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2nd Lt. Amanda Lewis with her parents, George and Kimberly Lewis
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2nd Lt. Philip Hinz with his parents, Dennis and Linda Hinz
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2nd Lt. Garrett Tasker with his grandmother, Millie Metelka, and his sister, Amy Ponce
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2nd Lt. Jared Brynildsen with his parents, Bryan and Barbie Brynildsen
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2nd Lt. Lance Frail with his mother, Debra Frail, and his fiancee, Autumn Stevenson
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2nd Lt. Aldo Toomepuu with his parents, Juri and Jai Hee Toompuu
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2nd Lt. Craig Porte with his parents, Anthony and Elizabeth Porte
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2nd Lt. William Sweger III with his parents, William Sweger Jr., a retired lieutenant colonel, and Leta Sweger
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2nd Lt. Ashley Reeves with her parents, Debbie Kerr and Scott Reeves
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2nd Lt. Stephen Barich with his grandparents, George and Marilyn Ehlert
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2nd Lt. Russell Litko with his parents, Larry Litko and Yvonne Litko
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2nd Lt. Mathew Haselhorst with his grandfather, Raymond Schaeffer, and father, Dan Haselhorst
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2nd Lt. Nichole Corum with Lt. Col. Lawrence Pickett and retired Lt. Col. Mick Cumbie
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Spring 2007 Army Commissioning at WIU
May 21, 2007
MACOMB, IL - Sixteen Western Illinois University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a May 11 ceremony on Western's campus. Fourteen of the new officers received active duty commissions.
They join the 887 alumni of Western's ROTC award-winning program, which was established in 1968. Western's military science department has a longstanding tradition of excellence, having been named the recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Award for the best ROTC battalion in the Midwest in 1994, 2001 and 2002.
In Spring 2005, Western Illinois' ROTC Bulldog Battalion was named the best large program in the 10th Brigade and a top 15 percent school in all of Cadet Command's 272 programs. The 10th Brigade, headquartered at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, includes 22 college and university programs in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Below are the individuals, listed by Illinois hometowns, who took the Oath of Office of a commissioned officer:
BLOOMINGTON – Amanda Lewis, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a computer science major and minors in military science and Spanish, received a reserve duty commission in the Aviation Corps. A 2003 graduate of Tri-Valley High School (Downs, IL), Lewis will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, AL, and then serve with the Illinois National Guard. Amanda's parents, George and Kimberly Lewis, pinned on her gold bars.
DOWNERS GROVE – Philip Hinz, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a computer science major and a minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the Signal Corps with a branch detail to the Field Artillery Corps. A 2003 graduate of Downers Grove North High School, Hinz will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK. His first duty assignment will be at Schofield Barracks, HI. Philip's parents, Dennis and Linda Hinz, pinned on his gold bars.
EAST GALESBURG – Garrett Tasker, a Spring 2007 WIU Board of Trustees-Bachelor of Arts graduate with a minor in military science, received a reserve duty commission in the Field Artillery Corps. He will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK, and then serve with the Illinois National Guard. Garrett's grandmother, Millie Metelka, and his sister, Amy Ponce, pinned on his gold bars. He is the son of Robert and Karen Tasker of East Galesburg.
GODFREY – Jared Brynildsen, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a Board of Trustees-Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the medical service corps. A 2003 graduate of Alton High School, Brynildsen will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA. He will proceed to Fort Sam Houston, TX, for Officer Basic Course, and his first duty assignment will be at Fort Bragg, NC. Jared's parents, Bryan and Barbie Brynildsen, pinned on his gold bars.
KEWANEE – Lance Frail, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a major in law enforcement and justice administration and a minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the Chemical Corps. A 2003 graduate of Wethersfield High School, Frail will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. His first duty assignment will be at Fort Hood, TX. Lance's mother, Debra Frail, and his fiancée, Autumn Stevenson, pinned on his gold bars.
LINCOLNSHIRE – Aldo Toomepuu, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with an interdisciplinary studies major, received an active duty commission in the Infantry. A 2002 graduate of Adlai Stevenson High School, he will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will also receive his first duty assignment. Aldo's parents, Juri and Jai Hee Toomepuu, attended the ceremony; Juri pinned on Aldo's gold bars.
MONEE – Craig Porte, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with an art major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Military Intelligence Corps. He will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, before attending Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ. His first duty assignment will be at Fort Hood, TX. Craig's parents, Anthony and Elizabeth Porte, pinned on his gold bars.
