Secretary of War Visits Knoxville, Engages ROTC Cadets

During his “Send Me Tour,” U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made a stop in Knoxville, Tennessee. His visit included addressing Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and administering the oath of enlistment to new recruits, all ahead of the highly anticipated football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide.

The “Send Me Tour” is a military outreach initiative aimed at connecting with potential enlistees, speaking to military cadets, and formally enlisting new service members, as stated by the U.S. Department of War.

At the University of Tennessee on Saturday, Hegseth addressed a crowd that included both new enlistees and ROTC cadets, setting the tone before the football game.

He administered the oath to young individuals joining various military branches as well as the Tennessee National Guard. It was a moment filled with pride and anticipation.

Hegseth remarked, “For 251 years, Americans raised their right hand and said, ‘send me;’ send me to fight the redcoats, send me to fight the Nazis, send me to fight the communists, send me to fight the Islamists. And now, you’ve said, ‘send me’ to defend [your] nation, to fight against whatever threatens our shores, our interests, and our people.”

According to Hegseth, those who choose to serve are the true peacemakers, maintaining “peace through strength” and safeguarding the American homeland.

“If there’s one entity that should win the Nobel Peace Prize every single year, it actually should be the United States military,” he stated. “Peace through strength: the reason our people live free, the reason we get to play football games like this one today, is that we are stronger than any other nation in the world.”