KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Rocky Top rolled out the welcome mat for America’s next generation of warfighters Saturday. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth brought his Send Me Tour to the University of Tennessee, where he spoke to ROTC cadets and military recruits and administered the oath of enlistment to new recruits.
Sen. Bill Hagerty was proud to host him. “What an honor to have @SecWar lead our young recruits in the Oath of Enlistment at @UTKnoxville this morning,” Sen. Bill Hagerty posted. “Welcome to Rocky Top!” Rep. Tim Burchett also welcomed the Secretary to East Tennessee.
Hegseth arrived Saturday morning at the 134th Air Refueling Wing at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, according to the Tennessee Air National Guard. He also plans to attend the Tennessee vs. Alabama game at Neyland Stadium.
The Volunteers know a thing or two about service. UT’s Army ROTC, the Rocky Top Battalion, is the second-oldest in the country and the largest outside the senior military colleges and academies, and UT said this week it welcomed a record number of cadets into its ROTC programs. The Send Me Tour connects the Secretary directly with military units, ROTC programs, cadets and veteran resource centers across the country.
Tennesseans can answer the call at the ballot box, too. Early voting runs through Oct. 29 ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3. Find your polling place and hours on the GoVoteTN app. Watch Secretary Hegseth with the UT cadets in the Department of War video above.
