EWU Army ROTC “Fighting Eagles” Battalion Conducts Fall 2019 Commissioning Ceremony

On December 13, 2019, the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) “Fighting Eagles” battalion conducted its Fall Commissioning Ceremony. The ceremony was held in the historic Showalter Hall auditorium on the beautiful EWU campus.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony


The path to this day was not an easy one for the commissionees. All the Cadets conducted up to 4 years of military training in the ROTC program, had to meet rigorous academic requirements, build strong physical fitness, pass the 37-day long ROTC Advanced Camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, among a host of other challenging requirements before they could commission as a Second Lieutenant (2LT) in the U.S. Army.  The ceremony began with the benediction given by Cadet Isabelle Erickson.  Following the benediction, the EWU Army ROTC Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jonathan Stafford gave his remarks.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Cadet Isabelle Erickson gives the benediction.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
LTC Jonathan Stafford gives his remarks to the commissioning Cadets.

Besides excelling in ROTC, Cadets from this group were very active on campus executing cannon crew duties during the home football games, participating in volunteer activities such as our annual blood drive, assisting with color guard, and being part of the Ranger Challenge team.  They are a truly remarkable group of young leaders.  Following the remarks from LTC Stafford, the Cadets each came forward to be administered the Army Oath of Office to officially commission them as a 2LT into the U.S. Army.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony


The Army Oath of Office

I (state your name), have been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States in the grade of Second Lieutenant do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter.  So help me God.

Following the Officer Oath of Office family members then came up and put on the Second Lieutenant shoulder board rank on to the new officers. After the pinning of the new rank, each newly minted officer received their first salute from the enlisted person of their choice. Part of the tradition of the first salute is that the enlisted servicemember receives a silver dollar from the officer.

 

2LT Josiah Bryan

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
LTC Stafford gives the Oath of Office to 2LT Bryan.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony


Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
2LT Bryan’s wife and grandmother pin on his 2LT bars.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
2LT Bryan’s cousin, retired Army Sergeant Brian Blair render the first salute.

 

2LT Melinda Leen

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
LTC Stafford gives the Oath of Office to 2LT Leen.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
2LT Leen’s parents pin her 2LT bars on her uniform.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
SFC Elliott Llerena renders the first salute to 2LT Leen.

 

2LT Andrew Norby

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Retired LTC Kurt Norby gives the oath to 2LT Norby.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony


Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
2LT Norby’s father pinned on his 2LT bars.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Retired Air Force Technical Sergeant Gene Norby renders the first salute.

 

2LT Malisa Pfennig

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
1LT Shaqwita Johnson administers the oath to 2LT Pfennig.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony


Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
2LT Pfennig’s mother and her husband Austin pin on her gold bars.

Following the administering of the oath of office two special guests made a presentation to the new Army officers. EWU ROTC thanks retired Lieutenant Colonel Dave Millet from the EWU Veterans Resource Center for presenting the veterans coins and honor cords to the commissionees today.  We also thank Lisa Cargill from the Office of Alumni Relations for presenting Eagle4Life pins to each of the new lieutenants.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Mr. Dave Millet from the Veteran’s Resource Center presents coins and honor cords to the new Second Lieutenants.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Lisa Cargill from the Office of Alumni Relations addresses the Cadets.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Ms. Lisa Cargill presents Eagle4Life pins to the new Army officers.

Following the presentations from the two guests the newly commissioned officers joined the audience in singing the Army Song before receiving the closing benediction from Cadet Erickson.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Commissioning ceremony attendees sing the Army Song.

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Cadet Erickson gives the benediction.

Congratulations to our new United States Army officers.  Go Eags!

Fall 2019 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony


EWU Army ROTC Class of Fall 2019


EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Cadets (Fall 2019)
From left: Andrew Norby, Josiah Bryan, Malisa Pfennig, & Melinda Leen

EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Cadets (Fall 2019)
2LT Malisa Pfennig / Major: Interdisciplinary Studies / Branch: Signal Corps

EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Cadets (Fall 2019)
2LT Josiah Bryan / Major: Nursing / Branch: Army Nurse Corps

EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Cadets (Fall 2019)
2LT Melinda Leen / Major: Criminal Justice / Branch: Military Intelligence

CDT Norby
2LT Andrew Norby / Major: Recreation / Branch: Aviation

Note: All the pictures can be downloaded off of the EWU ROTC Flickr page.


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