• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

US Military

  • Branches
    • Army
    • Navy
    • Air Force
    • Marine Corps
    • Coast Guard
    • National Guard
    • Air National Guard
    • Find A Recruiter
  • Find A Recruiter
  • Military Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • VA Loans
    • Military Scholarships
    • Military Friendly Colleges
    • Money
  • Jobs
    • Military Pay Chart
    • Veteran Jobs
    • Civilian Jobs
  • VA Loan Rates
  • Military News
    • Top News
    • Benefits
    • Careers
    • Education
    • Featured Columnists
      • Larry Fowler
      • Scott Ostrow
      • Kim Lengling
      • Dr. Sasha Toperich
      • Rick Stewart
  • GI Bill
  • VA Loans
  • Military Scholarships
  • Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities in America

Dempsey Emphasizes Trust at West Point Graduation

May 27, 2015 By admin

WEST POINT, N.Y. (May 27, 2015) – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reversed the first-salute tradition for new officers during the Class of 2015’s U.S. Military Academy commencement, May 23.

Military tradition is that newly commissioned officers give a dollar to the noncommissioned officers, or NCOs, who render them their first salute. But today, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey gave each of the 994 new second lieutenants an autographed dollar bill to signify his trust in them.

It was a fitting tribute from one end of “the Long Gray Line” to the other. Dempsey, the military’s highest-ranking officer, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974. He retires later this year.

According to a Defense Department handbook titled, “The Armed Forces Officer,” the first-salute tradition goes back to the founding of the U.S. Army during the Revolutionary War. At that time, officers paid NCOs to mentor them as they learned the profession of a Soldier.

SYMBOLIC PASSING OF TORCH

Giving an NCO a dollar for the first salute is a throwback to that tradition. It generally is given to an NCO, who influenced and prepared an officer for command. It is a symbolic passing of the torch by the NCO, who transitions from mentor to subordinate. Another thread in the tradition says new officers “buy” their first salute and then earn all others through their duty performance.

The first salute “is symbolic of the respect and trust that exist between leader and led within our profession,” Dempsey said. “In return, you will give the individual, who salutes you a dollar, indicating that they can count on you to earn their trust, not just today, but every day throughout your career.”

CHAIRMAN’S FIRST SALUTE

Dempsey’s first salute 41 years ago was from Army Master Sgt. Bernie Henderson, an NCO in the Military Academy’s department of military instruction. Dempsey had met him during training on Fort Knox, Kentucky, and throughout his cadet career, the sergeant was someone he could turn to when he had questions about how to relate to the NCO Corps.

“He took my first salute,” the general told the graduates. “I signed a dollar bill and handed it to him. We went our separate ways.”

About a year ago, Dempsey said, he got a package in the mail containing a framed dollar bill that he had signed and a note that read, “Dear General Dempsey, I told you I would return this to you when you made general. Sorry it took me so long to send it back to you. Sincerely, Bernie Henderson.”

“That was his way of letting me know I had earned his trust,” the general said. “Among the many awards and citations I’ve received throughout my career, it is one of my most treasured possessions.”

ONE IMPORTANT MESSAGE: TRUST

Dempsey told the graduates that he wanted to deliver one important message to them: “We trust you.”

“We trust you to win our nation’s wars, to be leaders of character and competence and consequence,” he said. “We trust you to leave our profession better than you found it.

“As I shake your hand on this stage today,” he continued, “I’ll give you each a dollar bill that I’ve signed. In the years ahead, as you confront the challenges ahead, I hope you remember not who gave it to you, but what it means.”

Filed Under: Army, daniel articles, Education, Top News

Recent Posts

  • How Was Military Time Created And Why?
  • The Best 5 US Military Bases In The World
  • Congrats To Recent Graduates And Is The Military A Great Place For Young People Today
  • The Best Jobs in the United States Army
  • Top 5  Military Home Loans for Active Duty Service Members
VA Loans

Primary Sidebar

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE

USMilitary.com is a privately owned website and is NOT AFFILIATED (or endorsed) with the U.S. GOVERNMENT, U.S. ARMED FORCES, or DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

USMilitary.com Career Guide

Sign up to receive USMilitary.com email updates and to hear what's going on with all military branches!

Featured Columnists

Larry Fowler

Larry Fowler is the publisher of USMilitary.com Network one of America's premier privately owned

Autobiography Compares Living Faithfully With Navy SEAL Training (BUD/S).

Scott Ostrow

Lt Col (Dr.) Scott A. Ostrow retired from the Air Force in September 2005 and has been teaching

Congrats To Recent Graduates And Is The Military A Great Place For Young People Today

Kim Lengling

Kim Lengling is a Air Force Veteran whose passion is to help support veterans and their

This Memorial Day: The Knock On The Door

Dr. Sasha Toperich

Dr. Sasha Toperich is the Senior Executive Vice President at Transatlantic Leadership

Sarraj’s Dangerous Dance With Power

Rick Stewart

Rick Stewart is a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

Announcing American Patriots Unsung Magazine

Nathan B. Nelson

Capt (ret) Nathan B. Nelson is the Director of Military Affairs for the 1st Congressional district

Three Critical Considerations for Every Veteran Prior to Leaving Active Duty

Laquan Daniels

Laquan Daniel is a military recruiting expert with over 17 years of specialized experience in the

Important News For Military Transitioning Veterans

Veteran Buzz

High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

5 High-Paying Jobs for Military Veterans

July 2, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

High Paying Jobs Not Requiring a Degree

June 28, 2018 By Ben Ehinger

7 Best Military Careers That Lead To High Paying Civilian Jobs

June 10, 2018 By larryf

VA Loans

Footer

  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write For US
  • Link to Us

Recent

  • How Was Military Time Created And Why?
  • The Best 5 US Military Bases In The World
  • Congrats To Recent Graduates And Is The Military A Great Place For Young People Today
  • The Best Jobs in the United States Army
  • Top 5  Military Home Loans for Active Duty Service Members

Search

© Copyright 2022 USMillitary
Web Design by Goebel Media Group


THIS IS A PRIVATE WEBSITE THAT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, U.S. ARMED FORCES, OR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE NOT REVIEWED THIS INFORMATION. THIS SITE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.