MTSU’s military science program commissioned 14 graduating seniors as second lieutenants into the U.S. Army during the Blue Raider Detachment Spring Commissioning Ceremony May 6 at the university’s Military Memorial site outside the Tom H. Jackson Building.

Led by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jackie McDowell, a first-year professor guiding the ROTC program, the commissioning featured guest speaker Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives and a 38-year U.S. Army veteran who retired as a lieutenant general.

New U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Margaret Battan, center, is pinned by her parents, Meredith and John Battan of Millersville, Maryland, May 6 during the Blue Raider Detachment spring commissioning ceremony outside the Tom H. Jackson Building. (MTSU photos by J. Intintoli)

The event included the swearing-in and pinning of commissionees, first salute ceremony and the singing of the Army song.

Commissionees included:

• Margaret Battan, who graduated with a finance degree and is headed to the field artillery branch of the Tennessee National Guard.
• Timothy Chitpanya, who graduated with bachelor’s in chemistry and is assigned active duty in the infantry branch and headed to Fort Benning, Georgia, for the basic officer leadership course.
• Curtis Crossman, who graduated with a bachelor’s in information systems and is assigned to the military intelligence branch of the Tennessee National Guard.
• Ryan DeBooy, who graduated with a master’s in information systems and is assigned to the basic officer leadership course at Fort Benning, Georgia.
• Anthony Duncan, who graduated with a bachelor’s in liberal studies and is assigned to active duty in the ordnance branch. After serving among camp staff at cadet summer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, starting June 27, Duncan will go to Fort Lee, Virginia, to begin the basic officer leader course.
• Patrice Haney, who graduated with a bachelor’s in finance and is assigned to the ordnance branch with the Washington, D.C., Army National Guard.
• Ethan Hester, who graduated with a bachelor’s in physical education and is assigned to active duty field artillery branch and headed to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to begin the basic officer leader course.
• Reed Honken, who graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice and is assigned to active duty with the quartermaster branch and headed to Fort Lee, Virginia, to begin his basic officer leader course in June.
• Alison Judkins, who graduated with a bachelor’s in political science and is assigned to active duty in the medical service branch. Judkins will be among staff at cadet summer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, beginning May 16 and will then go to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to begin the basic officer leader course in August.
• Jimmy Norvell, who graduated with a bachelor’s in aerospace administration and is assigned to the aviation branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.
• Brandon Rodriguez, who graduated with a bachelor’s in aerospace with a professional pilot emphasis and is assigned to the medical service branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.
• Timothy Sanders, who graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice and is assigned to the military police branch of the Tennessee Army National Guard.
• Kyle Wix, who graduated with a bachelor’s in construction management and is assigned to active duty in the infantry branch and headed to Fort Benning to begin his basic officer leader course in June.
• Kyle Wolfenbarger, who graduated with a bachelor’s in biology and is assigned to the engineer branch with the Tennessee Army National Guard.

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

An attentive audience listens as Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for Veterans and Leadership Initiatives and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, speaks during the spring commissioning ceremony May 6 at the Military Memorial outside the Tom H. Jackson Building.