Secretary Wormuth Basic Combat Training Graduation Ceremony Remarks Fort Jackson, South Carolina 26 September 2024

By Brandy MejiaSeptember 27, 2024

Basic Combat Training Graduation Ceremony
Fort Jackson, South Carolina
The Secretary of the Army delivers remarks at the 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment BCT graduation at Fort Jackson, SC Sept. 26, 2024. The ceremony came as the Army announced that it met its FY24 recruiting goal. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Mejia) (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Mejia) VIEW ORIGINAL

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the distinguished guests, family, and friends of 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment. It is a great day here at Fort Jackson, and I am honored to be with you.

To the Gators, Bulldogs, Cobras, Death Dealers, and War Eagles, congratulations! Earlier this morning, as the day was breaking, you completed your training and earned the title of American soldier.

For most of you, this journey officially began many months ago in recruiting stations across the country. You came from 47 states and 33 countries to be here at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. You come from different cultures, different backgrounds, and each of you has different goals. But all of you standing on this field now share one common identity: today, you are American soldiers.

As you all know better than I, becoming an American soldier isn’t easy. Over the past two months, you shared some tough times. You weathered the storms, sometimes literally, during field training. You learned how strong you could be as you put on your boots, shouldered your rucksacks, picked up your weapons and marched over 40 miles during the cycle. You spent hours on the range honing your skills. Not everyone who started finished. But all of you who are here today found strength in each other, fought through adversity, and earned the right to wear the uniform of our Army.

Basic training is a mentally and physically challenging journey, and I’m sure each one of you is glad it’s over!

Congratulations, you should be incredibly proud of what you’ve done.

You are now part of the lethal fighting force that is the United States Army. For 249 years, American soldiers have defended this nation with courage and bravery. Now it is your turn.

You must uphold the high standards set by generations of American soldiers who have come before you because you are now the newest generation of soldiers. Just like it says in the Soldier’s Creed, you must “serve the people of the United States and live the Army values.”

Our Army values are the core of who we are as an Army: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. They are more than just words that your Drill Sergeants had you memorize; they are principles that must guide your actions. When you find yourself facing a hard problem, these seven principles can help you decide what to do.

It is your duty to ensure your actions are honorable and that no matter how difficult, you demonstrate the personal courage and integrity to do what is right and to uphold the oath you’ve sworn to our Constitution.

The Army values bind you to your battle buddies on your left and right and are part of why you trust each other. And just like your battle buddies, Army leaders trust you to accomplish the mission. The nation trusts in you to defend this country. It is up to you to preserve this trust. And I know that you will.

Some of you here in the stands also know what it means to have that trust, and I would like to thank all of the veterans who are here today. You know how rewarding it is to be part of something greater than yourself and how the bonds of friendship and camaraderie you build through service and shared hardships can last a lifetime.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to all the family and friends of these soldiers, both those who were able to be here with us today and those sending love and support from afar or in spirit. Thank you for supporting them as they made one of the most consequential decisions of their lives. Your words of encouragement helped them overcome challenges and push through to the finish line, and they couldn’t have done it without you.

I know you are anxiously waiting to be reunited with your soldiers whom you haven’t seen in two months, so I promise you I am almost done talking!

But I can’t end these remarks without recognizing our outstanding cadre, to whom we owe a great deal. From the soldiers who support each cycle to the NCOs who serve as instructors to the officers who plan and resource the training, thank you for the time, effort, and motivation that you give each day.

And finally, while I can guarantee you that these soldiers out on the field won’t remember me years from now, they will remember the Drill Sergeants who helped them get to where they are today. Being a Drill Sergeant is one of the hardest jobs in the army, so please join me in giving a round of applause to all the drill sergeants and their families for taking on the crucial responsibility of training the newest soldiers in our Army.

I am optimistic about this country, especially when I see these remarkable young people who are willing to serve in uniform– but I also know we are living in dangerous, volatile times.

There is war again in the Middle East and a real risk that it could widen. Ukraine is facing its third winter fighting Russia’s unprovoked invasion, even as the United States, our NATO allies, and many others provide Ukraine with significant lethal assistance. And China continues to build up its military while harassing countries like the Philippines in the South China Sea and providing support to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

In a world this complex and dangerous, a strong U.S. Army is critical. The most important thing that makes our Army strong is our soldiers – soldiers like you standing in this field. Soldiers who embody the warrior ethos.

I am pleased to announce that this year, more than 55,000 Americans signed contracts to become active-duty soldiers – we reached and then exceeded our recruiting goal. We also set a goal to bring 5,000 applicants into the delayed entry program, and we have far surpassed that with over 11,000 commitments from young people around the country. These commitments will allow our recruiting efforts for next year to start strong right out of the gate.

Our ability to defend this nation requires hard work from Army recruiters all across the country. In a very tight labor market, our recruiters have been working incredibly hard for more than two years to tell the Army story effectively, and we are seeing the results of their work. Well done.

The United States’ all-volunteer force is something that other countries envy and our enemies fear. All who serve in it choose to wear the uniform and choose to defend the nation. The all-volunteer force protects our interests, our loved ones, and our democracy.

Thank you to the men and women of basic combat training class 24-04 for volunteering to serve. You are special for having done so. Congratulations on earning the right to be called an American soldier. And thank you to everyone here for supporting your soldiers, your Army, and the United States of America.