Sixteen Ohio University seniors were honored in a branching ceremony through the Army ROTC program in the multi-purpose room of Baker University Center on Saturday morning.
About 60 people, including alumni and future cadets, were present at the ceremony to see the graduating seniors of the Army ROTC program receive pins of their chosen branches in the Army and the Army National Guard.
“I thought it was well done,” said Rebecca Zook, a freshman studying journalism and accounting associate for the Army ROTC. “I thought it was a very nicely done ceremony.”
Alumni of the program also were able to pin some of the seniors and having the future cadets who are going into the ROTC program witness the ceremony was a “cool experience”, said Zook.
Major Robert Paley had spoken at the ceremony while the seniors were pinned, however was not available for comment.
Cadet Eric Rodriguez was one of the seniors that were honored and said that the experience was “surreal.”
“It felt great, it felt like everything was becoming real,” Rodriguez said. “All our hard work paid off. We’re part of the real Army and the National Guard now.”
Rodriguez received his assignment with the Army National Military Guard Corp. in the 37th infantry that is located in Ohio, and will begin in June.
“I’m looking forward to meeting my unit,” he said. “I look forward to working with them in June.”
Here is a complete list of the cadets were honored and received their branch insignias:
Cadet Marisa Cremean Active Duty Adjutant General Corp
Cadet Adam McCarty Ohio Army National Guard Air Defense Artillery
Cadet Kevin Walsh Active Duty Air Defense Artillery
Cadet Brian Johnson Active Duty Aviation
Cadet Cassondra Dick Active Duty Military Intelligence
Cadet Tyler Queen Active Duty Military Police Corp
Cadet Eric Rodriguez Ohio Army National Guard Military Police Corp
Cadet Ashley Pierce Active Duty Chemical Corp
Cadet Bryan Andrews Ohio Army National Guard Corp of Engineers
Cadet Joseph De Luca Ohio Army National Guard Corp of Engineers
Cadet Kyle Regan Active Duty Corp of Engineers
Cadet Battalion Commander Jessica Growney Active Duty Medical Service Corp
Cadet Derek Harrison Ohio Army National Guard Ordnance Corp
Cadet Randal Obringer Active Duty Signal Corp
Cadet Patrick Lippert United States Army Reserve Transportation Corp
Cadet Robert Stevenson United States Army Reserve Transportation Corp
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