13 FSC ROTC Cadets To Receive Commissions

As commencement nears for Florida Southern College students, those in the College’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) are also anticipating the Commissioning Ceremony set for 10 a.m. on Friday in Branscomb Auditorium.

The ceremony will be presided over by Lt. Col. John Denney, the head of the Moccasin Battalion cadre.

“The commissioning ceremony marks the culmination of years of preparation by these cadets,” Lt. Col. Denney said. “In order to reach this point, each had to excel both in their academic endeavors and during their rigorous military training. Friday’s ceremony represents the culmination of their preparations and marks the beginning of their careers as future leaders in our military. This year we will have Officers serve in all components of the U.S. Army; Active Duty, National Guard and Army Reserves. Each Officer has competed for and been assigned a career field based on their scholastic performance and leadership potential. Several will serve as Army Nurses and one will attend future schooling for a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. We are extremely proud of each of their accomplishments and know that their current achievements are a sure indicator of their outstanding futures as servant leaders to this great nation.”

There will be 13 ROTC students who will receive their commission as a 2^nd Lt. in the U.S. Army.

They are as follows: Bethany Beachy (Engineering), Joshua Bonner (Transportation), Bryce Johnson (Infantry), Mary Kaleta (Nurse Corps), Logan Levenson (Transportation), Saida Morales (Quartermaster), Andrew Peterson (Military Police), Noelle Pitz (Educational Delay), Adilen Reyes (Engineer), Jacob Talbott (Medical Services), Hunter Thomas (Field Artillery), Rachel Trego (Nurse Corps) and Sergio Trevino-Rios (Infantry).

The graduates will be read their oath of service by a selected officer in attendance and then will receive their first salute from a non-commissioned officer.

Approximately 200 people are expected to attend the event with the special guest speaker being veteran Congressman Scott Franklin (R), who spent 26 years in the Navy. Rep. Franklin was first a Naval Aviator for 14 years of active duty, before serving his final 12 in the reserves. He served in the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf and North Atlantic regions, and saw combat in the Gulf, Bosnia and Kosovo.