Excerpts from the full address. Emphases are mine. After the usual recognitions, Rumsfeld addressed the cadets directly, noting their class motto:
"For Country and Corps, 2004." [CHEERS].
I thank you for this honor. It’s a privilege to be here in the shadows of some of the greatest leaders of our age, and to celebrate today with the leaders who will follow in their footsteps and help shape America’s future. (snip) ....
Many years ago, there was a West Point graduate from my home state of Illinois. He marched on the same Plain as you, took similar classes, and no doubt wondered about his future, as you may have from time to time. He was not an exceptional student, I’m told. Nor did he seem marked for greatness. Interestingly, his name was incorrectly transcribed on his record.
That name was Ulysses S. Grant.
Somehow, history put Grant into a place, at a critical time, and in a critical moment. I have no doubt that West Point instilled in him those special qualities of leadership necessary to one day help preserve our Union.
In the years ahead, history may well call upon you at a critical time, in a critical moment and you will be ready.
Recently, a journalist visited West Point and became so impressed that he stayed for several years. David Lipsky was amazed to find a place in this country where students talked openly about the importance of character, the love of country, and the need to make sacrifices so that our nation could endure.
Interestingly, he found that West Point cadets were the happiest of any college students he had studied. [LAUGHTER]. That may surprise some of you. But he discovered something important - that there is a relationship between personal fulfillment and "Duty, Honor, Country."
Mr. Lipsky took the title of his book from something President Theodore Roosevelt once said about the Academy. Roosevelt said, "Of all the institutions in this country, none is more absolutely American; none … more … democratic…. Here we care nothing for … birthplace … creed, nor … social standing…. Here you come together as representatives of America in a higher … sense than can possibly be true of any other institution …"
It is these "absolutely American" values that have led West Point graduates throughout history to distinguish themselves in the defense of our nation.
I suspect that when you first arrived in July of 2000, you imagined that your most challenging time as a professional Army officer might involve activities like enforcing the peace in the Balkans. But as we have seen, life is not predictable.
A few years ago, for example, a young man sat in one of your chairs. He was probably dreaming about his upcoming graduation leave. Some of you may remember K.C. Hughes, Class of 2001.
Well, fast-forward to Iraq, a year ago last Thursday. A pickup truck charged one of his platoon’s control points, firing AK-47s. As his Soldiers fired back, Hughes raced from a quarter mile away and began evacuating six wounded. Other enemies arrived in a follow-on attack.
Directing fire and helping to pull his troops to safety, he was shot in his shoulder and back, yet he continued leading the counterattack. He refused to be evacuated until his wounded were rescued. He made it out, and was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor.
The civilized world will win the global war against terror because of people like Lieutenant Hughes, and because of those of you here today.
What the terrorists do not see is that America -- our free society -- needs and has multiple leadership centers from all sectors of society. Enemies have tried many times to pull us apart. They will not succeed.
I know you understand this, because every person in this stadium has a personal connection to leadership -- and to leadership of a nation at war.
Since you arrived here, our world has changed dramatically. That change started on September 11th of your Yearling sophomore year, when terrorists converted commercial airplanes into guided missiles, striking the Twin Towers. I was in my office when a third plane hit the Pentagon. A fourth went down in a Pennsylvania field, thanks to some brave souls on board -- one of whom left us with that battle cry: "Let’s roll!" And that is exactly what our country did.
Our Commander-in-Chief moved rapidly to strengthen ties with new friends and send forces abroad. As radicals and extremists attempted to hijack a religion and send us their worst, America sent its best.
President Bush formed an 80-nation global coalition. In less than three years, this coalition of civilized nations has overthrown two vicious regimes, liberated 50 million people, disrupted terrorist cells across the globe, and thwarted many terrorist attacks.
Yet despite those successes, the truth is, we are closer to the beginning of this struggle -- this global insurgency -- than to its end.
Today, civilized societies face adversaries unlike any we've known. They seek no armistice; they have no territory to defend; they have no public to answer to. They threaten us through shadowy networks not easily weeded out. And they have a powerful advantage: A terrorist needs to succeed only occasionally; but as defenders, we need to be successful always.
Our task is further complicated by our openness, our trust -- indeed the very trust that makes us the most productive, free society in the world -- but which also makes us uniquely vulnerable to those who would try to take advantage of that trust and our freedoms.
It is impossible to defend against attacks in every place, at every time, against every conceivable technique. So the only way to prevail in this struggle is to root out the terrorists before they develop still more powerful means to inflict damage on still greater numbers of innocent people.
To confront this new challenge, our nation and its military have had to adapt. Since the Cold War ended, we’ve been about the task of refocusing our military to meet the new challenges of this 21st Century.
Now that effort has taken on added urgency...."
discussion of force transformation here, ending with:
"You’ll be hearing more about this in the coming months. But let me set out some priorities:
- Foremost is strengthening our partnerships with our existing allies and working with new ones;
- Developing greater flexibility to deal with the unexpected;
- Focusing on more rapidly deployable capabilities, rather than simply presence or mass;
- And working within and across regions.
- And I would add, having our forces where they are wanted.
(snip) ....
