University News
WIU Military Ball April 4
April 1, 2003
MACOMB, IL – Nearly 100 upper-division cadets in Western Illinois University's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program will participate in one of the most formal military social functions, the Military Ball, Friday, April 4 in the Union Grand Ballroom.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and a program, followed by a dance at 9 p.m.
"Participation in a formal military function is actually part of our curriculum," said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Michael Cumbie, chair of Western's military science department. "It's a military tradition, and it permits us an opportunity to celebrate our achievements over the past year."
In December 2002, Western military science program earned its second consecutive - - and third overall - - General Douglas MacArthur Award and received a top 20 ranking among all 270 U.S. Army Cadet Command programs nationwide.
"We took a hard look at the appropriateness of having the Military Ball in light of the war, and we came up with a unanimous 'yes,'" Cumbie said. "We're certain our comrades who are in service would want us to continue this tradition."
One of Western's military science staff, Major Lawrence Pickett, was recently called to action in support of the war in Iraq.
Major General Mitchell Stevenson, commanding general of U.S. Army Ordnance Center and Schools, will be the featured speaker. The two-star general began his career commissioned a Regular Army Ordnance Office from the ROTC program at West Virginia University in May 1974. His command duties include the 724th Support Battalion in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and Division Support Command for the 3rd Infantry Division in Europe.
Major General Stevenson's decorations and honors include the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three stars and the Expert Infantryman's Badge.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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