Ward honored in Congressional Record as he speaks on school tour

Kreg Kennedy, who is a senior district field representative for U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, said as far as the military academies, one can reach out to a U.S. senator or congressman to apply, although it does not hurt to apply through all of the three representing a county. While one applies as they would to a university, they must also have a nomination from a congressman or senator. He said the academies are looking for candidates who are athletic and have an average ACT score of 30, although they will accept other scores as they weigh the application as a whole.

He said of the students he has worked with, not many have been as impressive and have followed through as well at a service academy as well as Ward has.

Kennedy surprised Ward, who turns 23 next month, at Thursday's speech. He noted Aderholt had read remarks the day before on the House floor about Ward, and recording them into the Congressional Record.

Aderholt honored Ward in the remarks, noting he graduated from Jasper High School and briefly attended the University of Mississippi for about a year before opting to apply through Aderholt to go to West Point. "It's one of the easiest decisions we've ever made," Kennedy said.

Ward started at West Point in July 2020 and later was elected out of a class of 1,200 cadets, defeating 10 other candidates.

"During his time at West Point, Thomas has had the opportunity to pursue his passions in public policy, problem-solving and leadership," Aderholt said in his remarks, which were read to the student body. "In addition to serving as president of his class, he is also a leader on West Point's premier military skills team. Thomas works with government leaders to encourage and inspire young adults to help solve community issues. He also helps lead various outreach programs that teach high school and college students about the importance of character and ethics in leadership."

He will graduate with a degree in political science and then be commissioned as an infantry officer. His first assignment will be with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado.

"The motto of the 4th Division is 'Steadfast and Loyal,' a calling and a creed to those who serve in this division, a combat-ready expeditionary force," Aderholt said. "From what I know of Thomas, steadfast and loyal seems a fitting motto for his life, as well as his division."

He congratulated Ward, saying he was not only serving the nation as a member of the armed services, "but he is also educating a new generation of Americans about how to be the best versions of themselves so they, too, can serve their communities and their nation. We all wish Thomas the best from a grateful nation."

He noted Ward is the son of Caroline Ivey and Tom Ward, and the grandson of Gary and Betty Ward and Elizabeth Rogers.

Ward, who spoke at the school two years ago, said Kennedy "is in the business of changing people's lives and I'm a prime example of that. I had a dream to serve and a dream to attend an institution that would give me endless possibilities beyond what I could possibly imagine, and none of that would have been possible without Mr. Kreg Kennedy. He's absolutely incredible." He encouraged students to connect with him if they were thinking about going to a military academy.

He said West Point is like a university - and is completely free, which he said was appealing. He noted his political science major and sports is a big aspect.

"Every cadet is an athlete. Every person is at least required to do an intramural sport, in some capacity," he said, noting all the sports are represented.

He is on a military team, so he practices at 5:30 a.m. each day, then goes to classes, club meetings and other activities until 11:30 p.m. or 11:45 p.m. "I don't get too much sleep but it works out," he said. "West Point is rigorous. It is an Ivy League education and it's free.

"And there are a lot of opportunities to do things beyond the military," he said, including summer internships in places such as Wall Street, the White House, Silicon Valley (to learn about computer science) or even serving food and supplies in Third World countries.

"The opportunities are endless. We take trips everywhere. We learn about everything, ask questions to incredible people, and it is an opportunity that has completely changed my life," Ward said.

He said as far as lessons from the academy, leadership and teamwork are emphasized. He listened to a speech on Tuesday by retired Gen. David G. Perkins, whose unit was the first to cross into Iraq and go into the downtown government area of Baghdad in the 2003 Iraq invasion. "He was leading troops out front, making sure we would dominate in every single capacity," he said.

In a request for supplies in the invasion, the supply officials said the enemy was between the unit and the supplies. Perkins told the supply people to drive to the unit in the right lane, while the unit's soldiers would shoot at the enemy in the left lane.

Ward said the supplies got through and the mission continued successfully - because they trusted each other.

"Point number one - great teams trust each other and great teammates do their job and stay in their lane," he said. "That enables the team to be successful and for the mission to be accomplished."

Also, Ward said great teammates and great friends hold each other accountable to be successful and contribute to the team's larger mission. He mentioned his military team competes with other military academies and militaries across the world. The West Point team "is demonstrating excellence in every single thing that we do," whether it is shooting expertly or running as fast as possible.

A month ago, he was competing to be selected as one of the team captains but showed up 5 minutes late two mornings in a row to a 5:30 a.m. practice. "Unacceptable. Why? Because it is not demonstrating excellence," he said. "We require and demand excellence in every single thing that we do."

One of his best friends pulled him to the side and said, 'Thomas, how can you want to be a leader of our team, a team that demands excellence, if you can't even show up to practice on time two mornings in a row and embody excellence yourself? How does that work?' I said, 'Wow. You're right.'" His friend is still the first one to practice with him every morning.

He noted he was at a pistol qualification on Tuesday. The goal was to qualify as an expert - only missing up to four out of 30 rounds on the targets. He missed two out of his first four shots but then didn't miss a shot. But he later realized at the start he was pulling the trigger too fast, jerking the gun and pulling the bullet lower.

"But I realized that if I want to be an expert at something, then I have to ensure that I am doing the smallest things correctly and demonstrating excellence by doing them," Ward said, noting that attention to details matter.

He said he has had the opportunity to speak to some of the nation's highest leaders and the CEOs of some of the largest companies and ask them questions.

"They all agree, and statistics show, the majority of Americans are pessimistic about our future," he said. From his studies and his instructors at West Point and Jasper, Ward said he has learned that "each generation is tasked with a mission."

After the Civil War, that generation was tasked with bringing the nation back together that had dealt with division and bloodshed, he said. The generation in World War II was tasked with defeating evil in the world, particularly Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, "because good had to prevail."

"The generation that came to adulthood after 9/11, they were tasked with ensuring that our nation was free from terrorist threats abroad and ensuring that never again would planes wreck into towers and kill 2,000 Americans. That was their mission," he said.

"And so in the midst of hearing pessimism that is ridden that is ridden throughout the country and seeing statistics that prove it, I believe our mission as a generation is to provide hope," Ward said. "I believe that is our generation's mission."

He said many students might not know how they do that as they walk the halls.

"Well, we can provide hope and we can negate the pessimism by demonstrating relentless kindness, unwavering courage and selfless service. That's how we can answer our nation's call to secure the blessings of liberty and ensure our nation prevails and and answer the mission we are being tasked with," he said. "So I would encourage you in some capacity to be a beacon of hope because right now that is what our country needs, and people like me and you, we can do that, we can be that and we can demonstrate that in everything that we do."