|
OINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Military and local
community members gathered to honor and recognize 120 military
enlistees during the Inaugural Our Community Salutes (OCS)
Recognition Ceremony at the USS Battleship Missouri Memorial May 17,
2015.
OCS of Hawaii is a community based initiative to
recognize and honor graduating high school seniors, who plan to join
the Armed Forces after graduation. Service members, military
veterans, community leaders, educators and businessmen and women
used the ceremony as a venue to congratulate the enlistees and their
families for stepping up to join the one percent of Americans who
serve in uniform.
All branches of service were represented
during the ceremony with enlistees joining the U.S. Army, Marine
Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Air Force National Guard.
Erica Rhea, Our Community Salutes (OCS) Hawaii president,
said that the ceremony is not only for the recruits, but for their
families as well.
|
High school graduates who enlisted in the U.S. military are honored during the Inaugural Our Community Salutes (OCS) Recognition Ceremony at the USS Battleship Missouri Memorial May 17, 2015, on Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in Hawaii. OCS of Hawaii is a community based initiative to recognize and honor graduating high school seniors, who plan to join the Armed Forces after graduation. One hundred and twenty high school graduates were recognized during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)
|
J“It's not only to say thank you to them, it's to say
thank you to their parents who had a big part in encouraging
them to join,” Rhea said. “I can tell you that it is a
rewarding experience to have not only the recruits but their
families come up. A lot of families aren't familiar with the
military so they might be very apprehensive of their kids
going off to join, so they may still be on the fence. When
they see this kind of welcome and see how much their
community appreciates them, it's very rewarding.”
Each enlistee was individually recognized during the
ceremony and received a certificate of appreciation and a
military coin to help acknowledge their commitment to their
country.
Guest speakers
including U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Finis A. Dodson, command
sergeant major of the 94th Army Air Missile Defense Command,
and Hawaii State Senator Fred Hemmings, also took time to
speak with the enlistees to offer guidance on their future
endeavors.
Dodson provided the enlistees advice on
becoming a future leader during his speech.
“Lead
from the front,” Dodson said. “Don't expect your soldiers to
do something that you are not willing to do yourself. Remain
mentally and physically fit. Execute orders in your own
name. Become the expert in whatever you are doing. Trust but
verify. Take care of soldiers by making sure they are ready
to fight. Dream big, but focus small. It's not time to reach
for the senior grade yet. Most of all have fun.”
Hemmings reassured enlistees that that their country stands
behind their military commitment.
“I want you to
leave here optimistic and knowing that you have the full
support of this nation,” Hemmings said. “You have great men
and women who have gone before you who will reach back and
help you along. Your officers, sergeant majors, and all
those in the military are eager to have you become a part of
their band of brothers and sisters.”
Anjenette
Aguilar, a U.S. Marine Corps enlistee from Roosevelt High
School, is ready to begin her career in the military.
“I am the first one at Roosevelt High School in three
years to join the Marine Corps,” Aguilar said. “I wanted a
challenge and my Uncle was a Marine and said a lot of good
stuff about it. I hope it's going to be fun. I'm going to
make it fun. Even though it may be scary, it will just make
you want to be stronger.”
By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2015
Comment on this article |
