WEBVTT 00:09.739 --> 00:11.739 Good morning ladies and gentlemen , 00:11.739 --> 00:13.899 distinguished guests , friends and 00:13.899 --> 00:16.139 family . I am Sergeant First Class 00:16.139 --> 00:18.770 Justin Drake , originally from Locust 00:18.770 --> 00:21.379 Grove , Georgia . On behalf of the 00:21.379 --> 00:23.490 United States Army parachute team and 00:23.490 --> 00:25.712 the commander , Lieutenant Colonel Alan 00:25.712 --> 00:28.739 Wilson , welcome to the 2025 Golden 00:28.739 --> 00:30.572 Knights assessment and selection 00:30.572 --> 00:33.889 graduation . Today is the 00:33.889 --> 00:36.220 accumulation of 12 weeks of rigorous 00:36.220 --> 00:38.442 training and endurance . Throughout the 00:38.442 --> 00:40.109 duration of this course , the 00:40.109 --> 00:42.109 candidates and cadre have completed 00:42.109 --> 00:45.880 2,792 free fall parachute jumps . 00:46.419 --> 00:48.680 This program started on September 2nd 00:48.790 --> 00:52.259 with 16 candidates . Today , 8 have 00:52.259 --> 00:54.426 been selected and will be knighted and 00:54.426 --> 00:56.659 join the ranks of the elite Army 00:56.659 --> 00:59.020 parachute team , the Golden Knights . 01:07.230 --> 01:09.452 Ladies and gentlemen , the cadre of the 01:09.452 --> 01:12.150 2025 Golden Knights assessment and 01:12.150 --> 01:14.510 selection from Walhalla , South 01:14.510 --> 01:17.449 Carolina . He's an airborne information 01:17.449 --> 01:21.269 technology specialist with 2,999 free 01:21.269 --> 01:23.660 fall parachute jumps . Sergeant First 01:23.660 --> 01:25.790 Class Ben Hall . 01:30.419 --> 01:32.252 From Orlando , Florida , he's an 01:32.252 --> 01:34.290 airborne psychological operations 01:34.290 --> 01:38.290 specialist with 1,999 free fall 01:38.290 --> 01:41.040 parachute jumps . Sergeant First Class 01:41.050 --> 01:42.790 Zach Grittenstein . 01:47.849 --> 01:50.290 From Shelby , North Carolina , he's an 01:50.290 --> 01:52.012 airborne parachute maintenance 01:52.012 --> 01:55.569 technician with 999 free fall parachute 01:55.569 --> 01:58.269 jumps . Sergeant First Class , Houston , 01:58.529 --> 02:01.650 Creech . You 02:04.230 --> 02:06.341 And now I would like to introduce the 02:06.341 --> 02:09.199 graduates for the 2025 Golden Knights 02:09.199 --> 02:12.080 assessment and selection program from 02:12.080 --> 02:14.679 Oskaloosa , Iowa . He's an airborne 02:14.679 --> 02:18.559 Navy diver with 492 free fall parachute 02:18.559 --> 02:21.630 jumps . Petty Officer Second Class 02:21.660 --> 02:23.179 Colton Berg . 02:28.270 --> 02:30.789 From Yukon , Oklahoma , he's an 02:30.789 --> 02:34.460 airborne infantryman with 506 free fall 02:34.460 --> 02:37.729 parachute jumps . Staff Sergeant George 02:37.979 --> 02:38.649 Horn . 02:45.029 --> 02:47.389 From Farmerville , Louisiana , he's an 02:47.389 --> 02:49.389 airborne horizontal construction 02:49.389 --> 02:52.949 engineer with 337 free fall parachute 02:52.949 --> 02:56.690 jumps . Staff Sergeant Adrian Laura . 03:02.050 --> 03:03.883 From Orlando , Florida , he's an 03:03.883 --> 03:07.690 airborne infantryman with 295 free fall 03:07.690 --> 03:10.669 parachute jumps . Staff Sergeant John 03:10.970 --> 03:11.970 Rivera . 03:17.309 --> 03:18.976 All the way from Pittsburgh , 03:18.976 --> 03:20.753 Pennsylvania , he's an airborne 03:20.753 --> 03:23.009 horizontal construction engineer with 03:23.070 --> 03:26.910 1,284 free fall parachute jumps . 03:27.270 --> 03:30.619 Private First Class Nate Hilzendegger . 03:35.910 --> 03:38.339 From Livermore , California , he's an 03:38.339 --> 03:42.100 airborne infantryman with 1,071 free 03:42.100 --> 03:44.880 fall parachute jumps . Staff Sergeant 03:45.020 --> 03:46.419 Eric Wood . 03:52.089 --> 03:54.570 From Clearwater , Florida , he's an 03:54.570 --> 03:56.490 airborne all-source intelligence 03:56.490 --> 04:00.089 analyst with 659 free fall parachute 04:00.089 --> 04:02.970 jumps . Sergeant First Class Eric 04:03.179 --> 04:06.889 Dolores . There's 04:09.020 --> 04:11.250 From Ponce , Puerto Rico , he's an 04:11.250 --> 04:13.210 airborne all-source intelligence 04:13.210 --> 04:16.450 analyst with 512 free fall parachute 04:16.450 --> 04:20.230 jumps , Specialist Eric Garcia . 04:26.100 --> 04:28.044 And the team leader for the Golden 04:28.044 --> 04:29.878 Knights assessment and selection 04:29.878 --> 04:32.459 program from Houston , Texas . He's an 04:32.459 --> 04:34.181 airborne parachute maintenance 04:34.181 --> 04:37.579 technician with 3,099 free fall 04:37.579 --> 04:40.540 parachute jumps . Sergeant First Class 04:40.540 --> 04:42.380 Jesse Robbins . 04:48.890 --> 04:51.010 Ladies and gentlemen , it gives me 04:51.010 --> 04:53.089 great pleasure to present to you the 04:53.089 --> 04:55.529 newest members of your United States 04:55.529 --> 04:58.209 Army parachute team , the Golden Knots . 05:04.390 --> 05:06.612 Within the United States Army parachute 05:06.612 --> 05:08.589 team , a knighting is the defining 05:08.589 --> 05:10.700 moment for candidates who have worked 05:10.700 --> 05:12.867 for many weeks to improve the myrad of 05:12.867 --> 05:14.811 skills required to become a Golden 05:14.811 --> 05:16.989 Knight . The knighting ceremony dates 05:16.989 --> 05:19.309 back to medieval times when a squire 05:19.309 --> 05:21.531 had proven his worth over several years 05:21.531 --> 05:23.579 to the army and his king saw it fit 05:23.750 --> 05:25.750 that the squire would be knighted . 05:25.750 --> 05:28.489 Rise . Over the years , the ceremony 05:28.489 --> 05:30.711 has changed , but the basic ingredients 05:30.711 --> 05:33.040 remain the same . The new knight 05:33.339 --> 05:35.730 received his armor . His golden spurs 05:35.730 --> 05:37.952 replaced the silver ones he had worn as 05:37.952 --> 05:39.952 a squire , and his sword was girded 05:39.952 --> 05:42.008 around him . Very excited to welcome 05:42.008 --> 05:44.119 you to the team . He was given a blow 05:44.119 --> 05:46.397 on each shoulder and was then a knight , 05:46.397 --> 05:48.674 ready to take his place with his peers . 05:48.674 --> 05:52.660 Here we use no armor and we need no 05:52.660 --> 05:55.829 spurs , but we do arm the new knights 05:55.829 --> 05:57.940 with much , much more mission as a 05:57.940 --> 06:00.162 Golden Knight . Lieutenant Colonel Alan 06:00.162 --> 06:02.051 Wilson and Command Sergeant Major 06:02.051 --> 06:04.162 Edward Lee have moved forward and are 06:04.162 --> 06:06.162 knighting each of the new teammates 06:06.162 --> 06:08.384 with an Excalibur style sword . Ready ? 06:08.609 --> 06:10.776 As each of the eight new teammates are 06:10.776 --> 06:12.942 knighted , the graduating soldier will 06:12.942 --> 06:15.053 sound off with the last stanza of the 06:15.053 --> 06:17.920 Golden Knight Creed . It states , When 06:17.920 --> 06:20.399 I have gained the respect , admiration , 06:20.679 --> 06:22.735 and gratitude of the American public 06:22.799 --> 06:25.480 and my teammates , then I have 06:25.480 --> 06:28.079 fulfilled my mission as a Golden Knight . 06:29.750 --> 06:31.972 Eric , good luck . When I've gained the 06:31.972 --> 06:34.083 respect , admiration , and gratitudes 06:34.083 --> 06:36.417 of the American public and my teammates , 06:36.417 --> 06:38.417 then I've fulfilled my mission as a 06:38.417 --> 06:40.583 Golden Knight . Turned your whole life 06:40.583 --> 06:42.806 around to come and do this . So glad to 06:42.806 --> 06:44.861 see you here , Nate . Rise . Ready ? 06:49.420 --> 06:51.253 When I've gained the respect and 06:51.253 --> 06:53.031 admiration and gratitude to the 06:53.031 --> 06:55.253 American public and my teammates , that 06:55.253 --> 06:54.890 I've fulfilled my mission as a Golden 06:54.890 --> 06:56.890 Knight . Come a long way from Mikey 06:56.890 --> 06:58.890 teaching you how to skydive down in 06:58.890 --> 07:01.057 Fort Benning . You're gonna be a great 07:01.057 --> 07:03.057 member of this team , Eric . Please 07:03.057 --> 07:04.799 rise . Ready ? 07:08.079 --> 07:10.559 But I've gained the respect , 07:10.679 --> 07:12.568 admiration , and gratitude of the 07:12.568 --> 07:14.679 American public and my teammates that 07:14.679 --> 07:16.790 I've fulfilled my mission as a Golden 07:16.790 --> 07:16.750 Knight . We're so excited to have you 07:16.750 --> 07:18.861 here , Eric . You're gonna be a great 07:18.861 --> 07:20.917 member of this team . Please arise . 07:24.179 --> 07:24.679 Ready ? 07:28.179 --> 07:30.290 Boris , and I've gained the respect , 07:30.290 --> 07:32.179 admiration , and gratitude of the 07:32.179 --> 07:34.290 American public and my teammates that 07:34.290 --> 07:36.512 for my mission . It's a Golden Knight . 07:36.512 --> 07:36.390 I'm gonna miss you hanging out on the 07:36.390 --> 07:38.612 ground , but I'm gonna be so excited to 07:38.612 --> 07:40.723 see you coming in to jump , Eric , so 07:40.723 --> 07:42.890 happy to have you here . Please rise . 07:43.130 --> 07:45.619 They'll be . Ready ? 07:49.720 --> 07:51.887 Miller long growth , Linda long grow , 07:51.887 --> 07:53.942 so here , I think we're all happy to 07:53.942 --> 07:56.820 see you . Thank you so much . So , so 07:56.820 --> 07:57.931 thank you so much . 08:02.549 --> 08:04.771 Ladies and gentlemen , the commander of 08:04.771 --> 08:06.993 the United States Army parachute team , 08:06.993 --> 08:10.480 Lieutenant Colonel Allen Wilson . Oh 08:15.970 --> 08:17.914 GCAT team , please stand at ease . 08:21.799 --> 08:23.855 Good morning . I would like to thank 08:23.855 --> 08:25.910 everyone for coming out here on this 08:25.910 --> 08:27.910 special day to celebrate our newest 08:27.910 --> 08:29.799 jacketed Golden Knights . I would 08:29.799 --> 08:31.743 especially like to welcome all the 08:31.743 --> 08:33.799 family members along with our alumni 08:33.799 --> 08:33.599 and distinguished guests who joined us 08:33.599 --> 08:35.599 here today . Our team would not be 08:35.599 --> 08:37.655 where we are without the support you 08:37.655 --> 08:40.349 bring . I wanna open my comments by 08:40.349 --> 08:43.450 first thanking the cadre , Jesse , Ben , 08:43.780 --> 08:47.369 Houston , Zach , Drake . You've all put 08:47.369 --> 08:49.690 in a tremendous amount of work over the 08:49.690 --> 08:52.210 last few months in the longest GCAS 08:52.210 --> 08:54.570 ever , uh , in a very unique 08:54.570 --> 08:57.049 environment . I've said it before , but 08:57.049 --> 08:59.859 there's no more sacred trust than that 08:59.859 --> 09:02.026 which an elite organization extends to 09:02.026 --> 09:04.020 those charged with the tasks of 09:04.020 --> 09:06.820 identifying , selecting , and training 09:06.820 --> 09:09.330 their future teammates . Those who we 09:09.330 --> 09:11.340 select as cadre are a compounding 09:11.340 --> 09:13.451 investment in the future of the whole 09:13.451 --> 09:16.020 team , as their legacy reverberates 09:16.020 --> 09:18.500 