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Cadets commissioned into Army
June 01, 2007
Ten cadets from PLU’s Reserve Officer Training Corps were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army on Saturday, May 26.
The commissioning ceremony culminated four years of academic and military training, said Lt. Col. Gillian Boice, director of PLU’s ROTC program. The rank of second lieutenants is the lowest-ranking Army officer position.
“It signifies that they’ve been developed into an Army officer,” she said. “It’s a huge step, they are entrusted with a sacred trust … and prepared for the nation’s service.”
At the ceremony, the cadets took the oath of office, which recognized their new status as officers; were pinned with the bar of gold that signifies their rank; and finally, given their first salute as an officer.
“It’s cliché, but (the ceremony) means everything to me,” said Jason Carlson. “It’s symbolic. I’m going from a cadet to an officer. It’s a long standing tradition, since the beginning of the country.”
This year’s commissioning class was especially near and dear to Boice’s heart because it was a small class. Typically, about 20 cadets are commissioned each year, but this year’s senior class included only 12 cadets (one cadet commissioned in December and another will commission this summer).
Boice advises the senior class during their final year in the program. The seniors are responsible for running the battalion, which includes teaching and training the younger cadets.
“They did an amazing job running the battalion with fewer people,” she said.
Most of the commissioned second lieutenants will attend additional training before joining their units.
For example, Carlson has been assigned to the quartermaster corps, and will eventually join the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The quartermaster corps is the largest branch in the Army and provides logistical support for all Army functions, he explained.
Before Carlson joins his unit, he and other recently commissioned officers will attend six weeks of training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma to review the skills and responsibilities of second lieutenants. Next, he’ll head to Fort Lee in Virginia for three months, where he will learn the specifics of his new position in the quartermaster corps. He’ll then officially join his unit at Fort Bragg.
Along with Carlson, the following cadets were commissioned:
Arturo Avilla, who commissioned in December, was trained in military intelligence and will be heading to Germany. Cassy Anderson will graduate this August, and she hopes to join the Adjutant General’s Corps stationed at Fort Lewis.
The ROTC is an elective curriculum that students take along with their required college courses, and the students major in any discipline they choose. Taught by current Army officers, the program includes military science courses that develop leadership skills and teach military tactics, military training exercises at Fort Lewis and regular physical training sessions.
To learn more about the ROTC program at PLU, visit www.plu.edu/~rotc.
“It signifies that they’ve been developed into an Army officer,” she said. “It’s a huge step, they are entrusted with a sacred trust … and prepared for the nation’s service.”
At the ceremony, the cadets took the oath of office, which recognized their new status as officers; were pinned with the bar of gold that signifies their rank; and finally, given their first salute as an officer.
“It’s cliché, but (the ceremony) means everything to me,” said Jason Carlson. “It’s symbolic. I’m going from a cadet to an officer. It’s a long standing tradition, since the beginning of the country.”
This year’s commissioning class was especially near and dear to Boice’s heart because it was a small class. Typically, about 20 cadets are commissioned each year, but this year’s senior class included only 12 cadets (one cadet commissioned in December and another will commission this summer).
Boice advises the senior class during their final year in the program. The seniors are responsible for running the battalion, which includes teaching and training the younger cadets.
“They did an amazing job running the battalion with fewer people,” she said.
Most of the commissioned second lieutenants will attend additional training before joining their units.
For example, Carlson has been assigned to the quartermaster corps, and will eventually join the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The quartermaster corps is the largest branch in the Army and provides logistical support for all Army functions, he explained.
Before Carlson joins his unit, he and other recently commissioned officers will attend six weeks of training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma to review the skills and responsibilities of second lieutenants. Next, he’ll head to Fort Lee in Virginia for three months, where he will learn the specifics of his new position in the quartermaster corps. He’ll then officially join his unit at Fort Bragg.
Along with Carlson, the following cadets were commissioned:
- Mary Ayres, who will be going to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
- Brian Bradshaw, who will be going to Alaska
- Michael Harper, who will train as a helicopter pilot at Fort Rucker in Alabama
- Bethany Harvey, who will be stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio
- Eric Lee, who will be stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Adam Medina, who will go to Fort Hood in central Texas
- Harold Perea, who will be stationed at Fort Lewis
- Carmen Ramos, who will be stationed in Washington
Arturo Avilla, who commissioned in December, was trained in military intelligence and will be heading to Germany. Cassy Anderson will graduate this August, and she hopes to join the Adjutant General’s Corps stationed at Fort Lewis.
The ROTC is an elective curriculum that students take along with their required college courses, and the students major in any discipline they choose. Taught by current Army officers, the program includes military science courses that develop leadership skills and teach military tactics, military training exercises at Fort Lewis and regular physical training sessions.
To learn more about the ROTC program at PLU, visit www.plu.edu/~rotc.