and now to address the class and administer the Oath of Office, it is my distinct honor
to reintroduce the Director of the United States Secret Service, Joseph Clancy
Well welcome to all of you, all the mothers and fathers, and brothers and sisters, colleagues
and friends that could be here today it's a very exciting day for the graduating
class but also for us as well I remember when I received the first call
back in 1983 I was selected as a Secret Service Agent
That same call that you received and I know I jumped up in my little apartment,
I was so excited Fortunately there was no one else in the apartment
so no one heard me, but it was tremendous, and I remember to this day how excited I was
to be a part of this Agency I would imagine all of you felt a great sense
of pride that day that you were selected and I suspect your family was as well
they were beaming with joy and admiration Don't ever forget that feeling and the responsibility
that comes with your selection I commend each of you for meeting our requirements
The fact that you are about to become a Special Agent demonstrates that you have the drive,
the sense of purpose and the persistence to perform the unique duties of the United States
Secret Service Special Agent There's a lot of talent and experience within
this class You were selected from thousands of applicants
and endured a battery of interviews and tests just to become a recruit
Now you have successfully completed the rigorous training program
You should be proud, you are now a member of an elite agency with a unique mission
Failure Is Not An Option You're now part of a legacy of over 150 years
I'm sure that throughout your training Instructors have mentioned you will be witnessing history
The Secret Service was there at the end of the Civil War
We witnessed the Spanish American War Arrested spies during World War One
Travelled with Roosevelt to Malta during World War Two
From the Cold War to Operation Enduring freedom we have protected America during our nation's
journey Last month the terrorist organization ISIS
attacked the nation of France It is unfortunate that we cannot stop time
but the United States Secret Service is prepared to meet the challenges that history presents us
Like the thousands of agents before you
You are the next generation to accept this solemn mission
Shortly after the Paris attacks, the President travelled safely under the protection of the
Secret Service to Turkey, the Philippines and Malaysia
This week the President returned safely from Paris
Throughout these events the Secret Service mission continued
Our mission did not change...it did not stop We stand today ready to meet these challenges
The core values of the Secret Service..Justice..Duty...Courage...Honesty...and Loyalty
These are not just benign terms, but rather expectations
The morale code that binds us together Do not be tempted to think that they are just
words For just as your commission books states
"Worthy of Trust and Confidence" These five words represent the character
the legacy of this agency and the sacrifices made from those that came before you
Speaking of Legacies On October 9th of this year we lost a valued
member of Secret Service family Assistant Director Jerry Parr
Does anyone here know who Jerry Parr is? Show of hands
Most of you probably do, but you don't know him by name possibly
I'll tell you a little story here Everyone who has worked in the Secret Service
remembers Jerry as the Agent who saved President Reagan's life during the assassination attempt
in 1981 You all have seen film of Mr. Parr covering
the president and throwing him in the limousine and getting him to the hospital
Later when speaking about the assignation attempt
Mr. Parr stated that what went through his mind as he heard the gunshots
He said quote "I sort of knew what they were" "and I've been waiting for them all of my
career in a way" "That's what every agent waits for, those
gunshots" Although he retired in 1985 Jerry's contributions
to this agency are an integral part of our history, just as your contributions will be
I mention Mr. Parr here today to illustrate that the Secret Service stands apart from
all other Federal agencies in it's duties and its mission
Mr. Parr was well aware of this distinction As a retired agent, he spoke to SATC Class
#134 in 1994 at their graduation He also spoke at mine in 1984
His words of wisdom apply today and I would like to read you some excerpts from his speech
to that graduating class Quote "You know from your training that the
Secret Service strives for excellence and competence from
top to bottom in fulfilling it's criminal and protective missions
Each of you are now connected to past generations of agents by a web of invisible obligations
that hold this family together Invisible Obligations do not get embedded
in the human psyche over night An organizational culture takes about a hundred
years to mature or about four generation Let me be specific
When Superintendent William Wood became our first Chief in 1865, he and 15 - 20 hired
Operatives went to work to suppress counterfeiting in the North and South following the Civil
War By 1866 over 200 criminals had been arrested
The first generation of Agents set the tone and style for the future of this agency
Just accomplish the job.....Period." end quote Mr. Parr goes on to state and again I quote
"An organizational culture is a a product of time, successes, sufferings, failures and
just plain hard work." "After a hundred years or so, deep roots are
developed and a corporate memory evolves." "While another agency can purchase persons,
equipment, technology similar to the Secret Service, it can not buy this corporate memory."
