August 3, 2004 Dear Academy Staff: The West Virginia Sheriffs' Youth Leadership Academy has long been a most beneficial program for our State, the participating cadets, and yes, even the staff and law enforcement in general. Any contact we may have with kids always benefits us at least as much as we benefit them. Thank you, then, for your most kind invitation and for allowing me to speak to the Academy commencement. After 31 years of active duty at West Point and in the US Army -- which I believe are the world's foremost leadership and training institutions -- I believe I can quickly spot the indicators of superb training. It took only moments at Camp Virgil Tate to recognize what an outstanding training program you have developed and conducted. You made a huge difference in those kids' lives. They have learned leadership, the importance of teamwork, and what hard work can accomplish at an age when such values are difficult to learn but so vitally important to them and our society. I have long been a student of -- and amazed at -- what brings a collection of individuals together and transforms them into a high-performing team. I believe "shared adversity" is the key. When people are truly challenged with seemingly insurmountable obstacles and must work together to survive, resulting success ties them closer together than anything else. When I sat in front of that room waiting to talk and saw at least a quarter of the kids crying at the prospect of leaving -- and the other three-quarters trying mightily to stifle the tears -- I knew full well that you did something special there. It was quite obvious that you had succeeded beyond what anyone could expect, far beyond what even their parents, teachers, and communities had been able to accomplish with them. For this you have every right to be proud, and you deserve our thanks and admiration. What you turned out on July 30, did not come from just doing your job, and I know that. You put something special --- something a lot special -- into that Academy. Please accept my sincere thanks -- as a parent, as a law enforcement colleague, and on behalf of the public in general -- for your motivation, drive, initiative, and hard work. Job well done. If I can ever be of any assistance to you, it would be my honor, pleasure, and a very small token of appreciation for the work you have done for the Sheriffs' 2004 Academy. Very truly yours, Kasey Warner United States Attorney