Babauta Swears In Youngest Son to Army Leadership

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Franklin Babauta of As Lito (originally of San Roque, Saipan) on December 17 had the honor of administering the oath of office to his son, Second Lieutenant Franklin “Jun” Babauta, commissioning him into the Army’s Active Duty Ordnance Corps.

Jun Babauta graduated cum laude from the University of Guam the weekend before his Saipan oath taking. receiving a bachelor of business administration. He was in the Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps at UOG.

Franklin Babauta’s wife – Jun’s mother – Saipan Senator Celina Roberto Babauta recounted their youngest child’s academic excellence and their family’s pride in his achievements in a speech she gave during the commissioning ceremony.

“It mas tatkilo na irensia ginen siha, Jun, i ti ma na’ fåtta yu’ yan hamyo, guinaiya, hinengge gi as Yu’us, yan minagof. Kada dia ma nånå’e yu’ hemplo gi anae man hahihita ha guine gi tano’,” the senator said to her son during her speech.

Jun Babauta’s SROTC commander and UOG professor of military science, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Armstrong, also spoke at the commissioning ceremony. Below is his full speech:

 

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Good Evening Ladies And Gentlemen and welcome.  Thank you for joining us tonight.

It’s an honor to be here tonight to take part in the commissioning ceremony for Franklin Bababuta Jr, and thank you all for being here this evening.  I have had the privilege over the last two and a half years to observe Franklin in action as one of our top Cadets in the program. And if past performance is any measure of future potential, then Franklin you are going to go very far in the Army.

Cadet Babauta, very soon to be 2LT Babauta has demonstrated time and again that he has that “it” factor.  Some people are just born into the leadership business…. they have this magnetic pull about them…impossible to escape its effects…because once that magnetism is felt –  others fly towards it like a moth to a flame.  That describes Franklin very well. Others just gravitate towards him because he has those innate leadership qualities and attributes.

We teach leadership in the Military and Science Leadership curriculum at the University of Guam ROTC program, but with natural born leaders such as Franklin, we are really just adding some finishing touches.  Sharpening the edge of the blade so to speak.

A little about Franklin:  He was the only one to receive the coveted RECONDO badge at Cadet Summer training for his cohort (a notable achievement), hand selected to serve as the Cadet Operations Officer for the program, hand selected to brief senior leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines during their visit to our Field Training Exercise, receiving Active Duty and awarding of his branch of choice, Ordnance, and graduating this past weekend CUM LAUDE.  And all this while serving in the Guam Army National Guard as part of the Simultaneous Membership Program. All very impressive.

It has been a privilege and an honor to watch this leader progress through our program and reach this milestone tonight.

Franklin you are about to embark on an incredible journey. You are entering one of the most honorable and noble professions and I am very proud to share this moment with you and your loved ones.  Soon you will take the oath of office, and with that comes an incredible responsibility to leader with character, humility, empathy, judgement, and honor.

Never forget how important your role is and the impact you will have on future Soldiers.  I used to always tell my Lieutenants that your Soldiers will look to you; they will take your example; they will want to be like the Lieutenant; they will mimic you, they will see everything you do (The GOOD and the BAD); they will hear everything you say (words have meaning so be very clear in what you say and mean what you say); they will take on your mood and your attitude (positive and negative – so always be positive) and it is your RESONSIBILITY to always set the right example.

Always strive to do the right thing – and own up to your mistakes – and yes there will be mistakes, and that is ok because we learn from making mistakes. Give credit to your Soldiers and NCOs when things go well for your platoon, and shoulder the blame when things go bad for the platoon.  That’s what Leaders do.

My charge to you – never settle – get better each and every single day. Take care of your Soldiers and they will take care of you.

And, Accomplish the mission or whatever task that is assigned to you. That is what this business is all about.  Getting results. And I know you will.

Please enjoy this special occasion, celebrate with your family and loved ones as you begin your Army journey, it is an incredible achievement and one you should be immensely proud of, and I am very honored to be a part of it.

But just remember, after tonight, and the celebration is over, it is no longer about you. It’s about the Soldiers that you lead. It’s about the mission you are tasked to accomplish.

In closing, welcome to all and thank you so very much for your support, not only to Franklin, but to a great many other just like him who serve and have served.

Congratulations to Franklin Babauta Jr., and congratulations to your family and loved ones. I wish you the very best in your future endeavors and I look forward to seeing you progress in our great Army.  Thank you all very much.