across generations of teammates . Since 09:18.500 --> 09:21.219 1959 , this team has selected and 09:21.219 --> 09:23.020 produced champions and amazing 09:23.020 --> 09:24.798 teammates who have upheld their 09:24.798 --> 09:26.700 responsibility to be the greatest 09:26.700 --> 09:29.099 ambassadors of the army . And I know 09:29.099 --> 09:31.321 you all stand proudly in that tradition 09:31.380 --> 09:33.547 today . You have been the first people 09:33.547 --> 09:35.547 to arrive to the headquarters every 09:35.547 --> 09:37.547 morning and the last to leave every 09:37.547 --> 09:40.539 night . Conducted over 2000 jumps , and 09:40.539 --> 09:43.580 coached and taught and mentored the 09:43.580 --> 09:45.580 newest members of this team through 09:45.580 --> 09:48.299 long days on the drop zone and back at 09:48.299 --> 09:50.340 the headquarters . Plus , you dealt 09:50.340 --> 09:52.118 with the unique challenges of a 09:52.118 --> 09:54.700 government shutdown and restarting GCAS , 09:55.200 --> 09:57.659 uh , after a few weeks off . In all of 09:57.659 --> 10:00.140 that time , you kept the standards high , 10:00.500 --> 10:02.900 and I thank you for that . To the 10:02.900 --> 10:05.011 newest jacketed members of the Golden 10:05.011 --> 10:07.067 Knights , congratulations , Adrian , 10:07.067 --> 10:11.000 Colton , George , John , Nate , Eric , 10:11.419 --> 10:15.380 Eric , and Eric . At the start 10:15.380 --> 10:17.450 of this course , I looked each and 10:17.450 --> 10:19.561 every one of you in the eyes and told 10:19.561 --> 10:21.728 you to expect to be tested every day . 10:22.309 --> 10:24.789 That each test would be one where you 10:24.789 --> 10:26.567 would be held to the highest of 10:26.567 --> 10:28.678 standards , that those standards only 10:28.678 --> 10:31.229 got harder and harder to meet with each 10:31.229 --> 10:33.469 passing day of selection , and that you 10:33.469 --> 10:36.109 would be asked each and every day to 10:36.109 --> 10:39.030 live up to the ideals and requirements 10:39.030 --> 10:41.197 of the Golden Knights creed , and each 10:41.197 --> 10:43.363 of you have demonstrated over and over 10:43.363 --> 10:45.710 again that you have met that high 10:45.710 --> 10:49.059 standard . To reflect a speech by John 10:49.059 --> 10:51.690 F . Kennedy . You have all chosen a 10:51.690 --> 10:54.169 path , not because it was easy , but 10:54.169 --> 10:56.690 because it is hard . A path that I'm 10:56.690 --> 10:58.912 sure over the last couple months , both 10:58.912 --> 11:01.359 here and back at home , uh , felt like 11:01.359 --> 11:03.303 you were alone in the wilderness , 11:03.303 --> 11:05.969 struggling with survival each day . But 11:05.969 --> 11:08.109 that challenge , willingly accepted , 11:08.270 --> 11:10.739 makes success even sweeter . And I hope 11:11.239 --> 11:13.440 that as we stand here today , you feel 11:13.440 --> 11:15.551 the relief that comes at the end of a 11:15.551 --> 11:17.773 hard adventure . An adventure where you 11:17.773 --> 11:19.884 pushed yourself and your teammates to 11:19.884 --> 11:21.829 keep moving , 1 ft in front of the 11:21.829 --> 11:24.159 other , one jump after another , one 11:24.159 --> 11:27.070 pack job after another . Never quitting , 11:27.359 --> 11:29.248 never letting yourself stop , and 11:29.248 --> 11:31.415 knowing that for each and every one of 11:31.415 --> 11:33.470 you , the only way out was through . 11:34.320 --> 11:36.440 After that adventure , I want to be 11:36.440 --> 11:38.780 among the first to say welcome home . 