Cadets become officers

  Friday, May 6, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Nine Army ROTC cadets became second lieutenants Friday, in a tradition-rich ceremony in the Pittsburg State University Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater.

The commissioning ceremony is one of the most memorable days in every officer’s career and the setting – clear blue skies and the memorial’s eternal flame and reflecting pool – make it picture-perfect for the families who came to witness the important event.

Major General Victor J. Braden, commanding general of the 35th Infantry Division at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, offered words of advice to the cadets before they took their oaths.

For families, a special part of the ceremony is the “pinning on,” when family members pin the new officer’s rank onto their shoulders.

This year’s new 2nd lieutenants and their branch are:

Alaric Bogle, Aviation; Austin Caskey, Adjutant General Corps; Jacob Decker, Infantry; Shauna Minkevitch, Field Artillery; Jacob Fatkin, Field Artillery; Garret leiker, Engineer; Jake Mindez, Field Artillery; Trekia Nolen, Military Intelligence; and Tanner Quigley, Infantry.