U.S. Navy Reenlistment Another Sailor Continues to Support the Mission

I had the honor of reenlisting a bright and talented Sailor Friday. In this blog is the design of the plaque that I gifted to her to mark the day, and the speech I delivered on her behalf. 

The ceremony was a resounding success, and I am glad I was able to be a part of it. Concerning the speech, I epically failed at humor twice:

• The "Battleship" reference was intended to be funny, it fell flat, but I recovered by acknowledging my failure, which then everyone laughed.
• I ad-libbed after, "...we know...," I added, "you start to thin a little on the top, gain a few bags under the eyes."  Again nothing, and again, after acknowledging my failed attempt a humor by indicating I was dealing with a rough crowed, everyone laughed.

If you have a moment, review the speech, and I'd appreciate your feedback.

Design of the reenlistment qlaque gifted to IT1 Gilchrist

Reenlistment speech given on behalf of IT1 Gilchrist:

IT1 Shavale Gilchrist, thank you for providing me the opportunity to facilitate this ceremony. When I think of reenlistment, I think of the initial enlistment and what it takes to get to the point of reenlistment.

When enlisting we don’t know what it’s like to serve. You can Google it, ---- watch “Battleship.” Listen to those who’ve served share their experience, but, there is nothing that can truly communicate what it’s like to serve beyond actual service.

When reenlisting —— we know. Our experiences shape us and lead to a decision — separate or stay Navy.

On one hand, reenlistment provides job security and opportunities to continue and advance in a respectable career field.

On the other reenlistment means long deployments and spending an enormous amount of time separated from family and loved ones.

Bottom line: the decision to reenlist is not an easy choice.

For those of us that have chosen to stay Navy, I believe we share at least one commonality. We share a strong sense of duty to family and/or country.

For Petty Officer Gilchrist I’m sure her sense of duty is derived from growing up in the lone star state, where everybody’s family or friends.

I’m sure her sense of duty is derived from ensuring that her husband --- a fellow Sailor --- has a partner in every sense of the word.

As a fellow parent, I’m most certainly sure her sense of duty is derived from ensuring her beautiful young lady — Kaylah — has a mother that she can look to and be proud of.

The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.
IT1 directly impacts the training of combat-ready Naval forces by training her IT’s to be the future IT subject matter experts, as a first class she is a member of the Communications Department leadership, and when on watch, as the Communications Watch Officer, she leads her team to ensure our submarines maintain the ability to communicate with headquarters in order to deter aggression and maintain freedom on the high seas. Lastly, serving in Japan she’s an ambassador for the U.S. Navy, and American women, which she is represents both well.

It’s my opinion that we take for granted the success the Navy has been able to achieve. Let me reiterate, the Navy’s mission is essential to life as we know it, and would not be possible without a dedicated citizen, the mission would not be possible without a young Shavale Boone making the choice to ENLIST, and the present Information Systems Technician First Class Gilchrist making the choice to RE-ENLIST. 

The Navy is nothing without its people, the Navy would be nothing without people like you [IT1 Gilchrist]. With that, please join me in a round of applause for IT1 Gilchrist, as we thank her for making the tough choice to continue to serve with us and help us meet our mission.

Now, it is my privilege to discharge and distinct honor to re-enlist IT1 Gilchrist. 

Attention to Discharge.

Attention to Oath.

I, (name), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.