MTSU’s ROTC program’s newly commissioned second lieutenants “have a lot of potential to do really great things,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Carrick McCarthy.

McCarthy, the chair of the university’s military science program, spoke about newly commissioned cadets in the Hazlewood Dining Room in the James Union Building and graduated Dec. 14 in Murphy Center.

The commissioning ceremony is a tradition for the ROTC program, which has seen the student cadets prepare for service to their country.

MTSU’s Ethan Roberts, left, of Dickson, Tenn., and Neily Jimenez of Christiana, Tenn., pose with a fellow former cadet after being commissioned as second lieutenants in a special military science ceremony Dec. 13 in the James Union Building’s Hazlewood Dining Room. They graduated from MTSU Dec. 14. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Those commissioned Dec. 13 as second lieutenants included:

• Neily Jimenez, an organizational communication major from Christiana, Tennessee.
• Ethan Roberts, an integral studies major from Dickson, Tennessee.

McCarthy shared how they are heading to a distinctive military branch: Jimenez to the Army National Guard in intelligence and Roberts into active duty with military police.

“All of them are highly intelligent and confident,” McCarthy said. “We’re excited to be able to do this — commission them and send them out into the real world.”

Family, friends, fellow cadets and military science faculty attended the ceremony.

Sierra Austin, left, and Anthony Burton of Murfreesboro, Mekaila Charsha of Maryville, Tenn.,
Kaitlyn Qualls of Murfreesboro and Bryce Teague of Franklin, Tenn., receive the commissioning oath at the MTSU military science ceremony in the Tom H. Jackson Building’s Cantrell Hall during the summer commissioning ceremony in August. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MTSU alumnus and U.S. Army Col. Keith Scott, chief of staff in the Joint Forces Headquarters with the Tennessee Army National Guard since March, was guest speaker.

Scott delivered a “message about leadership, how to become a good leader and characteristics that surrounded that,” he said.

“It’s about being ready for the next mission, the next step,” he added. “You have to be prepared at any given time to adapt to the changing situation.”

McCarthy administered the commissioning oath. The new commissionees also participated in the Silver Dollar Salute, a military tradition where they hand a shiny silver dollar to the first enlisted soldier, sailor, airman or marine who salutes them.

The program, which is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments, also commissioned four cadets and contracted with four new cadets in August.

MTSU ROTC August commissionees

• Sierra Austin, a biology major from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Anthony Burton, a political science major from Jackson, Michigan.
• Mekaila Charsha, a nursing major from Maryville, Tennessee.
• Kaitlyn Qualls, a criminal justice major from Murfreesboro.
• Bryce Teague, a history major from Franklin, Tennessee.

Newly contracted cadets

• Brian Acosta, a criminal justice administration graduate student from St. Charles, Illinois.
• Michael Maynard, a business administration (commerce) major from Boston, Massachusetts.
• Joshua Smith, a criminal justice major from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
• Tyler Vongpanya, a computer science major from Murfreesboro.

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

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Carrick McCarthy, right, swears in Michael Maynard, left, of Boston, Mass., Brian Acosta of St. Charles, Ill., and Joshua Smith of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., as the newest contracted cadets in the MTSU ROTC program during a ceremony in the Tom H. Jackson Building’s Cantrell Hall. McCarthy is chair of the military science program. Not pictured: Tyler Vongpanya of Murfreesboro. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)