11 .

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So I guess that means you all made the

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dean's list . It's awesome . See here

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in your ranks , you have a Rhodes

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scholar , a Marshall scholar , two

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Truman scholars , two Fulbright

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scholars and over 230 of you have been

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selected to go on to get your advanced

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degrees next year and on the fields of

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friendly strife . Just in the last year ,

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you won four conference championships .

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You had 49 all American athletes and

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you ranked 42 out of 325 schools in the

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LA field Cup competition , which is a

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compilation of all NCAA sporting

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competitions . This placed you number

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one in the Mountain West Conference and

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number one among all service academies

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far , far above West Point and

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Annapolis .

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And not to mention you brought home the

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commander in chief trophy . Thank you

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for that .

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I am so honored to be your

26:54.160 --> 26:56.216
superintendent because when the odds

26:56.216 --> 26:58.770
were against you , you did not falter ,

26:59.079 --> 27:01.859
you did not fail and you not only

27:01.869 --> 27:05.290
survived but you thrived . And it's my

27:05.300 --> 27:07.300
honor to serve alongside you in the

27:07.300 --> 27:09.699
mightiest military force in the world .

27:10.400 --> 27:12.800
There is absolutely no doubt that you

27:12.810 --> 27:14.921
left this institution better than you

27:14.921 --> 27:17.050
found it . And there is no doubt that

27:17.060 --> 27:19.282
you are ready to support and defend the

27:19.282 --> 27:21.670
constitution of the greatest country on

27:21.680 --> 27:24.260
the planet on behalf of our entire

27:24.270 --> 27:27.300
academy community . Thank you and

27:27.310 --> 27:29.640
congratulations to the United States

27:29.650 --> 27:32.109
Air Force class of 2023 .

27:41.420 --> 27:43.587
And now , ladies and gentlemen , it is

27:43.587 --> 27:45.587
my distinct pleasure to welcome the

27:45.587 --> 27:47.589
26th Secretary of the Air Force ,

27:49.770 --> 27:53.339
the honorable Frank Kendall . Sir .

27:53.500 --> 27:55.333
We are proud to have you here to

27:55.333 --> 27:57.569
celebrate these amazing cadets , these

27:57.579 --> 28:01.020
resilient cadets and an incredible

28:01.030 --> 28:03.219
group of leaders . Thank you , sir ,

28:10.839 --> 28:12.839
General Clark could not resist that

28:12.839 --> 28:14.895
little West Point thing . Could he ?

28:16.290 --> 28:19.219
Congratulations . Class of 2023 .

28:21.760 --> 28:24.069
Congratulations . Also to the parents ,

28:24.079 --> 28:26.920
family members , loved ones and friends

28:26.930 --> 28:30.449
of the class . Well done , Mr President .

28:31.030 --> 28:33.329
Thank you for being here today to help

28:33.339 --> 28:35.506
launch these outstanding young men and

28:35.506 --> 28:37.506
women onto their careers in the Air

28:37.506 --> 28:40.839
Force and Space Force Clark and the

28:40.849 --> 28:43.069
entire US Air Force Academy leadership

28:43.079 --> 28:45.680
team and staff . Thank you for your

28:45.689 --> 28:47.856
leadership as you have work to prepare

28:47.856 --> 28:49.745
this class for a bright future of

28:49.745 --> 28:52.390
service to our country . It does not

28:52.400 --> 28:54.622
escape my notice that I just may not be

28:54.622 --> 28:56.733
the speaker . You are most interested

28:56.733 --> 28:58.956
in hearing from today . I promise to be

28:58.956 --> 29:01.122
brief . There are a few things I would

29:01.122 --> 29:03.209
like to say to the class of

29:04.160 --> 29:05.170
2023

29:10.400 --> 29:12.359
first . I want to encourage you to

29:12.369 --> 29:14.800
savor this moment . It marks a major

29:14.810 --> 29:17.032
accomplishment in your lives and it's a

29:17.032 --> 29:19.310
culmination of years of work and study .

29:19.880 --> 29:21.602
You have overcome some serious

29:21.602 --> 29:23.713
obstacles and challenges to have been

29:23.713 --> 29:25.824
admitted to and to be graduating from

29:25.824 --> 29:27.991
one of our nation's military academies

29:28.699 --> 29:30.969
are joining a select group of military

29:30.979 --> 29:33.250
academy graduates , a group from which

29:33.260 --> 29:35.427
some of our nation's most accomplished

29:35.427 --> 29:38.479
leaders have come as you celebrate . I

29:38.489 --> 29:40.322
would also like you to give some

29:40.322 --> 29:42.045
thought to the new and awesome

29:42.045 --> 29:44.267
responsibilities that are about to rest

29:44.267 --> 29:46.569
on your shoulders . The mission of the

29:46.579 --> 29:48.900
Air Force Academy is to build leaders

29:48.910 --> 29:52.660
of character . Now , you will have the

29:52.670 --> 29:54.949
mission of being leaders of character .

29:56.290 --> 29:58.401
United States taxpayers paid for your

29:58.401 --> 30:00.750
education are now entrusting you with

30:00.760 --> 30:02.816
our national security and with their

30:02.816 --> 30:05.630
safety and freedom . This is a sacred

30:05.640 --> 30:08.150
responsibility , an obligation . You

30:08.160 --> 30:11.170
should never take lightly . Our nation

30:11.180 --> 30:13.770
supports our military academies because

30:13.780 --> 30:15.724
our country needs strong leaders ,

30:16.160 --> 30:18.382
leaders who will serve America . Well ,

30:18.382 --> 30:21.130
in times of crisis , as an officer in

30:21.140 --> 30:23.362
the military of the United States , you

30:23.362 --> 30:25.140
will take on unique and special

30:25.140 --> 30:27.790
obligations a few years ago , while I

30:27.800 --> 30:29.911
was out of government , I was invited

30:29.911 --> 30:31.800
to Singapore by their Minister of

30:31.800 --> 30:33.967
Defense to receive an award . I had to

30:33.967 --> 30:35.744
obtain permission from both the

30:35.744 --> 30:37.411
Department of Defense and the

30:37.411 --> 30:39.411
Department of State to accept . Not

30:39.411 --> 30:41.522
because I had been an under Secretary

30:41.522 --> 30:43.633
of defense . Not because I had been a

30:43.633 --> 30:45.800
member of the Federal Senior Executive

30:45.800 --> 30:48.022
Service because I had been a lieutenant

30:48.022 --> 30:50.244
colonel , a commissioned officer in the

30:50.244 --> 30:52.244
United States Army . It was only in

30:52.244 --> 30:54.467
this capacity that I was subject to the

30:54.467 --> 30:56.578
emoluments clause of the constitution

30:56.578 --> 30:58.744
that restricts foreign gifts for those

30:58.744 --> 31:01.189
who hold an office of trust . You are

31:01.199 --> 31:04.069
now holding an office of trust , trust

31:04.079 --> 31:06.300
by the American people . When you

31:06.310 --> 31:08.366
accepted your commission yesterday ,

31:08.366 --> 31:10.532
you took on a very special role in our

31:10.532 --> 31:13.150
American system . When you took your

31:13.160 --> 31:15.049
oath , swearing allegiance to the

31:15.049 --> 31:17.216
constitution , you accepted a duty and

31:17.216 --> 31:19.160
a responsibility for honorable and

31:19.160 --> 31:20.993
faithful service to the nation .

