West Point Graduates Urged to be Soldiers and Statesmen

Stockbyte(WEST POINT, N.Y.) -- As graduation season continues at educational institutions around the country, Saturday also marked graduation day for the class of 2011 at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, addressed the 1,031 graduating cadets at the ceremony and called on them to work towards being soldiers as well as statesmen.

“I’m going to ask you to remember that you are citizens, first and foremost,” said Mullen.

According to a news release by the Department of Defense, Mullen also reminded the newly commission officers that they would be part of a team that has worked to bring about “success in Iraq” and that has made progress in Afghanistan.

“You’re going to be expected to support and to encourage and to lead that team almost from Day One,” Mullen said. “That’s a tall order, and hard enough all by itself, but today I’m going to give you another assignment.”

Information from the Department of Defense states that among the graduating class there were 310 minorities, 225 women, 10 international cadets and 20 combat veterans who served in Afghanistan, Iraq or both

Since being founded in 1802, the West Point academy has produced some 67,000 graduates over the years.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio