Six ROTC cadets commissioned as Army officers
Six McDaniel graduating seniors were commissioned as Army officers at 10 a.m. May 18 in a ceremony in Baker Memorial Chapel. Cadets from Mount St. Mary’s University were commissioned on May 11 in a separate ceremony.
McDaniel President Roger N. Casey recognized Lt. Col. Donyeill Mozer, senior Military Science instructor and the first African-American to hold the position of department head of the Green Terror Battalion in its 99-year history, for his leadership of the battalion. Lt. Col. Mozer has been selected for a battalion command and will take over the first battalion 407th army field support brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas, in August.
Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh, the first woman and the first African-American to command the Maryland Army National Guard, served as the keynote speaker and spoke to the new second lieutenants.
“When you embark on this journey, don’t focus so hard on when my next promotion is coming, what’s my next school, what’s my next unit of assignment so that you don’t enjoy the view because it goes by so quickly,” Singh said.
“If you worry about all of those other things, you miss all the beauty that happens around you and to you.”
The following McDaniel seniors took the oath of office and received commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army:
Tyler John Ambrose of Pasadena, Md., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. During his college career, he completed Airborne School and the Cadet Leadership Course at Fort Knox, Ky., and Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) with the 20th Engineer Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C. Ambrose is going active duty and will attend the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in August. He will then be assigned to Yongsan, South Korea.
Noah C. Conner of Hurlock, Md., is a two-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. He competed in the Ranger Challenge Competition for three years, as well as completed the Cadet Leadership Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Conner will serve in the active duty component and will attend the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, Va., in June. He will then be assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.
Rebecca Lynn Olsen of Brandywine, Md., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At McDaniel, she was president of the Psi Chi (Psychology) honor society and a member of Phi Alpha Mu sorority, as well as both president and vice president of Palabras to Words, a student organization that tutors native Spanish speakers in English. She also served as a tutor in the First Stop Office, where she provided support for first-year students at the College, and as an athletic training room assistant. During her college career, she completed Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET) and Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Ky. Olsen will serve in the United States Army Reserve as a Finance Officer and will attend the Finance Officer Basic Course at Fort Jackson, S.C. She will then be assigned to the 398th Financial Management Support Center at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Michael Elliott Orr of Lutherville, Md., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. During his college career, he traveled to Fort Knox, Ky., as a MS3 trainer for basic camp cadets, as well as participated in the Cultural Language and Understanding Program (CULP) in Peru, where he trained with the Peruvian military. Orr will serve in the Engineering Corps and will be assigned to attend the Basic Officer Leadership Training in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Michael Duvall Rigoli of Annapolis, Md., is a two-and-a-half year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. During his college career, he completed Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Ky., as well as attended drill periods with Alpha Company 1-175th Infantry Regiment. Rigoli will attend the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He will then be assigned to the 153rd Military Police Company in the Delaware Army National Guard.
Kyle Franklin Shaffer of New Freedom, Pa., is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. During his college career, he completed the Cultural Language and Understanding Program (CULP) in Gabon, Africa, Cadet Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Ky., and Cadet Troop Leader Training with the 10th Mountain Infantry Division at Fort Polk, La. He also competed as part of the Green Terror Battalion Ranger Challenge team for three years. A member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at McDaniel, he volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Westminster. Shaffer is going active duty and will attend the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Ga.
(Front L-R) McDaniel College President Roger N. Casey, Maj. Gen. Linda L. Singh, Michael Elliott Orr, Noah C. Conner, Rebecca Lynn Olsen, Michael Duvall Rigoli, Kyle Franklin Shaffer, Tyler John Ambrose, MSG Nicholas Martinelli, Lt. Col. Donyeill Mozer