"In Iraq, we are facing a "test of wills" -- with an enemy that seeks to derail the Iraqi people’s path to self-government. The extremists know that the rise of a free, self-governing Iraq, at peace with its neighbors, respectful of all religions, and committed to representative government, would deal them a decisive blow. They fear that one day the Middle East might shed itself of tyranny and violence, and carve a new future that does not include them.
This cause is an international one, important to all civilized societies. Success depends on encouraging friends and allies with whom we are so interdependent, to not be terrorized by threats, or isolated by fears.....
Your love for (your) Soldiers must be as unconditional as it is for your own families. Use the skills you’ve learned here to bring out the very best in them, including respect for others. And always fall back on the moral clarity of the Honor Code that you’ve learned here. In its spirit is the ultimate system of trust I spoke of earlier - the roots of a civil society.
This afternoon, I will be attending the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington. The heroes of that conflict went overseas to defend freedom. They believed in freedom, and they knew it was worth fighting for.
Today, the duty to defend freedom falls to you. It will take you across the globe as well; and it will call upon you to live the lessons that you’ve learned here at the Academy. I know that you will answer that call with courage and the spirit that is America. We are counting on you. Serve our nation well!"
The SECDEF finished with some short closing remarks.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Meyers also spoke at the cadets' graduation banquet the evening before, saying "Sacrifice comes with the job description." And this class knows that - a member of last year's class just came home from Iraq to be buried, leaving behind a young wife.
The new 2LTs I know personally were sober, but proud of their achievement and confirmed in their choice to serve. One of the women I taught, 2LT Jacqueline Stilwell, is the great-granddaughter of Gen. "Vinegar Joe" Joseph Warren Stilwell & the 5th consecutive generation of her family to graduate from West Point - their family's military service goes back to the Revolution. We are fortunate to have the service of Jackie and the other young men and women who graduated from the Point yesterday.
It occurred to me that some may not know the USMA Honor Code to which Rumsfeld refers. It is:
A Cadet will not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.
The Code is taken very seriously, and it is administered by the cadets themselves, with the advice of JAG lawyers. Cadets can be and are sanctioned, even separated from the corps, for what some might consider minor infractions.
Rumsfeld's mention of the Code is very much in keeping with its intent: to produce leaders of character who will do the right thing even when the pressures of battle or other situations make it tempting to cut corners. Along those lines, incoming plebes (freshmen) are taught that there are 4 basic answers they may give when questioned about their behavior:
Yes, Sir/Ma'am.
No, Sir/Ma'm.
I don't know, Sir/Ma'am.
and, perhaps the most important:
No excuse, Sir/Ma'am.
The intent is not to produce robots, but men and women who take full responsibility for their actions.
A valuable reminder, no doubt, and a good speech.
Here's a salute to you and to your students this Memorial Day.
Robin, Thanks for posting this! When I get queried about the [supposed ] lack of strong XX bloggers out there, I always cite your name. :)
And we're damn proud to have her.
Funny, when I was at the Naval Academy, there were 5 possible responses:
Yes, sir;
No, sir;
Aye, Aye, sir; (in response to an order)
I'll find out, sir; and
No excuse, sir.
Interesting difference.
In my plebe year summer (74) you would get 15 demerits if you went out of your room without proper uniform. That year they raised it to 50 demerits. My opinion: preparation for accepting women. Summer of 76 included first female midshipmen (?).
The Honor Code that Robin mentioned is crucial, in my mind, to the development of officers with impeccable integrity. And she's right--what seem to be minor infractions can be grounds for dismissal. But in the military, absolute trust in leaders is a must. Life and death are entrusted to military officers, and if one can't be trusted to be honest and truthful in a relatively simple environment such as a service academy, then it would be unconscionable to entrust them with others' lives in the chaos of combat. That, to me, is why the Honor Codes (or Concept in the Annapolis formulation) of the service academies are so important in molding leaders of character and integrity.
But moving on, West Point could learn from Annapolis in one small regard. Robin listed the four responses plebes are allowed to give. "Yes," "No," "No excuse," and "I don't know."
At Annapolis, there is no "I don't know." The only acceptable response is "I'll find out." It admits a lack of knowledge and then obligates one to proactively remedy that lack.
As a plebe, "I'll find out" was a curse, but its value became apparent later on. To this day, even in my private life, I can't resist digging up some trivial piece of information after answering a question with "I don't know." (Hmm. Maybe it's a curse after all.)
But anyway... Congrats to Robin's students in the USMA Class of '04 as they join the Long Grey Line. Glad to have them on the home team.
In response to BD comment
At Annapolis, there is no "I don't know." The only acceptable response is "I'll find out." It admits a lack of knowledge and then obligates one to proactively remedy that lack.
We are talking about kids coming into the 'Academy experience' and not graduating cadets. Get a grip. Being a 'attendee' of Annapolis (you never said you graduted) you must know that the response is dictated by the Academy. It shouldn't be about West Point being above Annapolis or The Air Force Academy or King's Point. They are all basically on the ame team and to come up with the aloof comments like yours is counter-productive. Congrats to all of the grads from ALL the academies.