31:21.650 --> 31:23.483
Whether you will be operating in

31:23.483 --> 31:25.372
aircraft or spacecraft worth many

31:25.372 --> 31:27.317
millions of dollars or controlling

31:27.317 --> 31:29.317
weapons that could take millions of

31:29.317 --> 31:31.680
lives . After today , you will be one

31:31.689 --> 31:34.020
of the people our nation counts on for

31:34.030 --> 31:36.469
your maturity , your professionalism ,

31:36.890 --> 31:39.829
your expertise , your integrity and

31:39.839 --> 31:41.709
your judgment as you control our

31:41.719 --> 31:44.719
nation's most powerful arms . We are

31:44.729 --> 31:46.673
accepting a leadership role in the

31:46.673 --> 31:48.729
military in the midst of a strategic

31:48.729 --> 31:50.562
competition . That is as great a

31:50.562 --> 31:53.300
challenge as we have faced in decades .

31:53.319 --> 31:55.640
Certainly in my career , you will be

31:55.650 --> 31:57.817
challenged to meet the requirements of

31:57.817 --> 31:59.983
our current missions . While preparing

31:59.983 --> 32:02.094
for an uncertain future , you will be

32:02.094 --> 32:04.150
challenged to get everything you can

32:04.150 --> 32:06.317
out of today's force and to help build

32:06.317 --> 32:08.428
tomorrow's force . The resources will

32:08.428 --> 32:09.872
always be limited and the

32:09.880 --> 32:12.047
responsibilities will always be vast .

32:13.099 --> 32:15.043
You will be challenged by changing

32:15.043 --> 32:17.266
technology that alters the character of

32:17.266 --> 32:19.550
war . You will need to adapt as

32:19.560 --> 32:21.616
emerging technologies , create risks

32:21.616 --> 32:24.709
and opportunities equally significant .

32:25.199 --> 32:27.199
Our nation's parents are entrusting

32:27.199 --> 32:29.032
their sons and daughters to your

32:29.032 --> 32:31.900
supervision and care . As the leader of

32:31.910 --> 32:34.400
character , you are now responsible for

32:34.410 --> 32:36.180
creating and strengthening the

32:36.189 --> 32:38.300
readiness of the units you will serve

32:38.300 --> 32:41.469
in and lead as commission officers .

32:41.479 --> 32:43.701
You will be responsible for the example

32:43.701 --> 32:45.890
you set for the conduct of those under

32:45.900 --> 32:48.219
your supervision and for shaping the

32:48.229 --> 32:50.719
culture of the organizations you lead

32:50.729 --> 32:54.250
are a part of as cadets . You have

32:54.260 --> 32:56.204
already experienced organizational

32:56.204 --> 32:58.316
cultures that you are part of shaping

32:58.316 --> 33:00.969
in your squadrons in the cadet wing and

33:00.979 --> 33:02.923
in other organizations here at the

33:02.923 --> 33:05.709
academy starting today , you will take

33:05.719 --> 33:07.775
on the responsibility every military

33:07.775 --> 33:09.775
leader bears not just for their own

33:09.780 --> 33:11.810
conduct but for the organizational

33:11.819 --> 33:13.939
climate in your unit . And for the

33:13.949 --> 33:15.838
conduct of all the people in your

33:15.838 --> 33:18.709
organization , you will be the people ,

33:18.719 --> 33:20.941
setting the standards for the units you

33:20.941 --> 33:23.300
lead . Let me give you one piece of

33:23.310 --> 33:25.780
hard won leadership wisdom . Your

33:25.790 --> 33:27.901
standards will not be defined by what

33:27.910 --> 33:30.750
you say . It will be defined by the

33:30.760 --> 33:34.020
conduct that you accept . You will also

33:34.030 --> 33:35.863
begin your career at a time when

33:35.863 --> 33:37.974
political polarization in our country

33:37.974 --> 33:40.619
is particularly severe in the summer of

33:40.630 --> 33:42.969
2020 before the election , I wrote an

33:42.979 --> 33:45.201
article about what I thought the future

33:45.201 --> 33:47.368
president's greatest national security

33:47.368 --> 33:49.423
challenge would be . I don't know if

33:49.430 --> 33:51.430
then candidate Biden never saw that

33:51.430 --> 33:53.374
piece and I think it still applies

33:53.374 --> 33:55.670
today . The challenge was to restore

33:55.680 --> 33:57.920
mutual respect and trust in a deeply

33:57.930 --> 34:00.890
divided country . I think that job is

34:00.900 --> 34:03.709
well begun but not finished . As

34:03.719 --> 34:05.941
President Lincoln , eloquently observed

34:05.941 --> 34:08.108
a nation divided against itself cannot

34:08.108 --> 34:10.909
stand a military divided , also cannot

34:10.919 --> 34:13.479
effectively defend the nation . That

34:13.489 --> 34:15.711
challenge will now be your challenge as

34:15.711 --> 34:17.600
well . We are a diverse country ,

34:17.899 --> 34:20.399
diverse from many perspectives . And

34:20.409 --> 34:22.242
after today , you will share the

34:22.242 --> 34:24.298
responsibility for leading a diverse

34:24.298 --> 34:26.239
American military along with our

34:26.250 --> 34:29.199
commander in chief myself , John Brown

34:29.209 --> 34:31.929
and General Salman . I know that you

34:31.939 --> 34:33.995
are ready to face these challenges .

34:34.139 --> 34:36.195
You have been educated , trained and

34:36.195 --> 34:38.830
inspired by loved ones , by leaders and

34:38.840 --> 34:40.951
you have put in your work to continue

34:40.951 --> 34:43.229
your journey of leadership and service .

34:43.340 --> 34:45.830
Congratulations . Class of 2023 .

34:47.729 --> 34:49.673
It is now my pleasure and distinct

34:49.673 --> 34:51.673
honor to introduce our commander in

34:51.673 --> 34:53.507
chief President Biden has a long

34:53.507 --> 34:55.507
history in the business of national

34:55.507 --> 34:57.729
security . Serving for a dozen years as

34:57.729 --> 34:59.785
a chairman , a ranking member of the

34:59.785 --> 35:01.951
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and

35:01.951 --> 35:04.007
eight years as vice president before

35:04.007 --> 35:06.173
his election by the American people as

35:06.173 --> 35:08.340
our president , ladies and gentlemen ,

35:08.340 --> 35:10.673
the 46th president of the United States ,

35:10.673 --> 35:09.580
Joe Biden ,

35:15.270 --> 35:16.270
the

35:22.620 --> 35:23.889
the falcons .

35:27.429 --> 35:28.280
Good day .

35:31.020 --> 35:32.909
Great to be back at the Air Force

35:32.909 --> 35:36.540
Academy at the altitude of 7258

35:36.550 --> 35:40.159
ft above sea level , far , far above

35:40.169 --> 35:41.969
that of West Point Annapolis .

