Islander ROTC Hosted Largest Ever Commissioning Ceremony
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted its largest ever Islander ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, with 11 students making the transition from Army cadet to second lieutenant. Family and friends, along with university officials, attended the ceremony, which was held May 11, in the Warren Theatre. Welcoming remarks were given by Dr. Kelly M. Quintanilla, University President, who praised the students for their development in the areas of leadership, team-building, management and physical fitness.
“Our goal is to graduate student leaders, and there are no greater leaders than our ROTC students,” said Quintanilla.
The ceremony includes the pinning of lieutenants’ bars by the soldiers’ loved ones, and the Silver Dollar Salute, an Army tradition in which newly commissioned second lieutenants present a silver dollar to the first enlisted soldier who salutes them. The coin symbolically acknowledges the receipt of respect due the new rank and position.
Lt. Col. Curtis Johnson, Professor of Military Science at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, led the swearing in ceremony. Students commissioned included:
- 2LT Jenieve Gabriella Espinoza – Espinoza is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She has been branched Transportation and will report to Fort Lee, Virginia to attend Transportation-BOLC. Upon graduation from T-BOLC, she will report to her first duty station at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
- 2LT Alexander Garcia – Garcia is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He has been branched Nurse Corpus and will report to Fort Sam Houston to attend Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC). Upon graduation from BOLC, he will report to his first duty station.
- 2LT David Ryan Gillenwaters – Gillenwaters is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He has been branched Nurse Corps and will report to Fort Sam Houston to attend Nurse Corps BOLC-B. Upon graduation from BOLC, he will receive orders to report to his first duty station.
- 2LT Mayra Gonzalez – Gonzalez is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a minor in military science. Gonzalez plans to pursue a Master of Science in Criminology beginning in Spring 2019. She has been branched Quartermaster and will be reporting to Fort Lee, Virginia to attend Quartermaster Basic Officer Leadership Course. Upon graduation from QMBOLC, she will report to her first duty station in Corpus Christi with the 211th RSG/HHC.
- 2LT Nicholas Hathaway – Hathaway is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Hathaway branched Field Artillery for the Washington State National Guard. He has been hired as a police officer with the Bellevue Police Department and will attend the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy before going to Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course B in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
- 2LT Noah K. Maxwell – Maxwell is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He has branched Engineer and will be reporting to Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri to attend Engineering Basic Officer Leadership Course (EBOLC). Upon graduation from EBOLC, he will report to his first duty station, HHC 386th Engineer Battalion.
- 2LT Robert Nguyen – Nguyen is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He has been branched Infantry and will report to Ft. Benning, Georgia for Ranger School in June. Upon completion of Ranger School, Nguyen will attend Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course (IBOLC), where he will find out his first duty station.
- 2LT Steven Pedroza – Pedroza is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He has branched National Guard Aviation and will be reporting to Ft. Rucker, Alabama for BOLC. After graduation, he will report to his first duty station.
- 2LT Trevor J. Rotman – Rotman is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in military science. He has been branched Quartermaster and will be reporting to Fort Lee, Virginia to attend Quartermaster Basic Officer Leadership Course. Upon graduation from QM BOLC, he will report to his first duty station in Corpus Christi with the 211th RSG/HHC.
- 2LT Randy M. Trevino – Trevino is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He has been branched Armor/Cav Scout and will be reporting to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend Armor BOLC. Upon graduation from Armor BOLC, he will report to his first duty station at Bryan, Texas.
- 2LT Devin A. Ward –Ward is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He has been branched Medical Services Corp and will be reporting to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio to attend BOLC. Upon graduation from BOLC, he will report to his first duty station at Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st 1st Brigade.
