2019 West Point Graduation Closing Minutes Alma Mater to Toss

The culmination of the 2019 West Point Graduation with the singing of the Alma Mater, the Oath of Office as the 985 cadets accept their responsibilities as 2nd Lts in the US Army, the Army Song, the Benediction and the order process from the Superintendent to the Commandant to the First Captain who turns and orders "Dismissed". Video by Ken Kraetzer for Sons of the American Legion Radio and Rallypoint.com on 20190525

[@Frank-4v]

This was awesome to watch. It's crazy how, as a now middle-age dude, the brightest and best look so young. I wish all of them success and safety in their new career.

[@lesseirgpapers9245]

How many cheated this year?

[@dougnewman8379]

I was such a f*** up and wastoid when I was 19 and 20. I really admire people who have this level of focus & maturity at this age. I would up joining the Navy and retiring as a reservist. But still, it takes a special person to do what these people have done.

[@chang4190]

When they all threw their hats it was beautiful

[@ninjaked1265]

Had to rewind that multiple times

[@lesseirgpapers9245]

Do they now all have two moms? Obese?

[@michaelelliott521]

My Father was class of '52. Was 10 years later asked to come back and teach Military History and US Foriegn Policy from 62-67

[@Musashi-ry3tg]

A big congrats to you all ! Love you & pray for you all ❤️🙏‼️

[@miller2082]

Congratulations, class 2019 may those who passed will be a great leader for the nee generation.

[@user-lp4bl7gq7g]

This dude w the camera made me so motion sick moving it 20 mph

[@KadeCarroll]

take a peek at mine :) it wont make you sick!

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

We had to rush to front standing position

[@virgoandennic]

Lmao I know

[@Brandon-ln5hr]

Loved every bit of this

[@wilfredocoquioco6828]

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU WEST POINTER.....

[@davidwadsworth8982]

Love that song so dam much. I went to three of these graduation services, for each of the class's I trained at Camp Buckner and Natural Bridge.I take a small amount of pride knowing that was a part of their development into leaders and Army Officers. I pray I did a good job. I never met a one who I would not follow into battle.Do what they ordered me to do, no matter the cost. HOOAHH !

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Great comment, why we do this, let me know if you want to call our veterans Radio show. We are on every Monday at 230 EST on WVOX.COM.

[@bo0tsy1]

Thank you West Point Grads, Class of 2019.

[@helen5472]

The oath this class just took is extremely important. May each graduate be faithful and remember the ethics and lessons learned at this great Academy.. Our military are our heroes. May you all be blessed in your sacrifice and love of your country..

[@kidou123456]

Congratulations, class 2019!

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Apologize for that, very fast moving event, a lot of faces to try and work in.

[@nenedizon1596]

@dee jay ! A

[@candyforday7516]

I love this atmosphere

[@1964American]

All of you look magnificent and I wish you the best of what the Army has to offer. Serve with all your mind, heart and soul and remember that we are counting on you for you are the ones that will be leading our young men and women in future battles. God Bless and God Speed!

[@erickporro1357]

They literally repeated him saying “I [state your name]...” lol

[@raddoh]

Congrats to all, future top officers of the US ARMY and those accredited foreign students to the Armed Forces of their country as Generals.

[@lesseirgpapers9245]

How many cheated thsi year?🤣No one respects these actors with two moms.🤣

[@lauriecrilly8767]

Goodbye knowing I am proud and protected

[@davidwadsworth8982]

dam,they REALLY EARNED this moment.

[@quickdeuce]

Well done graduating cadets. Welcome to the corp of Army Officers 2019! Now begins your career as an officer of America's United States Army, do you duty well, your men and America's Freedom is counting on each of you.!

[@ruthannsteen9324]

That’s right we are all counting on you!

[@ruthannsteen9324]

For the saving grace of our beloved America.

[@user-vi3dd1tb5z]

Four years soon congratulations

[@hawkinatorgamer9725]

A butterbar with a compass is the worst navigational tool known to man.

[@shellmatheis5258]

Loved it. Didn't think the camera was jumping.

[@jadengomez5564]

Congratulations! Go USA!!