35:46.540 --> 35:49.239
I figured I should say that . So my Air

35:49.250 --> 35:51.479
Force one pilots , Colonel Kirkland

35:51.639 --> 35:54.060
class of 99 Colonel Donnelly class of

35:54.070 --> 35:56.629
one , make sure they are willing to

35:56.639 --> 36:00.449
take me back to DC . Also brought today

36:00.459 --> 36:02.610
my Air Force and Space Force military

36:02.620 --> 36:04.919
aides , Lieutenant Colonel John Rowe ,

36:04.959 --> 36:07.590
class of seven , Lieutenant Colonel

36:07.600 --> 36:10.370
Anne Hughes . Class of eight . These

36:10.379 --> 36:12.360
officers travel the world with me

36:12.760 --> 36:14.704
demonstrating and I mean , this is

36:14.704 --> 36:16.927
really demonstrating the values of this

36:16.927 --> 36:20.699
institution every single day . It's no

36:20.709 --> 36:24.570
exaggeration to say I trust my life to

36:24.580 --> 36:27.340
academy graduates and some of my team

36:27.350 --> 36:30.090
members have trusted their lives to

36:30.100 --> 36:33.870
academy cadets . Few months ago , I

36:33.879 --> 36:36.101
called to speak to my national security

36:36.101 --> 36:39.500
advisor was out here , but I was told

36:39.510 --> 36:43.330
he was unavailable . Turns out first

36:43.340 --> 36:45.550
the Andrew diver had him out doing

36:45.560 --> 36:47.449
loops and bar rolls on a glider .

36:53.419 --> 36:55.800
I asked if I could do that today and

36:55.810 --> 36:58.032
the secret service said no , we'll have

36:58.040 --> 37:01.699
to shoot it down work .

37:02.399 --> 37:04.566
Thank you , Colonel Clark . Lieutenant

37:04.566 --> 37:07.129
Lieutenant General Clark , and to all

37:07.139 --> 37:09.028
the faculty and staff here at the

37:09.028 --> 37:10.806
Academy for your dedication and

37:10.806 --> 37:12.528
commitment in shaping the next

37:12.528 --> 37:14.583
generation of American air power and

37:14.583 --> 37:17.520
space power . And thank you to all the

37:17.530 --> 37:20.110
parents and families and sponsor

37:20.120 --> 37:22.520
families out there in the stands . You

37:22.530 --> 37:24.752
supported these cadets throughout their

37:24.752 --> 37:27.086
lives . You taught them how to stand up .

37:27.086 --> 37:29.252
Never bow , never bend , never yield ,

37:29.449 --> 37:33.419
inspired them to put integrity first

37:34.399 --> 37:37.290
choose service over self . Sounds like

37:37.300 --> 37:39.522
hyperbole , but it's literally what you

37:39.522 --> 37:41.899
did to pursue excellence and all they

37:41.909 --> 37:44.790
do . But I know you're bursting with

37:44.800 --> 37:47.000
pride at what they've already

37:47.010 --> 37:49.790
accomplished . So graduates give your

37:49.800 --> 37:52.120
family round of all , stand up and give

37:52.129 --> 37:53.629
them a round of applause .

37:57.120 --> 37:58.909
Show them your appreciation .

38:18.040 --> 38:19.429
I think you're excited .

38:25.750 --> 38:27.861
The only thing your moms and dads are

38:27.861 --> 38:30.028
saying is I wish I could have paid for

38:30.028 --> 38:33.959
this education every

38:33.969 --> 38:36.191
other graduation I do . And I've done a

38:36.191 --> 38:37.802
lot of graduations , college

38:37.802 --> 38:40.399
graduations . I usually say parents

38:40.409 --> 38:42.520
today you all get a pay raise no more

38:42.520 --> 38:46.429
tuition . But Secretary Kendall General

38:46.439 --> 38:49.469
Brown General Saltzman , thank you for

38:49.479 --> 38:51.479
leading our Air Force and our space

38:51.479 --> 38:53.701
force to take on the missions that most

38:53.701 --> 38:56.870
matter , most matter for today and the

38:56.879 --> 39:00.580
future . So we can continue to

39:00.590 --> 39:03.590
maintain aerospace superiority just as

39:03.600 --> 39:06.729
we have in every US conflict in this

39:06.739 --> 39:10.419
century . But graduates , you're not

39:10.429 --> 39:12.540
just commissioning into the Air Force

39:12.540 --> 39:14.707
and Space Force , you're commissioning

39:14.707 --> 39:17.860
into a joint force . One thing working

39:17.870 --> 39:19.703
more closely together across the

39:19.703 --> 39:21.800
service branches than ever before in

39:21.810 --> 39:25.030
new , new ways to deter if necessary

39:25.040 --> 39:27.750
defeat every threat to our nation .

39:28.520 --> 39:31.399
Last week , I was proud and I mean to

39:31.409 --> 39:33.969
sincerely to nominate your Air Force

39:33.979 --> 39:36.500
Chief General C Q Brown Junior , the

39:36.510 --> 39:38.840
next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

39:38.850 --> 39:42.610
staff , stand up

39:42.620 --> 39:43.229
General

39:49.969 --> 39:52.889
General , our country . Thank you . And

39:52.899 --> 39:55.360
I look forward to working with you as

39:55.370 --> 39:59.010
chairman , these graduates who have the

39:59.020 --> 40:01.429
additional pride of starting their

40:01.439 --> 40:03.550
careers as a service led by a general

40:03.550 --> 40:05.780
that might say , but kicking American

40:05.790 --> 40:08.899
airmen , I think you used that phrase

40:11.729 --> 40:14.010
class of 2023 .

40:16.000 --> 40:18.949
Alright man , you better . This is a

40:18.959 --> 40:22.540
day you've worked hard to reach , think

40:22.550 --> 40:25.189
back to that first day of basic when

40:25.199 --> 40:27.250
the bus dropped you off at the

40:27.260 --> 40:29.959
footprints , didn't know what the hell

40:29.969 --> 40:33.459
lied ahead . Maybe you're wondering

40:33.469 --> 40:36.260
what exactly you've got yourself into .

40:37.010 --> 40:39.850
And then after a few days of

40:39.860 --> 40:42.909
acclimating , getting yelled at non

40:42.919 --> 40:46.149
stop by your cadre here , he knows

40:46.159 --> 40:49.580
words that mean it would only get worse .

40:50.510 --> 40:54.030
The P T ban has been lifted as if

40:54.040 --> 40:55.707
that's a good thing . Right .

40:57.669 --> 41:01.560
P T ban has been lifted marching down

41:01.570 --> 41:03.649
to Jack's building tent city even

41:03.659 --> 41:06.110
sweeping the dirt to make it look like

41:06.120 --> 41:09.439
there were hallways , you know , before

41:09.449 --> 41:11.505
making a pass , the assault course ,

41:11.505 --> 41:15.379
fall and assault course Nunes , Nunes

41:17.489 --> 41:20.060
and I tell you what , you're all crazy .

41:20.070 --> 41:23.790
But anyway , kidding , remember ,

41:24.219 --> 41:26.899
remember the pride you felt joining the

41:26.909 --> 41:30.689
flying wedge and theo the first

41:30.699 --> 41:33.590
time during an acceptance day parade

41:34.610 --> 41:37.000
only to face an even more difficult

41:37.010 --> 41:39.399
challenge when the school year began

41:40.350 --> 41:43.989
academics . It wasn't all push

41:44.010 --> 41:46.770
ups and cramming for Prague week

41:47.580 --> 41:49.802
though , uh to set the Guinness Book of

41:49.802 --> 41:52.050
Records . World Records . Most

41:52.060 --> 41:54.399
simultaneous push ups there had to be

41:54.409 --> 41:57.889
an enormous amount of push ups beyond

41:57.899 --> 42:01.120
you . We are . But all of you , I think

42:01.129 --> 42:03.949
you had some fun along the way , may be

42:03.959 --> 42:05.949
a good use of epic passes .

