Schools

President Obama: Coast Guard Mission Greater Than Ever

President Barack Obama is in Connecticut today for the Coast Guard Academy graduation.

The cadets of the will face a more complex range of challenges and responsibilities than ever when they enter the service, President Barack Obama told the Class of 2011 at the academy’s commencement on Wednesday.

Obama praised the U.S. Coast Guard for its role in everything from stopping drug traffic to securing ports to search and rescue. He said the service played a key role in the response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“While we can never predict what the future may hold, we know that the complex missions asked of our Coast Guard have never been more important,” said Obama.

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The duties of the Coast Guard have expanded along with the changing world, he said. The service is now involved in the protection of shipping in the Persian Gulf, preventing the smuggling of deadly weapons into American ports, and combating piracy off the Horn of Africa. Obama said he is committed to efforts to strengthen the branch such as bringing more cutters and airplanes to the service, as well as improved housing and child care for its members.

“We will never waver in the defense of this country we love. None of these missions will be easy, and none are without risk,” he said.

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Obama said that the initiatives will help the Coast Guard, but that the success of the 229 cadets who today became ensigns ultimately depends on their own actions. He also thanked the academy’s faculty and staff, as well as the parents of the cadets, for supporting them on their path to commencement.

“Cadets, today is your day," he said, "but it’s also a testament to all those who supported you on your journey."

Obama noted that the Coast Guard has had a role in military operations in Afghanistan, and referenced the raid that killed terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by saying that every member of the military can take pride that the country’s greatest danger “will never threaten America again.” He said that while some have “counted us out,” he was confident that the strength and spirit of Americans will assure the successful future of the country.

“We haven’t always known how to get there. We haven’t always known every shoal that lies ahead,” he said. “But we are sure of our destination.”

A couple of cadets got personalized greetings from the President. One went to the same Hawaiian high school as him, and another was recognized for receiving the Truman Scholarship, making the academy one of the few schools to get it three years in a row. The class as a whole, said Obama, boasts the highest grade point average in the school’s history.

Obama’s speech was at times lighthearted. He recognized Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe, outgoing superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, for his 34 years of service by commenting, “I have to say he looks a little young to retire. You don’t want him roaming around the house. Make sure he’s doing something.” He joked that the class had received a reputation for having to wait for several things, including his own appearance due to a delay in arrival, and responded by exercising his authority as Chief Executive.

“I hereby absolve all cadets serving restrictions for minor offenses,” he said. “The superintendent reminded me, that that’s minor offenses…”

Along with Burhoe; Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, who oversees the federal government branch which encompasses the Coast Guard, Obama greeted each of the cadets as they received their commissions and degrees.




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