FIVE ROTC CADETS COMMISSIONED AS SECOND LIEUTENANTS IN CHARLOTTE
Five cadets from UNC Charlotte’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program were commissioned as second lieutenants on Aug. 20.
During the outdoor ceremony, friends, family, faculty and staff celebrated these officers as they committed to the Oath of the Commissioned Officer and were pinned with gold bars. After the ceremony, the officers were presented silver dollars after receiving their first salutes, a custom of the U.S. Army.
“Today marks a major milestone not only in their new careers but in their lives,” said Lt. Col. Blake Smith, chair and professor of military science. “Becoming an officer in the U.S. Army is about joining something bigger than yourself and these outstanding young students have stepped up to be the ones to lead America’s sons and daughters.”
Cadets commissioned were:
Keoni Arnold of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who held the rank of first sergeant of A Company in the ROTC program; he earned a degree in political science and will attend the U.S. Army Signal Corps Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia
Eric Dippold of Washington, D.C., who held the rank of company executive officer; he earned a degree in history and will attend the U.S. Army Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Benning, Georgia
Roxana Pozos of Charlotte, North Carolina, who held the rank of battalion commander; she earned her degree in psychology and will attend the U.S. Army Quartermaster Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Lee, Virginia
Kenny Thai of Hickory, North Carolina, held the rank of first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company; he earned a degree in history and will attend the U.S. Army Adjutant General Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Timothy Wood of Waxhaw, North Carolina, who held the rank of cadet captain; he earned a degree in psychology and will attend the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
Smith added, “I am proud of these individuals who are serving something greater than the pursuit of personal success and look forward to watching their careers grow in the coming year. I know without a doubt they will all be successful in this daunting task they’ve undertaken.”
Two of the new officers, Dippold and Pozos, were asked to share more from their experiences as cadets and their future plans.