Current:Home > NewsDefense secretary tells US Naval Academy graduates they will lead ‘through tension and uncertainty’-LoTradeCoin
Defense secretary tells US Naval Academy graduates they will lead ‘through tension and uncertainty’
View Date:2024-12-23 20:11:40
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told U.S. Naval Academy graduates Friday that they will be leading future sailors and Marines “through tension and uncertainty,” noting how two graduates from last year were just aboard the USS Carney in the Red Sea, where they helped shoot down missiles and drones.
The Navy has stationed multiple ships in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, which has heightened tensions in the region. The secretary said the two ensigns, who only just graduated last year, were aboard the Navy destroyer and “helped defend the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”
“They helped those in distress at sea,” Austin said. “They helped degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.”
The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel during that nation’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“In fact, the Carney conducted 51 engagements in six months, which is the most direct Navy engagement with a foe since World War II,” Austin said.
The Red Sea, stretching from Egypt’s Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, is a key trade route for global shipping and energy supplies.
The secretary said the two graduates from last year asked him to tell the newly minted Navy and Marine Corps officers that they were ready to serve, because the academy is “the ultimate team-building exercise.”
“And what comes next is not a drill,” Austin said. “You will lead sailors and Marines through tension and uncertainty. Your teammates will look to you for leadership.”
There are a total of 1,040 graduates in the class of 2024 — 725 men and 315 women. Of them, 760 were commissioned as Navy ensigns, including 520 men and 240 women. There were 258 commissioned as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, including 188 men and 70 women.
The newly commissioned officers will serve at least five years.
It was the second straight year Austin gave the commissioning speech at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Graduation speakers, including the president, vice president and defense secretary, generally rotate between service academies each year.
“I’m just happy that you were so eager to bring back an old West Point guy,” said Austin, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. “And for anyone who thinks that the second installment can’t be as good as the first — hey, just think of “Top Gun: Maverick.”
veryGood! (216)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Mixed Use
- St. John’s coach Rick Pitino is sidelined by COVID-19 for game against Seton Hall
- The Pacific Northwest braces for a new round of ice and freezing rain after deadly weekend storm
- Top official says Kansas courts need at least $2.6 million to recover from cyberattack
- US Diplomats Notch a Win on Climate Super Pollutants With Help From the Private Sector
- French President Macron uses broad news conference to show his leadership hasn’t faded
- Some New Hampshire residents want better answers from the 2024 candidates on the opioid crisis
- Google layoffs continue as tech company eliminates hundreds of jobs in ad sales team
- Residents urged to shelter in place after apparent explosion at Louisville business
- US, South Korea and Japan conduct naval drills as tensions deepen with North Korea
Ranking
- Why California takes weeks to count votes, while states like Florida are faster
- Bernie Sanders forces US senators into a test vote on military aid as the Israel-Hamas war grinds on
- A Guide to Michael Strahan's Family World
- Minnesota governor’s $982 million infrastructure plan includes a new State Patrol headquarters
- Pete Rose fans say final goodbye at 14-hour visitation in Cincinnati
- 'Bluey' is a kids show with lessons for everyone
- Cicadas are back in 2024: Millions from 2 broods will emerge in multiple states
- The Pacific Northwest braces for a new round of ice and freezing rain after deadly weekend storm
Recommendation
-
Man is 'not dead anymore' after long battle with IRS, which mistakenly labeled him deceased
-
Mikaela Shiffrin scores emotional victory in slalom race for 94th World Cup skiing win
-
Lawyers ask federal appeals court to block the nation’s first execution by nitrogen hypoxia
-
Cocaine residue was found on Hunter Biden’s gun pouch in 2018 case, prosecutors say
-
Why was Jalen Ramsey traded? Dolphins CB facing former team on 'Monday Night Football'
-
Who is NFL's longest-tenured head coach with Bill Belichick out of New England?
-
Coachella 2024 Lineup Revealed: Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat and No Doubt to Headline
-
Some New Hampshire residents want better answers from the 2024 candidates on the opioid crisis