I disagree with a lot of those changes, however at the end of the day - I go down to recruit graduation at least once or twice a year.

In this remark, Ermey contrasts personal disagreement with institutional changes against continued loyalty and engagement. The “changes” likely refer to evolving practices in Marine Corps recruit training (or the broader military culture) that an older-generation Marine might view skeptically. Yet he emphasizes that, whatever his critiques, he still attends recruit graduations regularly—suggesting respect for the people doing the work and a desire to stay connected to the Corps’ living traditions. The quote underscores a pragmatic, service-oriented attitude: criticism does not cancel commitment, and showing up to witness new Marines earn the title matters more than winning arguments about how training “used to be.”