42:10.659 --> 42:12.770
That would be reason enough to join .

42:14.590 --> 42:17.360
Had a few steaks and Toni dinners

42:17.770 --> 42:21.739
celebrate commitment and job drops . I

42:21.750 --> 42:23.750
got to see some of you at the White

42:23.750 --> 42:25.989
House a few weeks ago to celebrate

42:26.159 --> 42:28.270
winning the commander in Chief trophy

42:28.750 --> 42:31.409
for the 21st time

42:38.830 --> 42:41.108
when I was graduating from high school .

42:41.108 --> 42:44.489
300 years ago , I

42:44.500 --> 42:47.000
applied to the Naval Academy

42:48.489 --> 42:52.449
and I was picked by Senator . There's

42:52.459 --> 42:54.515
two ways senators can pick , you can

42:54.515 --> 42:57.179
pick individually or they can name 10

42:57.189 --> 43:00.379
people unless the academy choose I was

43:00.389 --> 43:02.556
a relatively good football player , so

43:02.556 --> 43:05.959
I had a shot . I remember the day that

43:05.969 --> 43:08.191
a guy named Steve Dunning from my class

43:08.191 --> 43:11.729
was also nominated , drove up was about

43:11.739 --> 43:13.961
seven in the morning . We were going to

43:13.961 --> 43:16.128
drive down to Annapolis and I had just

43:16.128 --> 43:18.070
heard the night before they had a

43:18.080 --> 43:21.189
halfback named Joe Bolio won the

43:21.199 --> 43:23.810
Heisman trophy and a quarterback named

43:23.820 --> 43:27.040
Roger Staubach . I went to Delaware

43:30.399 --> 43:34.340
Blue Horizons Rocketry team

43:34.540 --> 43:36.596
managed to send the superintendent's

43:36.596 --> 43:39.729
fight cap all the way to space . I

43:39.739 --> 43:41.906
don't know whether he knew it or not ,

43:41.906 --> 43:44.017
but even more impressive . You got it

43:44.017 --> 43:47.830
back some 70 miles away . Of

43:47.840 --> 43:50.050
course , there may also have been

43:50.060 --> 43:52.227
achievements of less sterling nature .

43:53.340 --> 43:56.860
Maybe he had to do a few tours , maybe

43:56.870 --> 43:59.092
you're one of the cadets who decided to

43:59.092 --> 44:01.037
enjoy the view from the top of the

44:01.037 --> 44:02.148
chapel on the box .

44:05.179 --> 44:07.719
So before I forget , since I was one of

44:07.729 --> 44:09.951
those schools at a state university , I

44:09.951 --> 44:12.270
found myself in a little bit of trouble

44:12.280 --> 44:15.429
a couple of times . I really wish that

44:15.439 --> 44:17.661
the commander in chief had spoken at my

44:17.661 --> 44:19.828
graduation because I have the power to

44:19.828 --> 44:22.689
hereby waive any confinement to

44:22.699 --> 44:24.255
restrictions of minor cadet

44:24.255 --> 44:26.780
disciplinary systems violations . They

44:26.790 --> 44:28.860
are waived , man .

44:30.860 --> 44:33.082
I wish my commencement speaker had that

44:33.082 --> 44:33.610
power .

44:36.760 --> 44:40.340
Look after four long

44:40.350 --> 44:43.239
years , you push to the limits

44:44.090 --> 44:46.449
and forges into leaders of character .

44:48.060 --> 44:51.419
And after finally getting to jump into

44:51.429 --> 44:55.030
the fountain , you commissioned as a

44:55.040 --> 44:57.207
second lieutenant in the United States

44:57.207 --> 44:59.207
Air Force , the United States Space

44:59.207 --> 45:01.429
Force , part of the greatest , and this

45:01.429 --> 45:03.540
is not hyperbole . You're part of the

45:03.540 --> 45:05.707
greatest fighting force in the history

45:05.707 --> 45:07.651
of the world . That is the truth .

45:07.651 --> 45:09.818
That's the God's truth . That's not an

45:09.818 --> 45:12.969
exaggeration , the finest military in

45:12.979 --> 45:15.600
the history of the world . And you ,

45:17.060 --> 45:19.030
this day is the day to celebrate .

45:20.830 --> 45:22.886
And as your commander in chief , I'm

45:22.886 --> 45:24.997
honored to be here as you take on the

45:24.997 --> 45:26.997
duties of serving and defending our

45:26.997 --> 45:29.540
nation in the years to come . You'll

45:29.550 --> 45:31.772
have a memorial of you . You'll take on

45:31.772 --> 45:33.939
greater responsibilities and you'll be

45:33.939 --> 45:35.828
challenged even beyond everything

45:35.828 --> 45:38.320
you've yet experienced . But you have

45:38.330 --> 45:42.010
those mountains , you leave them as you

45:42.020 --> 45:44.187
look at you , I'm sure you're gonna be

45:44.187 --> 45:46.187
thinking about this a lot as you're

45:46.187 --> 45:48.131
moving through your careers as you

45:48.131 --> 45:50.298
leave these mountains where the air is

45:50.298 --> 45:51.964
rare and to take with you the

45:51.964 --> 45:53.742
confidence that your years have

45:53.742 --> 45:55.798
prepared you for whatever is ahead .

45:56.320 --> 45:59.590
After all your time at this proud

45:59.600 --> 46:01.780
institution is defined by so much

46:01.790 --> 46:05.199
history , so much tradition marked by

46:05.209 --> 46:07.153
significant changes was referenced

46:07.153 --> 46:09.739
earlier , unlike classes that proceeded ,

46:09.750 --> 46:12.370
you , you've had to adapt and overcome

46:12.379 --> 46:15.360
time and again to reorient yourself

46:15.820 --> 46:17.876
together with your squadron and your

46:17.876 --> 46:21.320
wing and find new ways to soar has been

46:21.330 --> 46:23.274
mentioned already . When COVID hit

46:23.274 --> 46:26.810
during the four degree year , you had

46:26.820 --> 46:29.540
to , you had to excuse me , you had to

46:29.550 --> 46:33.330
rapidly redeploy back to your homes and

46:33.340 --> 46:36.399
learn new ways to study and maintain

46:36.959 --> 46:40.739
camaraderie during COVID COVID se

46:41.830 --> 46:44.149
and by the way , I wonder how many of

46:44.159 --> 46:46.159
you had to kick your brother out of

46:46.159 --> 46:48.326
your room when you went back . All kid

46:48.326 --> 46:50.830
inside recognition may have been cut

46:50.840 --> 46:53.709
short , but it came back in the fall .

46:54.850 --> 46:57.310
You did the run to the rock . You

46:57.320 --> 47:00.340
earned the prop and wings just like

47:00.350 --> 47:03.729
every cadet before you resilience

47:03.840 --> 47:06.010
creativity , endurance commitment .

