University News
WIU/Monmouth College Army ROTC Commissioning in Monmouth December 17
December 14, 2010
MACOMB/MONMOUTH, IL - - Three Western Illinois University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and one Monmouth College cadet will be commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 ceremony at Monmouth College. This marks the inaugural combined commissioning ceremony to be held at Monmouth College.
"Western Illinois University's Army ROTC program has enjoyed a small partnership program with Monmouth College since 2007," said Lt. Col. Thomas Seifert, chair of WIU's military science department.
According to Seifert, three commissioning ceremonies are generally scheduled per year – May, August and December – to appoint the new second lieutenants. Monmouth College has offered to host the ceremony as their cadets are being commissioned. Monmouth had its own ROTC program until the early 1990s, when the drawback of the military resulted in its inactivation after Operation Desert Storm, Seifert added.
"Hopefully the partnership between WIU and Monmouth College will continue to grow as we produce the Army's future officer leadership," Seifert said.
Cadets from Western Illinois who will be commissioned officers include the following:
Joseph Christopher Laz (Naperville, IL), a communication major with minors in military science and law enforcement and justice administration.
Jesse Alan Turner (Belleville, IL), a law enforcement and justice administration major with minors in military science and accountancy.
Alex Socorro Rodriguez (Montpelier, IA), a law enforcement and justice administration major and military science minor.
The Monmouth College cadet to be commissioned an officer is James Deon Holeman (Jacksonville, IL), a physical education major.
Individuals who plan on attending the Dec. 17 ceremony at Monmouth College are asked to contact Lori Menke, WIU military science department, phone (309) 298-1161, or e-mail LL-Menke@wiu.edu.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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