"This is a priceless commodity" "But all organizational assumptions must be
scrutinized by every generation" His last words to the Class 134 that day were
the following: "As you are commissioned today, there are
men and women perhaps younger than you who are also completing classes in the Baka Valley
of Lebanon or in other camps" "We call these men and women terrorists"
"They call themselves patriots" "They are people focussed and willing to die
for their cause" "Somewhere, sometime in this generation, you
may have to face those individuals" "It is a strange paradox, that they and we
resemble one another, yet are totally dedicated to opposite goals"
"You men and women must equally be dedicated to your mission to prevail in those moments
of truth" "Your training here will give you the decisive
edge" "I suspect your generation may face some daunting
task but I also know that not only will you endure, you will prevail and that will be
your destiny" end quote Wise words from a very wise man, and his wisdom
is just as relevant today as it was 21 years ago
Your starting your career at a critical time in our agencies history
Never before has the Secret Service been under so much scrutiny from the media to the halls
of Congress This is a great opportunity to show we are
on the right path That destiny will be determined your commitment
to the mission and to this agency All of you have made sacrifices that have
brought you to this place where you are today However, to whom much is given, much is required
Today you find yourselves being elevated to a higher of responsibility and to a higher
level of accountability We must keep in mind that as dedicated, as
committed and as passionate as we may be to our mission
Our adversaries are just as dedicated, just as committed, just as passionate about their
mission To attack and destroy our freedoms, our democracy,
our American way of life The great philosopher Plato stated: quote
"It does not matter if the cobblers and masons fail to do their jobs well"
"But if the guardians fail....the democracy will crumble" end quote
I will ask each of you as you receive your Commission Book today to be mindful of the
footsteps in which you walk Remember the men and women that came before
you over the past 150 years and who have dedicated themselves to our mission, our duty and to
each other Throughout the past several weeks, you have
developed camaraderie within your class I hope that you will take that sense of team
and mission wherever go in your careers in the Secret Service
However, I also want to stress that while your work is important, your relationships
with your family are even more so I realize we consider Law Enforcement as a
family but the family I'm talking about her today
is the one that got you here The family that instilled in you the values
and the character that helped you choose Law Enforcement as your life's career
During my career as an agent I developed many close friendships, but in the end we cannot
forget the sacrifices our families made In a few minutes I will present you with your
badge and Commission Book This is not a right granted to everyone, it
is a privilege A privilege reserved for a select few
and it calls for a higher level of personal sacrifice and integrity
I had the distinct honor of placing my signature on your Commission Book and authorizing you
to bare firearms, and make arrests and most important, commending you the entire
world as Worthy of Trust and Confidence Always remember the American people have the
right to expect this and those we protect, deserve it
I am privileged and proud to be Director of this organization
I respect distinguished past, and have high expectations for you, our future
Your days ahead as a member of the Secret Service will be exciting and filled with both
challenges and opportunities Take advantage of these opportunities and
help make this organization one that every employee is proud to be a part of
and now It's my honor to administer your Oath
Please stand Class 315 raise your right hand and repeat
after me I, do solemnly swear
that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
Against all enemies foreign and domestic That I take this obligation freely
Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion
And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office
On which I am about to enter So help me God
Congratulations to each of you and let me be the first to welcome and recognize you
as United States Secret Service Special Agents