The Navy Program Improves Individual Development
Sea Cadet Speech presented at the annual awards banquet
Three ingredients led to any success I had. Family, Navy, and those I was surrounded by.
Let me focus on the Navy ingredient and I offer this because it has application to you. To summarize what my association with the navy meant to me and I hope to you is to say, “A better you, more than you, more than you ever expected.
What do I mean by that?
A better you means you joined an organization with over a 200 yr history, deep in culture and rich in tradition. Certain concepts are ingrained. To some it might sound hokey but I believed in and applied the Navy core values to guide my actions. Those core values are Honor, Courage, Commitment. Other guidance held special meaning within a command structure such as “never relinquishing responsibility until properly relieved. Understanding, acknowledging and abiding by navy values will hold you in good stead no matter the path you take. CNO termed the uniform “Our Nations Cloth” and he would say never do anything to embarrass the uniform or your country. We came in to the navy all equal. It didn’t matter if you attended Harvard or Southeast Missouri State, if you were from a rural or urban area, if you were Asian, African-American, Hispanic or Caucasian. There is one standard with known expectations and if you didn’t meet those you were out. You were challenged so you competed and performed.
More than you. It’s a big navy with a lot of components and you are a part of it. You are part of a team. Everyone has a responsibility and everyone else depends on the other guy to do their job. That makes you relevant to the mission. If you watch flight operations on an aircraft carrier you will appreciate the choreography that goes with launching and recovering aircraft. It is a timely sequence of events and needs flawless execution to prevent catastrophe.
More than you ever expected. The expectations set are high. The learning process is fast paced and difficult. There is not a lot of time to teach so you make the effort to learn. You do things you never thought you could do. You watch others go before you and see them do it. You know others are coming after you, watching you to set the example. Your peers are wondering the same thing. Can we do this? You don’t want to let anybody down including yourself so you push yourself beyond your expectations.
Your parents are proud of you as am I. What I see when I look out here are St. Louis area youth exhibiting patriotism. I see an organization with discipline and structure. I see the pride in wearing the uniform and the pride that comes from accomplishing something you weren’t sure if you could do. That is why I say the navy program makes a better you, is more than you and more than you expected.
I also see the dedication from the sea cadet leaders and parents, the hours, the focus, the desire to do it right, to provide their kids an opportunity because they care.
The St. Louis area sea cadets (sons and daughters) are blessed and in good hands. You have a unique opportunity and an advantage in life because of what you experienced.
I wish you the very best of success. Thank you very much. If there is time I will take a few questions.
Charles Williams
Rear Admiral USN (ret)