University News
Students Commissioned Second Lieutenants
December 17, 2003
MACOMB, IL - - Nine Western Illinois University Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) cadets were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a Dec. 12 ceremony on campus.
The ceremony includes the pinning on of the second lieutenant gold bar by family and friends selected by the cadet.
WIU's military science department, established in 1968, is regarded among the top programs nationwide. In December 2000 Western earned its second consecutive General Douglas MacArthur Award and received a top 20 ranking among all 270 U.S. Army Cadet Command programs nationwide.
The MacArthur Award, given jointly by the MacArthur Foundation and the commander of the United States Army Cadet Command, is presented annually to the top programs in each of Cadet Command's three regions. Western earned the award as the best large division program in the Second Region, headquartered at Ft. Knox, KY, which consists of 88 schools in 14-states. Western also earned the MacArthur Award in 1994.
The following individuals, listed by hometown, took the oath of office of a commissioned officer:
ILLINOIS
CHANNAHON - - Adam R. Rodriguez, an English major, received an active duty commission and will attend Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. He will be assigned to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ROTC Department as the Gold Bar Recruiter until he departs for his officer basic course. 2LT Rodriguez is the son of Raymond and Diana Rodriguez, who pinned on his bars. (Download print-quality photo.)
GERMAN VALLEY - - Travis G. Brainard, a computer science major, received a reserve duty commission and will attend Aviation Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, AL at a later date. 2LT Brainard is the son of Neal and Lisa Brainard, who pinned on his bars.(Download print-quality photo.)
JOLIET - - Patricia Castillo, an instructional technology and telecommunications major, received a reserve duty commission and will attend Signal Corps Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, GA at a later date. 2LT Castillo is the daughter of Adam and Imelda Castillo. Pinning on her bars were her father and her boyfriend, Luis Mancera. (Download print-quality photo.)
KEWANEE - - Shely L. Janey, a psychology major, received an active duty commission and will attend Military Intelligence Corps Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, GA at a later date. She will be assigned to the ROTC Department as a Gold Bar Recruiter until her assignment at Fort Gordon. 2LT Janey is the daughter of Gary and Lisa Janey, who pinned on her bars. (Download print-quality photo.)
MOLINE - - Jason F. Bachtel, a manufacturing engineering technology major, received a reserve duty commission and will attend Quartermaster Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, VA at a later date. 2LT Bachtel is the son of Greg Bachtel of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Gail Cortez of Richmond Hills, GA. Pinning on his bars were his wife, Rachel, and his grandfather, Cornell Dunt. (Download print-quality photo.)
NORTH AURORA - - William B. Ramsey, a psychology major, received an active duty commission and will attend Engineer Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He will be assigned to Western Illinois University as a Gold Bar Recruiter until his Officer Basic Course. 2LT Ramsey is the son of William and Rita Ramsey, who pinned on his bars. (Download print-quality photo.)
IOWA
FORT MADISON - - Devin W. Deck, a physical education major, received an active duty commission and will attend the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ at a later date. 2LT Deck is the son of Shirley and Don Deck, who pinned on his bars. (Download print-quality photo.)
WISCONSIN
FON DU LAC - - Derek A. Dobogai, a law enforcement and justice administration major, received an active duty commission and will attend Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA. 2LT Dobogai is the son of David and Lisa Dobogai, who pinned on his bars. (Download print-quality photo.)
CANADA
KITCHENER, ONTARIO - - Bradley W. Diebold, a law enforcement and justice administration major, received an active duty commission and will attend Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA. He will be assigned to Western Illinois University as a Gold Bar Recruiter until he departs to Fort Benning. Diebold graduated Dec. 13 as Westerns College of Education and Human Services College Scholar. 2LT Diebold is the son of Wayne and Donna Diebold of Kitchener, Canada. Pinning on his bars were his parents, and his girlfriend, Tiffany Ackerson. (Download print-quality photo.)
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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