[@WillZipf]

Congrats to all

[@ammielclemente5637]

I would love to see this day in about 7 years.

[@jackiejourdan584]

Congratulations Steven Giland

[@wolfpack4694]

Welcome to the Long Gray Line 2019

[@RayDoyouagree]

They attended a dumbed down version of West Point

[@fernquinn5336]

minute 2:07 and beyond. Do nor forget your oath. Real Americans are behind you!

[@analynporras5999]

Congrats USMA batch 19, 2nd Lt. James Tyler. From Philippines.

[@dianajames4717]

DAM YOU GUYS MUST BE VERY DISCIPLINED I AM JEALOUS

[@user-xv8uq3tj6d]

All the best!

[@pinoyako9830]

From being snappy to being in the hood... but still snappy

[@623mash]

If you want to be dizzy, keep on watching!

[@joeye7518]

Future lost butter bars. Just kidding, respect from the enlisted side.

[@junli2147]

Joey E 20 mins into land nav 💀

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

Bless these young men form Canada 🇨🇦 bothers forever America 🇺🇸

[@ilopez7372]

Congrats 🍾🎉🎈

[@steplumpkin5432]

LOVED, THIS BIGTIME!!!!!!!! THANKS 100 MILl. UPLOADER.

[@chonghunyi]

Happy!!! Happy!!!!! Everyone is happy..... Great!!!! American futures!!!

[@user-xl1yb2hp4j]

God bless America

[@adrianlois7322]

Que mística que orgullo para estos/as chicos graduarse ahí sus carreras serán en un submarino un acorazado etc con grado de tenientes creo egresan

[@henryfutch5890]

And now the fun part retrieving one's hat. Lol

[@isseikranos1703]

Henry Futch the graduates don’t get them back little siblings run on the field and keep them. I somehow got my brothers when I was like 5 amidst all the confusion

[@jeffreyli7421]

They don’t lol

[@lorrycamill941]

How can’t you respect the military ,🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@scottadler]

Congratulations! But what happens to all the hats?

[@badguy1481]

Probably one of the strangest things: After 4 years of having various cadet ranks...and I'm sure working hard to achieve those ranks...NOW they are all "Butter Bar", 2nd Lieutenants. All the same!

[@keeganf1882]

Great group of guys!

[@hermosotubo3824]

welcome to the battlefield.

[@michaelharrington7656]

On occasions like this you need the John Ford touch.

[@lequang5038]

Love it

[@rogerbrady1600]

congraduations ltd. Martino

[@whiteclifffl]

Roger Brady How did you spell the word congratulations?

[@nattathidacharipachana2541]

Congratulations 👍🇺🇸👏

[@austingroce8020]

i literally met some of these guys two months ago oh my lord

[@voidwalker3042]

Clare Logue academy cadets take 6 years active and 2 reserve I think

[@ryankuypers1819]

@@voidwalker3042 Almost. 5 years active and 3 years IRR (individual ready reserve; not the traditional Reserves). It changed in 1995 from 6/2.

[@Bshaef]

What a bunch of great looking soldiers. I feel safe and secure knowing that they are responsible for our freedom and security.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Amen to that!

[@RayDoyouagree]

Ha

[@arrielradja5522]

So this is your guys new leader

[@johnmckeon3468]

Congratulations to the class of 2019. God's speed. Beat Navy!

[@dawwinnmar1313]

Congratulations USArmy

[@Goffas_and_gumpys]

Graduated huh? Right then, get those stripes off, they belong to the workers 😁 Congratulations and happy soldiering, it's what you make of it. Best profession in the world. Army 1985-2010 retired.

[@yewtan1971]

Without the workers, the Army can't fight to win a war. Show some respect.

[@Goffas_and_gumpys]

@@yewtan1971 how about you read my comment again fuckwad, then delete your confused crap.

[@yewtan1971]

@@Goffas_and_gumpys sarcasm dim wit.

[@Jupe367]

Are the uniform theirs with the cap or just on loan? How do retrieve their cap or is it picked up by the organizers and they pick it up later?