In a Spring 2007 awards ceremony, Porte received senior class American Veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam Award, which is given to those cadets who have shown the most diligence in the discharge of duty and the willingness to serve God and country. He was also among nine individuals on the ROTC Color Guard, which placed first in state competition.
O'FALLON – William Sweger, III, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a history major and minors in military science and political science, received an active duty commission in the Infantry. A 2003 graduate of O'Fallon Township High School, he will initially serve as cadre at during the Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, KY. Sweger will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will also receive his first duty assignment. William's parents, William Sweger, Jr., a retired lieutenant colonel, and Leta Sweger, pinned on his gold bars.
At the Spring 2007 ROTC awards ceremony, Sweger was presented the national George C. Marshall Award; and Western's Colonel Leo Manning Outstanding ROTC Cadet Award and the Fogelman Memorial Plaque, which recognizes the outstanding WIU Ranger for the 2006-2007 school year.
PALATINE – Ashley Reeves, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a law enforcement and justice administration major and military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Ordnance Corps. A 2003 graduate of Palatine High School, Reeves will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, before attending Officer Basic Course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Her first duty assignment will be at Fort Riley, KS. Ashley's parents, Debbie Kerr of Palatine, and Scott Reeves of Streamwood, pinned on her gold bars.
ROCKFORD – Stephen Barich, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a law enforcement and justice administration major and military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Air Defense Artillery Corps. A 2003 graduate of Boylan Catholic High School, Barich will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Bliss, TX; his first duty assignment will be Fort Hood, TX. Stephen's grandparents, George and Marilyn Ehlert, pinned on his gold bars.
ROSEVILLE – Jonathan Randall, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a law enforcement and justice administration major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Air Defense Artillery Corps. A 2002 Roseville High School graduate, Randall will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, before attending Officer Basic Course at Fort Bliss, TX. His first duty assignment will be at Fort Lewis, WA. Jonathan's parents, Tim and Georgia Randall, pinned on his gold bars.
TINLEY PARK – Russell Litko, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a recreation, park and tourism administration major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Signal Corps with a branch detail to the Infantry. A 2003 graduate of Providence Catholic High School, Litko will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will also receive his first duty assignment. Russell's parents, Larry Litko and Yvonne Litko, both of Tinley Park, pinned on his gold bars.
At the Spring 2007 ROTC awards ceremony, Litko received the National Defense Industrial Award, which is presented to the senior cadet who has continuously demonstrated excellence in military and academic studies.
TRENTON – Matthew Haselhorst, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a law enforcement and justice administration major and minors in military science and history, received an active duty commission in the Aviation Corps. A 2000 graduate of Mater Dei High School, Haselhorst will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA, before attending Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, AL, where he will stay for his first duty assignment. Matthew's grandfather, Raymond Schaeffer, and father, Dan Haselhorst, pinned on his gold bars.
TUSCOLA – Nichole Corum, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a history major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Military Intelligence Corps. She will serve as Western Illinois' Gold Bar Recruiter until August and then report to Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Her first duty assignment will be at Fort Bragg, NC. Lt. Col. Lawrence Pickett of Western's military science department and retired Lt. Col. Mick Cumbie, former chair of the department, pinned on her gold bars. Nichole is the daughter of Christopher Corum of Tuscola and Kamey Corum of Oakland.
At the Spring 2007 ROTC awards ceremony, Corum received an American Legion Award for Military Excellence; and the Department of Army Superior Cadet Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership and academic performance throughout the year, for the senior class. She also was the student commander and a member of the nine-person ROTC Color Guard, which placed first in state competition. Corum is a 2003 graduate of Tuscola High School.
WHEATON – Erin Anderson, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a philosophy major and minors in military science and religious studies, received an active duty commission in the Military Intelligence Corps. The 2002 graduate of Wheaton North High School will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA. She will proceed to Fort Huachuca, AZ, for Officer Basic Course, and Anderson's first duty assignment will be at Fort Bragg, NC. Erin's grandfather, Ed Anderson, and her brother, Garrett Anderson, pinned on her gold bars. Erin is the daughter of Lee Anderson and the late Fran Anderson.
WISCONSIN
CUDAHY – Anthony Leon, a Spring 2007 WIU graduate with a history major and a minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the Armor Corps. He will initially serve as cadre during Warrior Forge at Fort Lewis, WA. Leon will attend Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY and his first duty assignment will be at Fort Bliss, TX. Anthony's parents, Gary and Theresa Leon, pinned on his gold bars.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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