JFK’s words of wisdom to the military leaders of tomorrow
"You will need to understand the importance of military power and also the limits of military power."
By Stephen Ruiz
Published Jun 30, 2026 5:00 AM PDT
As leaders of the free world, they can’t possibly accept every invitation to speak before a graduating class. However, when a military academy offers that opportunity to a president, he tends to accept.
Also Read: Why JFK’s first casket was buried at the bottom of the ocean
President John F. Kennedy was no different. He only resided in the White House for slightly less than three years, but he managed to speak at all three major U.S. military academies during his time in office.
Kennedy spoke at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1961. The next year, he delivered the commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Then in 1963—less than six months before his assassination—Kennedy served as the commencement speaker at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
JFK, who served in the Navy during World War II, didn’t regale the graduates with tales of his military service. He didn’t mention his heroic actions after the Japanese sank his patrol torpedo boat on August 2, 1943. Rather, Kennedy concentrated on the present and the challenges that lay ahead of them.
In all three speeches, Kennedy highlighted some common themes. Here are seven key points that JFK made to those future service members and military leaders and still resonate today.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/jfks-words-of-wisdom-to-the-military-leaders-of-tomorrow/