[@micknavirruc8588]

Jupe367 Hi Jupe, the uniforms belong to the cadets......if you lose your hat, so be it. It’s worth the loss. ( I never got my cap back ) For Excellence We Strive USMA ‘85 Best of Luck Class of 2019.

[@tonyrowland9216]

@@micknavirruc8588 My grandson never let go of his. It still hangs over our fireplace.class 2001

[@DLTD]

Kinda wish the leader would emphasize on defending American from foreign AND DOMESTIC!!! Thank you for you service!

[@christiantheologyunited3707]

DLTD The army doesn’t really mess with domestic affairs. This is an army leader military academy

[@jaydavis155]

Fighting domestic threats on the ideological battlefield. These folks are well-trained in that regard as well.

[@bataratirtadijaya2446]

SO HELP ME GOD!! THESE WORD IS ALWAYS!! AND THAT'S WHY GOD ALWAYS BLESS THE AMERIKA🇺🇸

[@johnmorales6281]

Did the Commandant say Beat Navy? Excellent lol

[@user-rn7nl3li9s]

Впечатляет!

[@mattt2862]

All of the dislikes are marines

[@63586jonathan]

It probably is lol. Marine and all of my family went to the marines. I still think army is amazing

[@ryankuypers1819]

Or people who don't appreciate the military and the freedoms it provides them.

[@joeye7518]

Or its the cameraman who needs to be fired.

[@richardfrancis5406]

Hopefully someone will know if they get their actual hat back or is it left behind...just always wondered..and Congratulations to all the graduates for their very hard work and study...

[@kathleenr.3508]

My understanding is they don't - they tuck money into the hats and children get to pick them up after and keep the money. That's what one video I watched said anyway!

[@kayphetinthisone4282]

I’m going to be there in day

[@imchasenbank5445]

Me too let’s make it happen! 💪🏾

[@isaiaszacxx]

Porque alguns militares possuem a insígnia invertida?

[@linsonr2377]

I have a question, so when they graduate do the go right into the Army or do they need to do something else?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

They Commission about an hour after graduation ends at individual ceremonies often in groups by teams. After they often have vacation time before heading to a duty station or an Army training course.

[@lorrycamill941]

God Bless USA 🇺🇸

[@Xerdoz]

Where's the shouting? How the hell can they use their phones as well?

[@josemoreno3334]

Go ARMY.

[@keshawnbrown4378]

Gabrielle young West point twenty

[@dorothygale5672]

So beautiful . Congratulations young men and women. You make us proud!!!!!😀

[@chhunalywealth91]

8:50 song name please ?

[@keijomattinen5447]

I dare say it must have been difficult not to swing the camera all the time. Next time you may want consider a tripod. Otherwise a slendid show.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Yes good point, the moment happens very fast, we are allowed to move forward to the side of the stage just before the last phase of the ceremony starts, sometimes i've used a monopod to hold the camera which helps. Key thing as you point is to move the camera slowly in trying to show all the faces and panorama. Thanks for your comment. Ken

[@philipbeekley7504]

Congrats and welcome to the Officer Corps. But for the amateur videographer, please learn to pan slower so that the image isn't blurred from the too-fast camera movement.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Yes good point, we ate learning that there maybe better equipment we can use.

[@RayDoyouagree]

They attended a dumbed down version of West Point

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

No such thing. 4 Rhode scholars in last graduating class.

[@badguy1481]

How ANYONE can go through 4 years of that BS...is beyond me. My hat would be off to them (if I wore a hat!). Good Luck to all!

[@cherinekemm2885]

Very brave and deceplined young people ,world needs more of them ,

[@michaelsix9684]

the academy is pretty selective on admissions, the people who can't or won't do it don't get in or will leave early

[@candyforday7516]

Someday I will go to West Point 🇹🇭🇺🇸

[@RayDoyouagree]

big mistake they will steal the best years of your life.

[@joshtaylor4980]

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL 👍 MY GOD BLESS YOU ALL🙏 🇺🇸

[@ryandukes1984]

My son wants to go to West Point what’s the best way for him to try to get in? I’ve heard it’s hard to get into West Point.

[@spantorris7911]

West Point is one of the best schools in the US so getting is pretty hard ,but if your son is dedicated enough he will be able to get in, a couple of things he should probably do to up his chances to go to West Point is him joining ROTC, doing some sort of team sport like American football or soccer, finishing high school early is also really good because the people over at West Point see that as a effort being made towards getting into the school, having good grades and having a fit body will also help much and probably the most important things of all being that he is 100 percent sure of this and has a desire to go through hell to serve his country. West Point is a hard academy to be able to get into and an even harder one to stay in but if your son wants to go through the path of becoming an officer in the Army he has probably picked one of the best life goals out there, just make sure to support him and don't help to much a part from where its needed. A while ago I had someone young come up to me and ask the same thing and now he is a Major in the Army, I'm sure your son will be able to make it through and become an officer and one day you will surely see him with excitement and an indescribable level of proudness as he stands on the same field with the same beautiful uniform swearing oath as a new officer. Good luck, hope he makes it.

[@erichobsb4672]

There are many courses that can be officers. But is it better to graduate from West Point University to have a higher rank?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Graduates of West Point receive the same initial rank 2nd Lt as graduates of ROTC and Officer Candidate School. As careers develop West Point graduates tend to do very well in earning important assignments and promotions. West Point graduates form a very important network and often call upon each other for advice and assistance.

[@erichobsb4672]

Thank you very much for your reply.

[@renemoyamata263]

Yes these men and women are now Second Lieutenants but they still have much to learn about what it takes to be an excellent leader.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Yes leadership development is a process, you follow, you do a lot of things others don't have too, give them opportunities to lead small groups, then larger ones. Often said at West Point, young officers need to learn from the NCOs.

[@romanproductions2160]

How are the cadets gonna find their hats since they threw them in the air?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

That is the end if the cover, children are allowed to run in and pick up a hat and take home as a souvenir. Immediately after ceremony the new Graduates change into their officer uniforms with new covers for their commissioning ceremonies an hour or so later.

[@emediongumoh1053]

What’s the first song being played by the band please?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

The West Point Alma Mater

[@yosh_io]

This guy was the camera op for Saving Private Ryan

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Great movie to be a part off.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Wish I got paid like that video guy.

[@user-fv5tt8zi2w]

젊은이들 요 순간을 늘 기억하지요.

[@Ralph_Smith0724]

*What happened to the hats. Are they considered trash after the ceremony?*

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

No, hundreds of the small children attending are held back by ropes until the hat toss then are allowed to run out onto the field to pick up a hat and wear home as a souvenir, in genius way to keep them engaged. The new 2LTs change into officer uniforms right after for Commissioning ceremonies around the Post.

[@widciyamck8677]

“Hey dad, can I see your slow motion graduation video?”

[@whiteclifffl]

Diversity destroys. E Pluribus Unum!

[@garymac4180]

Got sea sick watching this very fast moving event.

[@albertolopez3702]

Larga vida a la Doctrina Militar de los Estados Unidos. Dios los bendiga.

[@Poppy-sc6vk]

Why do they have enlisted ranks on their arms?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Those stripes represent their positions in the Corps of Cadets.

[@dodoslovensko]

Why are they not standing highest rank /tallest to shortest ?

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Believe the front seating is based on special honors these cadets received, top 10 class rank, Athletes of year.

[@badra1593]

كان يجب أن أتخرج من هذه الأكاديمية العسكرية

[@divinaledwith8167]

Out that artmey out fone passaway

[@jpxyytaroh0653]

01. 「Japan」　⇒「World Emperor」⇒「Cow」⇒「E = Eagle」 02. 「USA」=「Emperor's Son」⇒「Cow Boy / Texas」⇒「Counry」⇒「Civil War / USA. 03. 「USA」=「Emperor's Son, 6th=Star」⇒「1 Star / Texas」⇒「13 Star / US Flag. 04. 「Japan 」=「Emperor's Son, 5th=Shine」⇒「Sun Shine」⇒「Rising Sun / Navy Flag.

[@darwinudtuhan7504]

All of you will go to Vietnam some of you comeback home some of you don't. 😕🙏

[@keshawnbrown4378]

Real

[@Jimmyphn]

Guy at 6:19 were ready to dismiss