11:39.200 --> 11:41.200 You've made it back to where the 11:41.200 --> 11:43.367 journey has begun , and I want you all 11:43.367 --> 11:45.520 to take a moment to let that weight 11:45.520 --> 11:47.742 that you've been carrying over the last 11:47.742 --> 11:50.229 few months drop . I offer that welcome 11:50.229 --> 11:52.489 home because you all know what comes 11:52.489 --> 11:55.760 next . The real adventure is not over . 11:56.530 --> 11:59.619 You're now a fully vested owner in the 11:59.619 --> 12:02.289 legacy of the Golden Knights , and with 12:02.289 --> 12:04.622 that ownership comes new responsibility . 12:06.270 --> 12:08.789 Each day from here on out , you have 12:08.789 --> 12:10.950 new expectations to meet , new 12:10.950 --> 12:13.510 challenges to overcome , and a new 12:13.510 --> 12:16.250 standard to strive for . Elite 12:16.250 --> 12:18.190 organizations are not marked by a 12:18.190 --> 12:20.330 culture of laziness , they are marked 12:20.390 --> 12:22.501 by a culture of continuous assessment 12:22.710 --> 12:25.830 and continuous growth . Because of that , 12:25.960 --> 12:28.280 I offer you this advice . The jacket 12:28.280 --> 12:30.447 that you earned is not a passive thing 12:30.447 --> 12:32.359 to sit in the closet , alone and 12:32.359 --> 12:35.020 forgotten . It is something you must 12:35.020 --> 12:38.299 earn again each and every day from here 12:38.299 --> 12:41.030 forward . It's an item that has heft , 12:41.070 --> 12:43.590 it has weight . And it's not simply the 12:43.590 --> 12:45.646 weight of the fabric and stitching , 12:45.869 --> 12:48.510 it's the weight of a proud legacy , and 12:48.510 --> 12:51.270 is the weight of expectations of 12:51.270 --> 12:53.710 continued excellence . Expectations 12:53.710 --> 12:55.932 shared by your teammates who stand here 12:55.932 --> 12:58.154 with you today . Expectations shared by 12:58.154 --> 13:00.154 your families , expectations of our 13:00.154 --> 13:01.877 distinguished alumni , and the 13:01.877 --> 13:03.988 expectations of the American public . 13:04.250 --> 13:07.849 And most critically , the expectations 13:07.849 --> 13:10.109 you will continue to place upon 13:10.109 --> 13:13.599 yourself . I encourage each of you to 13:13.599 --> 13:15.821 take a moment and savor the feeling you 13:15.821 --> 13:17.877 have today . Such moments of triumph 13:17.877 --> 13:19.988 are rare and fleeting in this world . 13:20.130 --> 13:22.408 Feel gratitude for what your teammates , 13:22.450 --> 13:25.210 your cadre , your bodies and your minds 13:25.210 --> 13:28.109 have done to get you here . Then no , 13:28.150 --> 13:30.261 it's time to pick your gear back up , 13:30.270 --> 13:32.469 strap it on , rally your teammates , 13:32.669 --> 13:34.836 and get ready for the next adventure . 13:35.280 --> 13:36.280 Blue skies . 13:46.690 --> 13:48.468 After the conclusion of today's 13:48.468 --> 13:50.690 ceremony , please feel free to come out 13:50.690 --> 13:52.746 and congratulate these fine soldiers 13:52.746 --> 13:54.634 and join us at the Golden Knights 13:54.634 --> 13:54.059 hangar directly behind you for 13:54.059 --> 13:56.450 refreshments . Ladies and gentlemen , 13:56.500 --> 13:58.611 this concludes our graduation for the 13:58.611 --> 14:00.889 day . And on behalf of the entire team , 14:00.889 --> 14:02.944 I would like to thank each and every 14:02.944 --> 14:05.000 one of you for being such a warm and 14:05.000 --> 14:06.833 receptive airborne audience . In 14:06.833 --> 14:08.944 closing , I leave you with this final 14:08.944 --> 14:11.111 thought . In the future , may all your 14:11.111 --> 14:13.349 days be prosperous and your nights 14:13.609 --> 14:14.210 golden . 14:21.700 --> 14:21.719 2 .