WEBVTT

00:00.569 --> 00:02.940
- Marines, Sergeant Major Ruiz here.

00:03.349 --> 00:05.460
Let me first start off by saying what

00:05.460 --> 00:07.460
an honor and a privilege it is to

00:07.460 --> 00:09.714
serve as your 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

00:09.714 --> 00:11.641
For almost 30 years,

00:11.641 --> 00:13.570
I've loved wearing this uniform.

00:13.570 --> 00:16.495
And now, given the opportunity to continue to serve,

00:16.495 --> 00:19.763
to represent you, our families and our veterans,

00:19.763 --> 00:22.067
it's a task that I don't take lightly.

00:22.852 --> 00:24.672
Earlier today, Sergeant Major Black

00:24.672 --> 00:26.649
passed on to me the sword of office.

00:26.649 --> 00:29.749
And with that, Andrea and I wish he,

00:29.749 --> 00:32.630
his lovely bride Stacy, and family, the best of luck

00:32.630 --> 00:35.198
as they take on a new and demanding role.

00:35.198 --> 00:37.622
The words "thank you" are not enough

00:37.622 --> 00:39.353
to express our gratitude.

00:39.353 --> 00:41.434
And so, we're still marching forward.

00:41.434 --> 00:43.350
Change is still present,

00:43.350 --> 00:44.706
and that's okay.

00:44.706 --> 00:46.841
Our Corps today is fit to fight

00:46.841 --> 00:48.598
and it's getting better every day.

00:48.598 --> 00:50.603
Our equipment is getting better,

00:50.603 --> 00:52.197
our technology is getting smarter,

00:52.197 --> 00:55.071
and, more importantly, you are getting more lethal.

00:55.071 --> 00:57.982
It is in fact you, the individual Marine,

00:57.982 --> 00:59.930
that the Corps draws its strength from.

00:59.930 --> 01:02.758
Your professional and individual development

01:02.758 --> 01:04.984
is what we will continue to focus on.

01:04.984 --> 01:06.995
Upon earning the title Marine,

01:06.995 --> 01:08.943
you made a commitment to yourself,

01:08.943 --> 01:11.776
your family, your fellow Marines, and the Corps.

01:11.776 --> 01:13.504
I've made that same commitment.

01:13.504 --> 01:16.437
We must discipline our day and train hard

01:16.437 --> 01:19.093
with the goal of being better versions of ourselves

01:19.093 --> 01:20.598
than yesterday.

01:20.598 --> 01:22.168
This is a profession.

01:22.168 --> 01:24.059
General Smith and I are confident

01:24.059 --> 01:26.024
in the proficiency and professionalism

01:26.024 --> 01:28.072
of each and every one of you.

01:28.072 --> 01:30.042
For 248 years,

01:30.042 --> 01:32.548
Marines have served with honor and distinction.

01:32.548 --> 01:35.031
America and her allies depend on us

01:35.031 --> 01:37.209
to be the finest fighting force in the world.

01:37.209 --> 01:40.128
This is the responsibility given to us

01:40.128 --> 01:42.419
when we earn our Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

01:42.419 --> 01:45.423
It is the responsibility that I share with you.

01:45.423 --> 01:47.934
So I look forward to seeing you on the field

01:47.934 --> 01:50.572
and listening to you and your ideas.

01:50.572 --> 01:52.889
But today, do me a favor:

01:52.889 --> 01:55.660
go find a Marine to motivate and inspire.

01:55.660 --> 01:57.534
When we wear this cloth,

01:57.534 --> 01:59.247
we are never alone.

01:59.247 --> 02:00.901
Semper fi, Marines.