Six ROTC cadets commission as new Army officers

Six McDaniel graduating seniors were commissioned as Army officers at 10 a.m. May 24 in a ceremony in Baker Memorial Chapel that also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Green Terror Battalion. Cadets from Mount St. Mary’s University and Hood College were commissioned in separate ceremonies.

McDaniel President Roger N. Casey touched on the history of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and of the College being one of the first in the nation to form a ROTC unit on campus. He also spoke of the new Military Legacy Scholarship for all military veterans, active-duty military personnel and their children that was announced in conjunction with the 100-year anniversary as a way to give back to the military community. 

Additionally, Lt. Col. Lucas Yoho, professor of Military Science, was recognized for his leadership of the battalion over the past year. Lt. Col. Yoho has been selected to take command of an Infantry Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, in September.  

Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams, director of the Defense Logistics Agency headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., served as the keynote speaker.

Lt. Gen. Williams, who provides strategic leadership for the Defense Department’s combat support agency for worldwide logistics, told the cadets that they “represent the next generation of Army officers. My charge to you is simply take care of troops and I promise you they won’t allow the mission to fail.”

“Each of you will head for different destinations, but wherever you go and whatever you do, your college and the Green Terror Battalion have ensured you are well-equipped for the challenges you will face," he said. "Be a great leader of character; be committed; take care of troops and their families. I promise you the mission will happen and your units will be successful.” 

The following McDaniel seniors took the oath of office and received commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army:

Griffin James Crowley of Cape May, N.J., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies. He completed Cadet Initial Entry Training, Cadet Troop Leader Training, Advanced Camp and Airborne School. He also spent a semester abroad in Arabic-speaking Rabat, Morocco. Crowley is going active duty and will attend the Infantry Officer Basic Course in Ft. Benning, Ga. 

Rachmat Aditya Effendy of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Philosophy. During his college career, he completed the Cultural Understanding Leadership Program (CULP) in Indonesia and interned at NASA in Mountain View, Calif. Effendy will serve in the United States Army Reserve and will attend Signal Corps Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, Ga., in July. He will be assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 392nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Baltimore. 

John Wesley Holbrook III of Alexandria, Va., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Studies. During his college career, he completed Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Ky., and Cadet Troop Leader Training in Fort Bragg, N.C., with Alpha Battery 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery regiment. Holbrook will serve active duty and will attend the Field Artillery Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla. He will be assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

Brandon Lee Burreece Rozanski of Severn, Md., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. During his college career, he completed Cadet Initial Entry Training, the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program (CULP), Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Ky., and the Army Medical Department Internship at Fort Stewart, Ga. Rozanski finished in the top 10 percent of senior ROTC cadets across the country, ranking #6 out of 5,527 seniors. Rozanski will serve in the active duty component and will attend the Army Medical Department Basic Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Prior to serving his active duty obligation, Rozanski will attend medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.

Nevin L Stambaugh of Taneytown, Md., is a two-year National Guard Minuteman ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Upon graduating, he plans on becoming a strength and conditioning coach. Stambaugh will serve in the Virginia National Guard as a platoon leader assigned to Troop B, 2-183rd Cavalry Regiment. 

Alexander Montgomery West of Ashburn, Va., is a four-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, a student-designed major. During his college career, he was a member of the Green Terror football team, as well as participated in track and field. He also completed basic camp. West will serve active duty and will attend the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, Va. He will be assigned to the 296th Support Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

(Front L-R) MSG Nicholas Martinelli, Lt. Col. Lucas Yoho, Rachmat Aditya Effendy, Griffin James Crowley, Brandon Lee Burreece Rozanski, John Wesley Holbrook III, Alexander Montgomery West, Nevin L Stambaugh, Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams and McDaniel College President Roger N. Casey