On the eve of graduating from MTSU, 13 senior military science ROTC cadets received a ceremonial send-off into their U.S. Army careers.

All were commissioned as second lieutenants during the Blue Raider Battalion spring ceremony Friday, May 8, in the MTSU Veterans Memorial outside the Tom H. Jackson Building.

The twice-yearly event recognizes the cadets’ completion of the ROTC program and their commitment to the U.S. Army.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey H. “Jeff” Holmes, deputy adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard, served as guest speaker.

Holmes is responsible for the supervision of training and readiness for the 14,000-plus soldiers and airmen within the Tennessee National Guard and answers to the adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Terry M. “Max” Haston. Haston is an alumnus of MTSU and its military science program.

“I challenge you to lead these soldiers, the nation’s most precious commodities and most precious resource,” Holmes said in concluding his remarks. “Prepare yourself well, and I know you’ll do your best and do your duty. God bless you, and I’ll see you on the high ground.”

MTSU military science chair Joel Miller, left, administers the U.S. Army oath to part of the 13 senior cadets who became U.S. Army second lieutenants. The spring commissioning ceremony took place Friday, May 8, outside the Tom H. Jackson Building. (MTSU photos by J. Intintoli)

The ceremony marked the final public event for U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joel Miller, the MTSU department chair. After a three-year stint as program leader, he is leaving to become an assistant professor in the history department at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Those commissioned include:

• Breven Addington, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. He was placed in the armor branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• Aaron Bruney, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in computer information systems. He was placed in the signal corps branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• Tierra Kendrick, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in recording industry. She was placed on active duty with the military intelligence branch and will be camp cadre at cadet summer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, beginning May 27 and will then go to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to begin the basic officer leader course in August.

• Shade Manning, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He was placed in the military intelligence branch with the Tennessee Army Reserves.

• Ryan McCoy, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. He was placed in the signal corps branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• Justin McIntosh, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology. He was placed on active duty with the signal corps branch and will go to Fort Gordon, Georgia, and begin his basic officer leader course in October.

New U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Breven Addington, center, is pinned by his grandfather, Dean Trent, left, and his father, Mark Addington, both of Kingsport, during the spring 2015 military science commissioning ceremony at MTSU.

• Jacob McLeod, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology. He was placed in the signal corps branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• Paul Moret, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in international relations. He was placed in the transportation corps branch with the Tennessee Army Reserves.

• Jason Seiber, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. He was placed in the military intelligence branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• Vagif Seidov, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies. He was placed on active duty with the quartermaster branch and will go to Fort Lee, Virginia, and begin his basic officer leader course in late May.

• Ryan Shoemaker, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies. He was placed in the medical services branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

• James Thomas, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. He was placed on active duty with the infantry branch and will go to Fort Benning, Georgia, to begin his basic officer leader course in January 2016.

• Jonathan Wright, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace. He was placed in the ordnance branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes delivers the ROTC commissioning ceremony address Friday, May 8, at the MTSU Veterans Memorial site.

Family and friends and MTSU faculty, staff and administrators attend the spring 2015 ROTC commissioning ceremony Friday, May 8, outside the Tom H. Jackson Building. The military science program commissioned 13 senior cadets as new second lieutenants.