In one of the most significant moments of their cadet careers, more than 1,100 members of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2028 officially swore allegiance to defend the United States and committed to their final two years at West Point and acknowledged a five-year active-duty obligation during the Affirmation Ceremony on Aug. 16 at Eisenhower Hall Theatre.
Honoring their motto, “No Calling Too Great,” the USMA Class of 2028 reinforced its responsibility to the academy and one day serving in the military as members of the Long Gray Line in this annual ceremony for second-class cadets.
The event took place a day before the start of the academic year and began with remarks by the class president, Class of 2028 Cadet Xavier Bruchon.
Once Bruchon completed his speech, he introduced the guest speaker, retired Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, USMA Class of 1978 and part of 2028 class’s 50-year affiliate class.
After Bostick spoke about his 38-year military career to the Cow Class, the Commandant of Cadets, Brig. Gen. Joseph Katz, took to the podium to administer the Oath of Affirmation to the class. Afterward, more than 60 members of the 50-year affiliate class presented commemorative coins to each member of the USMA Class of 2028.
As the ceremony concluded, the class shared in many hugs, handshakes and selfies to mark the moment of their communal experience in symbolizing their dedication to the Profession of Arms.
Class of 2028 Cadet Tehya Meers, a Law and Legal Studies and Chinese major, took in the moment of the commitment ahead and the promise to serve the nation.
“This is the next step where it becomes serious at this moment because we are now saying, ‘Yes, we are committed to staying at West Point and then also becoming officers,’” Meers said. “Now, everyone here is in the same boat as we have that commitment to the country, and I think that’s kind of cool. It’ll bind our class together more after this day – I’m so excited.”
The Fayetteville, Arkansas, native, believes it is “special and very humbling” to do this since no one in her immediate family is in the military.
“It is special for my little sister and family as a whole to see me do this,” Meers explained. “I’m very committed to becoming an officer and being the best officer I can be.”
Meers just spent the summer involved with the regimental staff during Cadet Basic Training, Beast II session. It was a position that helped her gather more leadership perspective.
“I got to see more of the officership because I worked with officers more closely than being a squad leader,” Meers stated. “Being on the planning side, working with those officers, it kind of solidified that I want to do this and gave me a little peek into what my future will be like. It was very good for my development, leading people and then also seeing how officers work in that environment.”
With the 50-year affiliate class present for the event, Meers said she felt it was remarkable to grip hands with the Long Gray Line.
“West Point is kind of a family, and (the 50-year affiliate) coming back to see their quote unquote ‘kids making it to that next level,’ it’s super cool to connect those generations,” Meers said. “I just came back from a Beast leadership detail, and I saw the old grads marching with (the USMA Class of 2030), it’s great that they come out for all of these milestones that they also went through – I feel very honored that they’re here.”
Class of 2028 Cadet Bradon Wolfe, a Geospatial Information major from Syracuse, New York, said it was a great moment of reflection for him and his classmates to “see how far we’ve come in the short two years we’ve been here.”
In mentioning his summer detail where he was the Cadet Basic Training, Beast I Delta Company Platoon Sergeant, it was an experience where “we have seen how we’ve grown and challenged ourselves since arriving here.”
However, Affirmation and taking the oath is the next step in the process of building themselves into officers over the next two years.
“Overall, Affirmation itself, I believe is a sentiment shared by myself and my classmates where we already made the commitment to being here when we accepted our appointments,” Wolfe explained. “With that, tonight is the next step in that journey …I feel we have worked hard for this moment, and it’s a good time to look back, reflect, but enjoy what’s to come.”
Wolfe said enjoyed his summer detail because it “handed him the keys to the platoon, which is what we’re all working toward in the next few years.”
“It helped me see not only how far I’ve come, but what I’m capable of,” he said. “It affirmed the love I have working with people, working within the Army and then, ultimately, being a leader of character, and trying to be the best person I can be for my subordinates every single day.”
Committing his future to the Army and building his own legacy is something he said he feels deeply about, especially walking the hallowed grounds of West Point every day.
“If you just walk around the campus, we see titans standing up on statues, and you get used to it at a certain point,” Wolfe mentioned. “When you take a step back and look at some of the alumni who come back and visit, including Medal of Honor recipients and highly decorated officers, it’s really an honor to join those ranks and take this next step and be one step closer to where they were.”
Wolfe talked about the unique experience of having the 50-year affiliate members come and share in their moment and celebrate with them.
“They’ve been here with us through all the milestones,” Wolfe stated. “It really shows how much they care about this school … and I think it’s great that they volunteered their time to come here. We all appreciate it. I’m excited to join the Long Gray Line with them, and hopefully someday, 50 years from now, I can do the same for those cadets.”
With classes beginning the next day, celebrating the moment came with restraint as Meers had to do some homework to prepare for her first day of class. However, she did share some time with friends during the weekend.
“I went out this weekend and watched a movie while hanging out with my friends,” she said. “But I think I’ll fully celebrate by just doing well in my classes.”
As for Wolfe, he planned to finish the evening calling home and talking to his parents because they have been encouraging through every step of his time at the academy.
“They’ve been a great help to me,” Wolfe acknowledged. “Not only in high school when I made the decision to come here, but they’ve been fully supportive while I’ve been here and when I’m able to go home on pass or block leave.
“They call me and reach out all the time,” he concluded. “They do their best to understand the things we go through. They’re tuning in right now on the live video feed for today, so that support back home has meant everything to me – I’m really grateful for that.”