Left to right: Ken Robinson, Jeff Utsch, Rob Rizk
Larry Ingram
Jeff Utsch was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the SaddleBrooke Veterans Club. Jeff is the Senior Faculty Lead instructor at the Leadership and Freedom Center in Gettysburg, Pa. In his early years he was a world class competitive swimmer. He earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona, where he was captain of the swim team, a U.S. National Swim Team member (1984–1987), and an NCAA All-American. These accomplishments led to his relationship with SEAL Team-4 as a tactical swimming instructor. He continues to work with SEAL teams as Director and Ambassador for the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Jeff’s topic was based upon the oath that military and national leaders take upon entering service. “Protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.” When you take this oath, you do not promise your loyalty to a person or party. You promise your loyalty to a document written 237 years ago, which established a government based upon “The Consent of the Governed.” The Constitution established our republic where freedom and liberty are the cornerstone of our American culture.
Jeff compared our political system versus the newly promoted idea of socialism. He said that socialism is a false narrative where promises are made that are impossible to keep. To promote their false narrative, they misuse Jefferson’s quote within the Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal.” Jeff emphasized that our freedom and liberty established in the Constitution ensures that individuals can direct their own lives, speech, beliefs, and economic endeavors. The freedom and liberty established within the Constitution is where equal opportunity is guaranteed, but equal outcome is not. In America, freedom and liberty provided within the Constitution is important because true success is not achievable without it. That is why the oath to protect and defend the Constitution is important and essential.