47:06.899 --> 47:10.010
These have been essential parts of a

47:10.020 --> 47:13.030
unique academy training . You're going

47:13.040 --> 47:15.770
to need those qualities as you continue

47:15.780 --> 47:18.229
your careers . Because the world you're

47:18.239 --> 47:20.350
graduating into would not only change

47:20.350 --> 47:23.340
you rapidly , the pace of change is

47:23.350 --> 47:26.479
accelerated as well . We're seeing

47:26.489 --> 47:29.209
proliferating global challenges from

47:29.219 --> 47:32.100
Russia's aggression and brutality in

47:32.110 --> 47:35.429
Europe for our competition with China

47:36.149 --> 47:38.205
and a whole hell of a lot in between

47:38.870 --> 47:41.530
from growing instability , the food

47:41.540 --> 47:43.707
insecurity and natural disasters , all

47:43.707 --> 47:46.399
of which are being made worse by the

47:46.409 --> 47:49.120
existential threat of climate change .

47:50.280 --> 47:52.502
I don't hear many of my friends anymore

47:52.502 --> 47:55.330
saying there's no climate change . We

47:55.340 --> 47:57.750
finally figured it out and trying to

47:57.760 --> 48:01.699
push that since 1981 . But we're seeing

48:01.709 --> 48:03.431
engaging technology , emerging

48:03.439 --> 48:07.409
technologies , all A I from A I

48:07.419 --> 48:10.600
and 3D printing that could change the

48:10.610 --> 48:14.360
character of conflict itself , not

48:14.389 --> 48:17.260
gonna be easy decisions . Guy I met in

48:17.270 --> 48:20.739
the oval office in my office with 12

48:20.750 --> 48:22.972
leading there going to be eight leading

48:23.229 --> 48:27.229
scientists in the area of A I some are

48:27.239 --> 48:30.870
very worried that they are can

48:30.879 --> 48:34.479
actually overtake you were thinking of

48:34.489 --> 48:37.340
planet . So we got a lot to deal with

48:37.790 --> 48:40.530
an incredible opportunity , a lot to do

48:40.540 --> 48:42.949
with . We're also working across

48:42.959 --> 48:44.848
multiple domains , developing new

48:44.848 --> 48:47.500
capabilities like our new next GEN B 21

48:47.510 --> 48:51.320
radar . You can be flying that

48:51.330 --> 48:55.290
sucker . We're going to count on you .

48:56.040 --> 48:58.040
Keep us at the forefront of air and

48:58.040 --> 49:01.010
space dominance , enabling an entire

49:01.020 --> 49:04.750
joint force to be stronger graduates .

49:05.350 --> 49:07.406
You've made a noble choice to lead a

49:07.406 --> 49:11.360
life of service . Now you also shoulder

49:11.370 --> 49:13.129
a great privilege and a mighty

49:13.139 --> 49:16.620
responsibility . Leadership . Yeah ,

49:16.629 --> 49:20.169
leadership word often used in the years

49:20.179 --> 49:24.159
ahead . Your airmen and guardians

49:24.479 --> 49:27.340
are going to look to you for guidance

49:27.350 --> 49:29.406
and inspiration because the world is

49:29.406 --> 49:32.199
going to get more confusing . They'll

49:32.209 --> 49:35.629
put their trust in you and you in turn

49:35.639 --> 49:37.583
must strive to always be worthy of

49:37.583 --> 49:39.689
their confidence . Listen to them ,

49:40.479 --> 49:44.110
listen to them . I've always believed

49:44.510 --> 49:46.677
that America is strongest when we need

49:46.709 --> 49:49.189
not only by the example of our power ,

49:49.389 --> 49:52.330
but by the power of our example . Let

49:52.340 --> 49:55.300
me say it again . I've traveled the

49:55.310 --> 49:57.143
entire world and in almost every

49:57.143 --> 50:00.449
country respect us so much is not just

50:00.459 --> 50:03.439
our power but the power of our example

50:04.639 --> 50:08.149
and it matters , it matters . The same

50:08.159 --> 50:10.209
is going to be true in your own

50:10.219 --> 50:12.540
experience of leadership . No matter

50:12.550 --> 50:14.606
what changes or challenges come your

50:14.606 --> 50:17.370
character , your moral clarity , your

50:17.379 --> 50:20.139
capabilities must never waver

50:21.719 --> 50:24.709
again , not hyperbole , the nation

50:24.719 --> 50:28.330
needs you genuinely need you .

50:29.270 --> 50:31.603
Our world stands at an inflection point .

50:32.330 --> 50:34.386
I had a professor who used to say an

50:34.386 --> 50:36.610
inflection point as when you're driving

50:36.620 --> 50:38.731
your car down the highway at 60 miles

50:38.731 --> 50:40.953
an hour and suddenly you turn the wheel

50:40.959 --> 50:44.860
10 degrees , you can never get back on

50:44.870 --> 50:47.840
the same track you're on before the

50:47.850 --> 50:50.679
decisions we make today are going to

50:50.689 --> 50:52.689
determine what the world looks like

50:53.129 --> 50:56.580
decades from now . No , graduating

50:56.590 --> 50:59.649
class gets to choose the world into

50:59.659 --> 51:03.209
which they graduate . Every class

51:04.020 --> 51:06.969
enters the history of a nation up to

51:06.979 --> 51:09.040
the point that has been written by

51:09.050 --> 51:12.189
others . A few classes

51:12.790 --> 51:16.310
once every several generations at the

51:16.320 --> 51:18.169
point in our history where they

51:18.179 --> 51:20.899
actually have a chance to change ,

51:21.409 --> 51:23.576
change the trajectory of the country .

51:27.000 --> 51:29.379
The only reason I ran said to our

51:29.389 --> 51:31.959
speaker , I read his article ,

51:33.429 --> 51:35.485
that's why when I ran , I said I was

51:35.485 --> 51:37.485
running for three purposes , two of

51:37.485 --> 51:39.709
which were to restore the character of

51:39.719 --> 51:42.419
this country to , to unite it .

51:43.750 --> 51:45.917
You face that inflection point today .

51:46.659 --> 51:48.659
And I know you're going to meet the

51:48.659 --> 51:50.659
moment to make sure that the future

51:50.659 --> 51:52.159
we're building is one that

51:52.159 --> 51:54.326
fundamentally aligns with our values ,

51:54.399 --> 51:57.699
protects America's interest to make

51:57.709 --> 52:00.510
sure that our skies and orbits remain

52:00.520 --> 52:03.939
open and navigable to everyone to make

52:03.949 --> 52:06.560
sure that new technology used to lift

52:06.570 --> 52:08.459
people up to new heights , new

52:08.469 --> 52:10.959
opportunities not hold them down or

52:10.969 --> 52:14.060
exploit them . And to make sure that

52:14.070 --> 52:15.939
the fundamental rules of the

52:15.949 --> 52:18.005
international system we put in place

52:18.005 --> 52:20.171
more than seven decades ago to prevent

52:20.171 --> 52:23.850
another world war are upheld and

52:23.860 --> 52:26.629
strengthened to address new threats .

52:27.969 --> 52:30.449
One of the greatest strengths the

52:30.459 --> 52:32.681
United States of America brings to this

52:32.681 --> 52:35.050
effort as one of the greatest assets

52:35.600 --> 52:37.433
you will harness throughout your

52:37.433 --> 52:40.919
careers . It's our unmatched network of

52:40.929 --> 52:43.879
alliances and partners , allies and

52:43.889 --> 52:47.149
partners . I've spent the bulk of my

52:47.159 --> 52:49.560
first year just reestablishing that ,

52:50.679 --> 52:53.709
meeting hundreds of hours with our NATO

52:53.719 --> 52:57.090
allies and others . Those nations who

52:57.100 --> 53:01.090
willingly stand beside us to face down

53:01.100 --> 53:04.469
threats and solve shared challenges .

53:05.300 --> 53:07.356
We already gotten some sense of that

53:08.010 --> 53:10.010
with the friendship and bond you've

53:10.010 --> 53:12.177
built with the cadets graduating today

53:12.679 --> 53:14.568
who will commission in their home

53:14.568 --> 53:17.820
militaries across Europe , Middle East ,

53:17.830 --> 53:21.570
North Africa and the Pacific . Our

53:21.580 --> 53:25.320
partnerships , amplify our strength and

53:25.330 --> 53:28.570
make us more effective and don't think

53:28.580 --> 53:30.691
our adversaries don't understand it .

53:31.010 --> 53:34.189
So they work so hard to try to split us .

53:35.739 --> 53:38.179
We , we , we've seen it over and over

53:38.189 --> 53:41.330
again , especially the global support

53:41.590 --> 53:44.500
for the brave people of Ukraine as they

53:44.510 --> 53:46.732
defended their families and their homes

53:46.732 --> 53:49.030
against Russian brutal assault .

53:49.350 --> 53:52.000
Remember or said Putin was certain

53:53.639 --> 53:56.750
that NATO would crack that they would

53:56.760 --> 54:00.169
not stand together . We put 40 nations

54:00.179 --> 54:02.540
together . The United States has

54:02.550 --> 54:05.360
rallied the world to stand strong with

54:05.370 --> 54:08.399
Ukraine and defend the values that the

54:08.409 --> 54:11.370
American people hold so dear freedom ,

54:12.169 --> 54:15.219
sovereignty , democracy , simple

54:15.229 --> 54:18.800
dignity . Working with a coalition of

54:18.810 --> 54:21.360
more than 50 nations . We've delivered

54:21.370 --> 54:23.659
historic security assistance that has

54:23.669 --> 54:26.780
enabled Ukraine to defend itself . I've

54:26.790 --> 54:28.957
been there many times before the war .

54:29.520 --> 54:31.464
Spoke of the Rod . I've been there

54:31.464 --> 54:34.030
since the war began . The United States

54:34.040 --> 54:36.262
Air Force and Space Force have been the

54:36.262 --> 54:39.600
backbone of that operation , providing

54:39.610 --> 54:42.209
airlift capacity and logistical , know

54:42.219 --> 54:44.790
how to remove artillery ammunition ,

54:44.800 --> 54:46.989
fighting vehicles , anti tank and air

54:47.000 --> 54:49.129
defense system , providing missile

54:49.139 --> 54:52.379
warning space , space is r supporting

54:52.389 --> 54:55.080
communications , no other nation in the

54:55.090 --> 54:58.830
world , the whole world as the

54:58.840 --> 55:02.320
enabling capacity we do and what we

55:02.330 --> 55:04.790
have to do to thank you

55:06.139 --> 55:08.989
and your immediate predecessors . Just

55:09.000 --> 55:11.167
a few weeks ago , I was with President

55:11.167 --> 55:14.300
Zelinsky and here is Shima , the G7 I

55:14.310 --> 55:17.459
told him we work with our partners

55:18.129 --> 55:20.280
began training Ukrainian pilots in

55:20.290 --> 55:22.979
Europe on fourth generation fighter

55:22.989 --> 55:26.449
aircraft , including the F-16 . So

55:26.459 --> 55:28.870
Ukraine can defend itself today . And

55:28.879 --> 55:31.689
in the future , Ukrainian people's iron

55:31.699 --> 55:35.290
resolve to live in freedom will never

55:35.300 --> 55:38.570
be broken . They are incredible

55:39.379 --> 55:43.280
average women and men fighting ,

55:44.209 --> 55:48.159
giving their lives to their country and

55:48.169 --> 55:50.419
their families and the American

55:50.429 --> 55:53.360
people's support for Ukraine will not

55:53.370 --> 55:56.310
waver . We've always stand up for

55:56.320 --> 55:58.070
democracies . Always

56:06.429 --> 56:08.596
ask you to contemplate what happens if

56:08.596 --> 56:12.159
it wavers and Ukraine goes down ?

56:13.570 --> 56:15.570
What about Belarus ? What about the

56:15.570 --> 56:17.429
rest of Eastern ? You

56:19.139 --> 56:21.949
look , the G7 also demonstrated

56:21.959 --> 56:24.459
remarkable unity in the world's leading

56:24.469 --> 56:26.525
democracies when it comes to China ,

56:27.320 --> 56:29.153
United States , I've met with Xi

56:29.153 --> 56:32.270
Jinping more than any more than any

56:32.520 --> 56:34.659
leader in the world . Starting back

56:34.669 --> 56:37.580
when I was vice President , the United

56:37.590 --> 56:39.423
States does not seek conflict or

56:39.423 --> 56:41.790
confrontation with China . China and

56:41.800 --> 56:43.800
the United States should be able to

56:43.800 --> 56:45.800
work together where we can to solve

56:45.800 --> 56:47.911
some global challenges like climate .

56:47.929 --> 56:50.389
But we are prepared for vigorous

56:50.399 --> 56:54.179
competition and we will stand stand up

56:54.399 --> 56:57.330
for our interest , for our friends and

56:57.340 --> 57:00.639
for our values with our G7 partners .

57:01.189 --> 57:03.245
We should a set of shared principles

57:03.510 --> 57:06.709
for engaging with China and minimizing

57:06.719 --> 57:09.080
the threats to our nations by

57:09.090 --> 57:11.034
bolstering our economic security ,

57:11.550 --> 57:13.340
resisting economic coercion ,

57:14.209 --> 57:17.300
countering harmful practices and

57:17.310 --> 57:19.989
protecting a narrow set of advanced

57:20.000 --> 57:22.459
technologies critical to our national

57:22.469 --> 57:26.070
security by not trading by working

57:26.080 --> 57:28.136
together with nations that share the

57:28.136 --> 57:30.889
most fundamental values . We multiply

57:31.449 --> 57:35.010
one another's strength and firmly fix a

57:35.020 --> 57:37.679
course toward our shared vision for the

57:37.689 --> 57:41.050
future in every part of the world . We

57:41.060 --> 57:43.540
advanced our partnerships in concrete

57:43.550 --> 57:45.772
ways and strengthened American security

57:46.159 --> 57:48.600
in the Indo Pacific . We've deepened

57:48.610 --> 57:50.639
our alliance and our trivial

57:50.649 --> 57:54.449
cooperation with Japan and the Republic

57:54.459 --> 57:56.570
of Korea who are now talking together

57:56.570 --> 57:58.348
and working together to enhance

57:58.348 --> 58:00.340
deterrence against threats in the

58:00.350 --> 58:02.406
region including from the Democratic

58:02.406 --> 58:04.389
People's Republic of Korea . We've

58:04.399 --> 58:06.879
elevated the quad , bringing together

58:06.889 --> 58:08.778
Australia , India , Japan and the

58:08.778 --> 58:10.879
United States to advance an Indo

58:10.899 --> 58:12.621
Pacific that's free and open ,

58:13.449 --> 58:16.449
prosperous and secure didn't exist

58:16.459 --> 58:20.379
before we're delivering on a , a new

58:20.389 --> 58:22.530
strategic partnership , brings the

58:22.540 --> 58:25.320
United States close together with

58:25.330 --> 58:28.159
Australia and the United Kingdom , two

58:28.169 --> 58:31.489
of our most capable allies . NATO

58:31.959 --> 58:34.669
is more energized and more united than

58:34.679 --> 58:37.110
it's been in decades . It's now even

58:37.120 --> 58:39.459
stronger with the accession of our

58:39.469 --> 58:43.340
newest ally Finland and soon Sweden

58:44.199 --> 58:46.270
the alliance as soon as possible .

