That's interesting. I graduated from Marine Bootcamp ('81)and an NROTC ('85) program and both times, every officer or NCO in a command billet wore their sword.
I surprised that the cadets in command billets don't wear swords. But admittedly, I've never been to an NA grad ceremony.
Remember, I said required. It’s a uniform item at that point. But, for many ceremonies, all the O’s will wear them.
I’m not defending Obama...just letting people know what the truth is...