Joining Our Nation's War on Terrorism

Good afternoon, Ambassador Taylor, distinguished guests and friends, and family members of Basic Special Agent Class  77. Today marks an important milestone in our lives. Over 8 months ago 24 individuals from all across this great country reported for duty in Arlington, Virginia, to begin training to become special agents of the Diplomatic Security Service. We were officers and noncommissioned officers of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and yes . . . we also had a member of the Coast Guard. We were lawyers, students, police officers, and former federal agents. Today we are no longer 24 individuals with 24 different dreams and 24 different ways to achieve our goals. Basic Special Agent Class 77 of the Diplomatic Security Service is now one team.
 
Throughout the past 8 months we have come to know each other as only the closest of our friends and family members know us. We now intimately understand when one of our comrades needs help, and we quickly come to their aid. When a classmate performs well, we are generous with our praise. This teamwork did not occur overnight. The seeds were first planted a warm July morning 8 months and 5 days ago on the beautiful campus of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center.
BSAC 77 continued their training at the Diplomatic Security Training Center. We worked as teams to uncover--IEDs--or improvised explosive devices hidden in cars and buildings. This was the first time we had to trust our classmates with our lives. From northern Virginia we journeyed to southern Georgia and trained hard 6 days a week at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. But it wasn’t all business there. Corey Thomas started what has turned out to be a ritual for many in our class . . . all night Madden football tournaments! If you ever needed to find Chris, Brandon, Jeff, Corey, or Nick at night, just look for the Playstation 2. Our proudest accomplishment at FLETC occurred when Brent Elrod organized BSAC 77 and together we raised over $1000 in just 2 days to help the 11 disadvantaged children of the Safeharbor Foundation.

During the past 4 months here in Northern Virginia we have trained as one team, successfully negotiating the defensive tactics courses here, the antiterrorism driving and shooting in West Virginia and culminating with a 3-day protection exercise that pushed our class to the limit physically and mentally.

BSAC 77 did not arrive here alone though. Without the support of our wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, and friends we would not be sitting here before you as new special agents. At this time BSAC 77 please stand and give a round of applause to your spouses, families, and close friends.

During our training to become DS agents, Special Agent Elizabeth Murphy has been our training coordinator. From coordinating our intense training schedule to giving us advice on how to be successful special agents, Agent Murphy has been there for us from day one. Thank you Agent Murphy.

I also must thank the members of the Diplomatic Security training staff who have been instrumental in preparing us for what we are about to face. Thank you, Special Agent Haycraft, Mr. Clancy, Special Agent Jim Fergeson, Special Agent Jeff Riner, Mr. Wall, and everyone who has put so much time and effort into our training.

Soon we will be heading to all corners of the globe and our mission has never been more relevant or crucial. There are individuals around the world committed to harming this nation, its leaders and diplomatic facilities, both here and abroad. Basic Special Agent Class 77 is well trained and prepared to successfully defend against these threats and ensure the safety of our principals. As we head abroad to Sarajevo, Yemen, Beirut, Jerusalem, Mexico, Peru, Korea, and Turkey and domestically to New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Miami, we are proud and ready to join our nation’s war against terrorism.

Thank you.