ROTC students commissioned as officers upon graduation
Family members help with a pinning ceremony as graduates from UW–Madison’s Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC units participate in an officer commissioning ceremony at Gordon Dining and Event Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on May 14, 2016. Pictured from left to right are Army 2nd Lt. Josh J. Busko of Mosinee, Wisconsin; Navy Ensign Benjamin N. Fritz of Lakeville, Minnesota; and Air Force Second Lieutenant Brienna N. Herdrich of West Bend, Wisconsin. Photo: Jeff Miller
On Saturday, military officials honored 34 cadets and midshipmen for completing the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program during their studies at UW–Madison.
The group of graduates are future leaders in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The newly commissioned officers will continue their training and disperse throughout the country and the world to various bases and vessels.
One of those graduates is 2nd Lt. Austyn Chervenka of Denmark, Wisconsin, who will serve as an engineer officer in the Wisconsin Army National Guard while training to become a nurse practitioner.
Maj. Gen. Daniel Ammerman, commander of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, leads 34 ROTC graduates in stating the oath of office. Photo: Jeff Miller
“ROTC has enriched my college experience by providing me with both student and faculty mentors who genuinely care about my success,” says Chervenka. “ROTC has given me the leadership skills and confidence I need in order to achieve my professional goals.”
The guest speaker was Maj. Gen. Daniel Ammerman, commander of the U.S Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His son, Kenneth, was among the officers commissioned to the Army.
“It’s been 34 years since I walked across a stage similar to this,” said Ammerman. “I couldn’t possibly have imagined what a life of service to our country would have brought me over the course of these years.”
The ROTC event followed UW–Madison’s spring commencement ceremony and formally recognized 34 graduating members as officers in the military. Photo: Jeff Miller
Ammerman stressed the importance of UW–Madison’s education in helping mold the minds of the young officers, citing the need for adaptability and critical thinking in any leader.
“You represent the 1 percent of our society that stands up and defends our country,” Ammerman said to the room of fresh graduates.
President Woodrow Wilson established the ROTC program with the passage of the National Defense Act of 1916. Although military training had taken place at colleges around the country well before 1916, this nationalized the process into one centralized entity.
ROTC produces more officers than any other organization within the United States military.
Tags: commencement, ROTC, students