58:49.310 --> 58:53.169
It will happen . I promise you working

58:53.179 --> 58:55.780
with Canada to upgrade no capabilities

58:56.530 --> 58:58.474
to ensure that North America's air

58:58.474 --> 59:00.530
defense surveillance systems are the

59:00.530 --> 59:03.290
best in the world . And in just the

59:03.300 --> 59:06.139
past 12 months , I've hosted in the

59:06.149 --> 59:08.205
United States , the leaders of every

59:08.205 --> 59:10.419
country in the western hemisphere ,

59:10.820 --> 59:13.580
every country in Africa , Southeast

59:13.590 --> 59:17.360
Asia and the Pacific Islands . We are a

59:17.370 --> 59:20.770
Pacific nation . These nations may not

59:20.780 --> 59:23.189
agree with us on every issue but they

59:23.199 --> 59:25.979
want to work with us . They choose us

59:26.879 --> 59:28.935
not because of threats of coercion ,

59:29.169 --> 59:31.280
but because of the common interest we

59:31.280 --> 59:33.280
pursue together to make the world a

59:33.280 --> 59:35.391
better and safer place for everyone .

59:35.689 --> 59:38.250
That , that is what the United States

59:38.260 --> 59:40.610
stands for . When people around the

59:40.620 --> 59:43.070
world see a United States gray tail

59:43.229 --> 59:45.909
flying overhead with the stars and

59:45.919 --> 59:48.429
stripes on your shoulders . They know

59:48.439 --> 59:50.949
what that means no matter where you go .

59:51.739 --> 59:55.449
Freedom , opportunity , possibilities ,

59:55.459 --> 59:59.000
hope it's who we are .

59:59.439 --> 01:00:02.169
It's what we fight for . It's why we

01:00:02.179 --> 01:00:05.709
choose this path . So graduates

01:00:06.310 --> 01:00:08.830
as you head out , whether to graduate

01:00:08.840 --> 01:00:11.469
school or pilot training to serve as

01:00:11.479 --> 01:00:13.560
missiles or space operators ,

01:00:13.919 --> 01:00:17.060
scientists or engineers never forget

01:00:17.989 --> 01:00:20.500
the sacred oath you swear and the

01:00:20.510 --> 01:00:23.600
mission you serve is something far ,

01:00:23.610 --> 01:00:26.360
far greater than any person or

01:00:26.370 --> 01:00:29.020
president . It's our constitution ,

01:00:29.719 --> 01:00:32.889
it's our country and it's our enduring

01:00:32.899 --> 01:00:36.679
American values . You know , we're the

01:00:36.689 --> 01:00:39.969
most unique nation in the world and say ,

01:00:39.979 --> 01:00:42.035
well , everybody says , but we are ,

01:00:42.239 --> 01:00:44.419
we're the only nation in the world

01:00:44.760 --> 01:00:48.629
formed . And based on an idea , an idea ,

01:00:49.510 --> 01:00:51.454
every other nation in the world is

01:00:51.454 --> 01:00:53.677
formed based on things like geography ,

01:00:53.770 --> 01:00:57.340
ethnicity , religion . We're the only

01:00:57.350 --> 01:01:00.689
nation building . An idea that we hold

01:01:00.699 --> 01:01:02.919
these truths to be self evident that

01:01:02.929 --> 01:01:05.151
all women and men are created equal and

01:01:05.151 --> 01:01:07.151
endowed by the creator with certain

01:01:07.151 --> 01:01:09.151
inalienable rights , life , liberty

01:01:09.151 --> 01:01:10.929
pursuit . That's the organizing

01:01:10.929 --> 01:01:12.300
principle of America .

01:01:21.729 --> 01:01:24.169
We haven't always lived up to it but we

01:01:24.179 --> 01:01:26.401
never except on one brief moment , even

01:01:26.401 --> 01:01:28.457
thought about walking away from it .

01:01:28.739 --> 01:01:30.628
Generations of our forebears have

01:01:30.628 --> 01:01:32.683
fought and sacrificed to defend it .

01:01:33.139 --> 01:01:35.600
Sacrifices . We honor earlier this week

01:01:35.780 --> 01:01:39.409
on Memorial Day , my

01:01:39.419 --> 01:01:43.000
son was an army

01:01:43.010 --> 01:01:45.719
officer major , the attorney general

01:01:45.729 --> 01:01:48.060
who sought permission to go fight with

01:01:48.070 --> 01:01:49.800
his unit in Iraq for a year .

01:01:51.459 --> 01:01:54.090
Unfortunately , the search was very

01:01:54.100 --> 01:01:57.620
close to these burn pits . He came home

01:01:57.989 --> 01:02:01.860
stage four ST and died . I

01:02:01.870 --> 01:02:03.926
remember looking at him in the bed .

01:02:03.926 --> 01:02:06.148
This is the God's truth . I had planned

01:02:06.148 --> 01:02:08.909
on saying this maybe I shouldn't . He

01:02:08.919 --> 01:02:11.370
looked at me . He said , we're talking

01:02:11.379 --> 01:02:15.290
about war . He

01:02:15.300 --> 01:02:18.780
said , dad , he was Attorney General .

01:02:19.310 --> 01:02:21.477
Odds on favored to become the governor

01:02:22.379 --> 01:02:24.435
said , dad , the proudest thing I've

01:02:24.435 --> 01:02:26.657
ever done in my life is putting on that

01:02:26.657 --> 01:02:30.590
uniform , proudest thing just

01:02:30.600 --> 01:02:32.767
before he passed it . I'm not afraid ,

01:02:33.860 --> 01:02:37.340
I'm not afraid that's what you all are

01:02:37.350 --> 01:02:41.239
made of as well . Right ?

01:02:43.000 --> 01:02:45.889
Fried . Not in yourself and what you're

01:02:45.899 --> 01:02:49.699
fighting for . It's a sacred charge

01:02:51.030 --> 01:02:54.540
that you now inherit as well . This

01:02:54.550 --> 01:02:58.030
year marked the 75th anniversary , this

01:02:58.040 --> 01:03:01.850
year of an integrated force . The

01:03:01.860 --> 01:03:04.649
75th anniversary of women serving in

01:03:04.659 --> 01:03:07.909
the forest , the 50 th anniversary of

01:03:07.919 --> 01:03:10.320
an all volunteer military .

01:03:12.510 --> 01:03:16.209
And your class is one of the most

01:03:16.219 --> 01:03:18.386
diverse classes in the history of this

01:03:18.386 --> 01:03:20.441
academy or any academy to graduate .

