The United States Military Academy at West Point graduated 995 cadets from the Class of 2015 this morning at Michie Stadium in a spectacular ceremony that featured General Martin E. Dempsey ’74, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the commencement speaker. After taking their Oath of Office, these members of West Point’s 217th graduating class were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army (three will be commissioned in the Air Force, one in the Navy and one in the Marine Corps). This year’s class includes 162 women, 97 African Americans, 87 Hispanics, 66 Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 10 Native Americans. The class also includes 8 combat veterans, 13 international cadets, and 88 of its members are sons and daughters of West Point graduates.
In a brief (12 minutes) but impactful and memorable commencement address, General Dempsey had the Class of 2015 singing lines from Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” (“…I am leaving today”), while he himself rocked a passage from Bruno Mars’ hit “Uptown Funk” (“Don’t believe me, just watch”). Dempsey, who will be stepping down from his post in September, reminded the class that he started his Chairman role in 2011, just as they started their West Point four-year journey. “So, as the guy who currently occupies one end of the Long Gray Line,” Dempsey said, “speaking to those who are about to become its newest members, I offer you the highest and simplest compliment of our profession—Well Done.” He then told the cadets that they were about to experience three moments that would shape their lives in ways they cannot imagine: their graduating, their commissioning, and their first salute. By graduating from the preeminent leadership institution in world, he told them, “…you demonstrate that you are ready for the challenges history has in store for you.” He also impressed on the cadets that, upon commissioning as second lieutenants, they will have the responsibility of caring for America’s sons and daughters. Lastly, he reminded cadets about the tradition of the first salute and the dollar one gives in return to the person who salutes him or her, a symbolic act of the respect and trust between leader and led. Dempsey then showed the class the dollar he gave to Master Sergeant Bernie Henderson, which Henderson had framed and returned to Dempsey last June along with the note, “I told you I would return this to you when you made general; sorry it took so long for me to send it back.” “That was his way of letting me know that I had earned his trust,” Dempsey said, and to show his trust to the members of the Class of 2015, Dempsey gave each a signed dollar as they exited the stage with their diploma. “In the years ahead," he said, "I hope you remember not who gave it to you, but what it means—we trust you.”
After the traditional hat toss, graduates exited in mass to various bar-pinning ceremonies across post. Their second lieutenant’s bars are engraved with “65-15” to commemorate the bond they have with the Class of 1965. That Class, which just celebrated its 50th Class Reunion, has gripped hands with the Class of 2015 since their March Back from Beast Barracks in 2011. Those graduating today represent approximately 77 percent of the cadets who entered West Point almost four years ago.