On Veterans Day, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore returned to his alma mater to share his thoughts on service and leadership with Johns Hopkins University ROTC cadets.
"This is a homecoming for me," said Moore, A&S '01. "So much of who I am and so much of what I hope to be was born here, so Hopkins always holds a very, very special place in my heart."
The event took place in the ROTC building, an intimate, unpretentious setting; Moore spoke against a backdrop of lockers and workout equipment to a room of fewer than 50 students. Closed to the public, the event catered specifically to Blue Jay Battalion members, with Moore speaking directly to them about his military career before hosting a Q&A session that lasted nearly an hour.
Explaining why he chose to spend part of his day with Hopkins students, Moore said, "These are folks who, moments after leaving graduation … are going to be putting on uniforms and protecting not just the hopes of this country, but the safety of this country, so I just wanted to say thank you to them for all the work they're prepared to do on behalf of all of us."
Maj. Dennis Kim, professor of military science and military science department chair, hosted the event and introduced Moore, who began his remarks by praising the cadets for their selflessness.
"There's not a single one of you that has to be here," he said. "It means something that you all are actively choosing to live a life of service."
Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University
Moore recounted his military career, which began with him in handcuffs; at just 11 years old, he'd been arrested for tagging walls with graffiti. He was sent to military school, and while only the first year was mandatory, he found himself flourishing and chose to stay, a decision that would change the trajectory of his life. When he joined the Army at 17, his mom had to sign his paperwork because he was too young to do it himself. At 19, he enrolled at Johns Hopkins as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves, then studied international relations at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. It wasn't until afterwards, while working an unfulfilling job in finance, that he made the decision to serve in Afghanistan. He was prompted by Mike Hudson, a former JHU ROTC member and then-Army major with whom he'd become friends.
"I was explaining to [Hudson] that my days were really long," Moore recalled. "It was ridiculous. I was complaining about my days to a guy who I think at that point had just finished a short deployment and was preparing for a second. He said something to me that I thought was really important: 'When are you going to get into the fight?'"
Moore said the question "felt indicting;" it reminded him of the commitment he'd made to his country when he first entered the military, so he went to Afghanistan, where his role included swaying Taliban members to defect, which meant going into communities and working directly with the people—a foundational experience that informs how he governs.
"I've always said our administration is never going to govern from the second floor in Annapolis—we're going to talk to the people," he said.
He concluded his remarks by reiterating his gratitude for the cadets, as well as their importance in a time of political divisiveness.
"I believe that service will save us," he said. "It's going to be the thing that restores us and cleanses the soul of this country."
After speaking, Moore ceded the floor to the cadets, who asked questions on topics ranging from navigating uncertainty to how being in the military helped prepare Moore for civic life.
Michelle Berndt, a senior molecular and cell biology major and cadet battalion commander, found his answers inspiring. "The thing that really stuck out to me was him using the phrase, 'we constantly react to contact,'" she said. "I think that just goes to show that you need to be adaptable, whether you are in a political position or in the military or just in life. And going forward, I'm going to try to embrace change and uncertainty more, because like he said, 'the only thing that is certain is uncertainty.'"
Kim said he was glad the cadets had the opportunity to talk directly with Moore: "[His] leadership and continued dedication to the nation demonstrates that service does not end once the uniform is retired. Military service is one chapter in an individual's story, and Governor Moore's leadership and sense of duty are an example for the next generation of Army officers to follow."