01:03:20.441 --> 01:03:23.060
That's why we're strong . That's why

01:03:23.070 --> 01:03:25.629
we're who we are . That's why we'll

01:03:25.639 --> 01:03:27.939
never give up . That's why

01:03:31.330 --> 01:03:33.497
we also recognize that with every step

01:03:33.497 --> 01:03:35.274
we've taken to harness the full

01:03:35.274 --> 01:03:37.909
diversity of our nation to tap more of

01:03:37.929 --> 01:03:40.179
our indomitable American spirit . Our

01:03:40.280 --> 01:03:43.239
armed forces have only grown stronger ,

01:03:43.570 --> 01:03:46.419
more effective and more admired . The

01:03:46.429 --> 01:03:49.510
same is true of this institution . This

01:03:49.520 --> 01:03:51.576
year's graduating class is among the

01:03:51.576 --> 01:03:53.687
most diverse in our academy history .

01:03:53.687 --> 01:03:55.353
You're graduating the highest

01:03:55.353 --> 01:03:57.570
percentage of women , by the way I met

01:03:57.580 --> 01:03:59.820
with uh who are those guys that fly

01:03:59.830 --> 01:04:02.052
over shortly ? You heard them , haven't

01:04:02.052 --> 01:04:04.389
you ? Three of them were women ?

01:04:10.379 --> 01:04:14.060
So don't screw around guys and the

01:04:14.070 --> 01:04:16.729
highest percentage of minority cadets

01:04:16.739 --> 01:04:19.939
in history . You're strengthening force ,

01:04:19.949 --> 01:04:23.100
a force that depends , depends on

01:04:23.110 --> 01:04:25.850
American values and reflect America

01:04:25.860 --> 01:04:28.169
itself . And each of you has an

01:04:28.179 --> 01:04:30.209
obligation to treat the armor

01:04:31.370 --> 01:04:33.760
guardians , you lead and everyone you

01:04:33.770 --> 01:04:36.090
encounter with dignity , your honor

01:04:36.100 --> 01:04:39.139
code says we will not lie , steal or

01:04:39.149 --> 01:04:42.050
cheat or tolerate among us . Anyone who

01:04:42.060 --> 01:04:45.909
does so it's on all of you to

01:04:45.919 --> 01:04:48.086
root out the scourge of sexual assault

01:04:48.086 --> 01:04:50.889
and harassment in the military . They

01:04:50.899 --> 01:04:53.780
never tolerated among , never tolerated

01:04:54.340 --> 01:04:56.451
to make sure that every member of our

01:04:56.451 --> 01:04:58.562
forces , no matter who they are , who

01:04:58.562 --> 01:05:00.784
they love , feels safe and respected in

01:05:00.784 --> 01:05:03.530
the ranks . Class of 2023

01:05:05.110 --> 01:05:08.149
you've been trained to lead to set an

01:05:08.159 --> 01:05:10.381
example of your leadership for others .

01:05:11.229 --> 01:05:13.669
You've been given the skill set to

01:05:13.679 --> 01:05:15.520
think clearly and make strategic

01:05:15.530 --> 01:05:18.810
decisions and to do what is right under

01:05:18.820 --> 01:05:21.219
pressure . You've earned the trust and

01:05:21.229 --> 01:05:24.290
respect of your fellow cadets and your

01:05:24.300 --> 01:05:27.409
instructors . You are

01:05:28.360 --> 01:05:31.020
the very embodiment of the American

01:05:31.030 --> 01:05:34.479
Military of Excellence and you are

01:05:34.489 --> 01:05:37.889
ready for anything . Any ,

01:05:39.209 --> 01:05:42.449
as I look out today , I give him my

01:05:42.459 --> 01:05:44.570
word as a bi and I've never been more

01:05:44.570 --> 01:05:46.909
optimistic . Never been more optimistic

01:05:46.919 --> 01:05:49.899
about the future of this country . No

01:05:49.909 --> 01:05:52.459
small part because of you . I mean it

01:05:52.469 --> 01:05:55.350
sincerely , four years ago , you

01:05:55.360 --> 01:05:59.139
arrived as individuals today . You're

01:05:59.149 --> 01:06:02.399
part of a long blue line . Future

01:06:02.409 --> 01:06:04.131
generations will stand in your

01:06:04.131 --> 01:06:07.780
footsteps , strive to meet the heights

01:06:07.790 --> 01:06:10.500
of your , of your expectations , draw

01:06:10.510 --> 01:06:13.590
inspiration of the example of honor and

01:06:13.600 --> 01:06:16.550
integrity you're going to set held

01:06:16.560 --> 01:06:19.149
aloft by the core values you learned

01:06:19.159 --> 01:06:22.209
here , our Air Force , our space force ,

01:06:22.219 --> 01:06:24.330
our joint force . Indeed , our nation

01:06:24.340 --> 01:06:28.070
is safe and steady hands with all of

01:06:28.080 --> 01:06:32.070
you . May God protect you all

01:06:32.090 --> 01:06:34.719
as you set out in your journeys . And

01:06:34.729 --> 01:06:38.620
remember , remember never

01:06:38.629 --> 01:06:42.169
been , never buy never you .

01:06:42.820 --> 01:06:46.770
And remember who we are . May the Lord

01:06:46.780 --> 01:06:49.189
God and guide the ones who fly through

01:06:49.199 --> 01:06:52.560
great space in the sky and may God

01:06:52.570 --> 01:06:54.848
protect all those who wear the uniform .

01:06:55.250 --> 01:06:58.360
United States of America . Let us hear

01:06:58.370 --> 01:07:01.510
us one more time . The class of

01:07:01.520 --> 01:07:03.030
2023

01:07:48.459 --> 01:07:51.189
ladies and gentlemen , the cadet class

01:07:51.199 --> 01:07:54.709
president for 2023 cadet first

01:07:54.719 --> 01:07:57.949
class Yusa bomber , the summer cadet

01:07:57.959 --> 01:08:00.429
wing commander , cadet , first class

01:08:00.439 --> 01:08:03.090
Julia Gunlock , the fall cadet wing

01:08:03.100 --> 01:08:05.139
commander , cadet first class

01:08:05.149 --> 01:08:07.770
Christopher Von Hos and the spring

01:08:07.780 --> 01:08:10.620
cadet wing commander cadet first class

01:08:10.629 --> 01:08:12.939
Eric Kenneth will present the class

01:08:12.949 --> 01:08:14.949
gift to the president of the United

01:08:14.949 --> 01:08:15.590
States

01:08:30.668 --> 01:08:32.838
President Biden for your dedicated

01:08:32.849 --> 01:08:35.139
service to our nation , to the United

01:08:35.148 --> 01:08:37.092
States Air Force and to the United

01:08:37.092 --> 01:08:39.249
States Air Force Academy . It is with

01:08:39.258 --> 01:08:41.258
great pride that today's graduating

01:08:41.258 --> 01:08:43.969
class designates you by acclamation ,

01:08:44.208 --> 01:08:46.430
an honorary member of the United States

01:08:46.430 --> 01:08:49.969
Air Force Academy's class of 2023

01:08:51.830 --> 01:08:55.720
right ? As tangible evidence of

01:08:55.729 --> 01:08:58.040
that honor . We ask that you accept

01:08:58.049 --> 01:09:00.271
this painting by Steve Weed . On behalf

01:09:00.279 --> 01:09:02.557
of the United States Air Force Academy ,

01:09:02.557 --> 01:09:04.779
we will also present you with our class

01:09:04.779 --> 01:09:06.799
coin as a token of our appreciation