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2LT Michael Joseph Pignato with his sister and brother, Megan and Daniel Pignato.
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2LT Martin Daniel Jones with his parents, Glen and Sherry Jones, and his sister, Rachel Jones.
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2LT Adam Charles Welte with his father, Duane Welte.
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2LT Quentin Troy Richards with his brother, Ethan Richards.
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2LT Mitchell Craig Brady with his father, Craig Brady.
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2LT Edwin Mousey Rodriguez II with his girlfriend, Maria Albaladejo.
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2LT Starlet Elizabeth Baker with her mother, Joanne Bowlin, and her husband, Matt Baker.
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2LT John Andrew Green with his mother, Gwen Azbell, and his stepfather, Kim Azbell.
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2LT Andrew Richard Mueller with his parents, Russ and Lori Mueller.
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2LT Jeff William Ruppenthal with his father, Kurt Ruppenthal, and his girlfriend, Karley Dame.
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2LT Matthew William Marass with his parents, William and Kelly Marass, and his fiancee, Tiffani Cave.
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2LT Hanson with his father, Jim Hanson, and his stepfather, Mark Barnett.
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2LT Brian Christopher Miller with his mother, Martha Miller.
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WIU and Monmouth College Spring 2012 U.S. Army Commissioning

June 1, 2012

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MACOMB, IL/MONMOUTH, IL – Eleven Western Illinois University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and two Monmouth College ROTC cadets were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a spring commencement weekend ceremony at WIU.

This was the second combined commissioning ceremony with WIU and Monmouth College. The inaugural ceremony was held at Monmouth College in December 2010.

Western's award-winning ROTC program was established in 1968. The University'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. The Leatherneck Battalion has also been honored as the Best ROTC Battalion in the Brigade in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Six-of-11 Western Illinois University new second lieutenants received active duty commissions; five received reserve duty commissions. Two Monmouth College ROTC cadets received active duty commissions.

Individuals who took the Oath of Office of a commissioned officer are listed below by Illinois counties and cities, as well as Missouri.

COOK COUNTY
La Grange Park – Michael Joseph Pignato, a law enforcement and justice administration major with a minor in military science, received a reserve duty commission in the Quartermaster Corps. 2LT Pignato will attend the Quartermaster Basic Course at Fort Lee, VA, and then proceed to his first duty assignment with the United States Army Reserves in Kingsbury, IN. 2LT Pignato's sister and brother, Megan and Daniel Pignato, were present to pin on his gold bars.

Midlothian – Martin Daniel Jones, a law enforcement and justice administration major with minors in military science and psychology, received a reserve duty commission in the Engineer Corps. 2LT Jones will attend the Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and then proceed to his first duty assignment with the United States Army Reserve in Des Moines, IA. 2LT Jones' parents, Glen and Sherry Jones, and his sister, Rachel Jones, were present to pin on his gold bars.

KANE COUNTY
Aurora – Adam Charles Welte, a law enforcement and justice administration major and a military science minor, received an active duty commission in the Aviation Corps. 2LT Welte will attend the Aviation Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, AL, where he will receive his first permanent duty assignment. 2LT Welte's father, Duane Welte, was present to pin on his son's gold bars.

Elgin – Quentin Troy Richards, a recreation, park and tourism administration major with minors in military science, law enforcement and justice administration and Spanish, received a reserve duty commission in the Infantry. 2LT Richards will attend the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, and then proceed to his first duty assignment with the Illinois Army National Guard in Woodstock, IL. 2LT Richards' brother, Ethan Richards, was present to pin on the lieutenant's gold bars.

KNOX COUNTY
Galesburg – Mitchell Craig Brady, a history major with a minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the Infantry. 2LT Brady will attend the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will receive his first permanent duty assignment. 2LT Brady's father, Craig Brady, was present to pin on his son's gold bars.

McDONOUGH COUNTY
Macomb – Edwin Mousey Rodriguez II, an exercise science major with a minor in military science, received a reserved duty commission in the Quartermaster Corps. 2LT Rodriguez will attend Quartermaster Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, VA, and then proceed to his first duty assignment with the United States Army Reserve at Camp Pendleton, CA. 2LT Rodriguez's sister, Sarah Rodriguez, and his girlfriend, Maria Albaladejo, were present to pin on his gold bars.

Tennessee – Starlet Elizabeth Baker, a philosophy major with minors in military science and Pre-Law Honors, received an active duty commission in the Aviation Corps. 2LT Baker will initially serve as cadre at Warrior Forge at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. She will attend Aviation Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, AL, where she will receive her first permanent duty assignment. 2LT Baker's husband, Matt Baker, and her parents, Joanne and Howard Bowlin, were present to pin on her gold bars.

FULTON COUNTY
Vermont – John Andrew Green, a political science – international relations major – with minors in military science, history and international studies–Asia, received an active duty commission in the Transportation Corps. 2LT Green will attend the Transportation Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, VA, and then proceed to his first duty assignment at Fort Richardson, AK. 2LT Green's mother, Gwen Azbell, and his stepfather, Kim Azbell, were present to pin on his gold bars.

McLEAN COUNTY
Bloomington – Andrew Richard Mueller, a recreation, park and tourism administration major with a minor in military science, received an active duty commission in the Infantry. 2LT Mueller will attend the Infantry Office Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, where he will receive his first permanent duty assignment. 2LT Mueller's parents, Russ and Lori Mueller, were present to pin on his gold bars.

OGLE COUNTY
Rochelle – Jeff William Ruppenthal, a law enforcement and justice administration major with a minor in military science, received a reserve duty commission in the Infantry. 2LT Ruppenthal will attend the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, and then proceed to his first duty assignment with the Illinois Army National Guard in Joliet, IL. 2LT Ruppenthal's parents, Kurt and Jane Ruppenthal, and his girlfriend, Karley Dame, were present to pin on his gold bars.

SANGAMON COUNTY
Springfield – Matthew William Marass, a law enforcement and justice administration major with minors in military science and emergency management, received a reserve duty commission in the Military Police Corps. 2LT Marass will attend Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and then proceed to his first duty assignment with the Illinois Army National Guard in Springfiefld, IL. 2LT Marass' parents, William and Kelly Marass, and his fiancée, Tiffani Cave, were present to pin on his gold bars.

Williamsville - Christopher John Hanson of Monmouth College, a business administration major, received an active duty commission in the Ordnance Corps. He will attend the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, VA, where he will receive his first permanent duty assignment. 2LT Hanson's father, Jim Hanson, and his stepfather, Mark Barnett, were present to pin on his gold bars.

MISSOURI
Eureka - Brian Christopher Miller from Monmouth College, a psychology major, received an active duty commission in the Transportation Corps. He will attend the Transportation Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, VA, and then proceed to his first duty assignment at Fort Bliss, TX. 2LT Miller's mother, Martha Miller, was present to pin on her son's gold bars.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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