News & Events
ASU Named Military Friendly School for 2010
Arizona State University has been selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School for 2010.” Follow this link for more info.
Guaranteed Nursing Seats Available for Qualified ASU Army ROTC Cadets
The Arizona State University Military Science Department and The Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation have partnered to provide qualified cadets the opportunity to compete with other cadets for one of four guaranteed seats in the College of Nursing.
President Obama commissions ROTC cadets at ASU commencement
Commissioning by commander in chief is rare honor
President Barack Obama commissioned 16 Army and Air Force cadets from five Arizona universities during the May 13 commencement ceremonies at Arizona State University. The cadets took their oath in front of an estimated gathering of 71,000 people, which included more than 9,000 graduates and their families and friends. Also in attendance were members of the Arizona Board of Regents, including Gov. Jan Brewer.
It was the first time this commander in chief administered the oath and first salute at a commissioning ceremony.
Of those cadets being commissioned, 29 were from ASU, four from Grand Canyon University, three from Northern Arizona University, two from the University of Arizona and two from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The young men and women grew up all over the world from Tempe, Arizona, to Seoul, Korea. They majored in justice studies, communication, history, political science, public safety and nursing.
Prior to the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act, federal law required a commissioned military officer to administer the oath. The 2007 law opened the door for the president, vice president and secretary of defense to administer the oath of commissioning.
Matthew Brown, an Army ROTC cadet who earned a bachelor’s degree in justice studies, was excited about President Obama coming to commencement. “It’s a pretty big honor and it doesn’t happen to a lot of people,” says Brown, who was born in Korea when his father, now retired from the Army, was stationed there.
Brown didn’t immediately apply to the officers’ training program when he enrolled at ASU. However, someone suggested he give it a try and now that he’s completed the program, he likes the idea that when he graduates he will have accomplished more than a college degree. He will enter active duty in Military Intelligence, assigned to Ft. Riley, Kansas.
The best part of the ROTC program, according to Brown, were the friends he made along the way. “We had to go through really hard things together,” he said.
The worse part? “Getting up at 5 a.m.”
Young Lee also disliked the 5 a.m. wake-up routine, but said the best part about the Army ROTC “is learning something new every day and reinforcing what you learned.”
Lee, whose father served in the Army, was born in a military hospital in Korea. A justice studies major in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Lee will enter the Signal Corps after graduation and be stationed in the Republic of Korea.
The commander of the Army ROTC unit at Arizona State, Lt. Col. Kirk McIntosh, said: “In a very uncertain and somewhat chaotic world, ROTC develops the types of leaders that America and the world needs now and in the future. It is absolutely the best leadership program in the world.
“While in college and attending ROTC classes, we teach our future lieutenants to think critically, to be physically and mentally fit and agile, to take care of others, to live by the Army values, and to lead others in the toughest of circumstances,” said McIntosh, who will retire this year.
Of the two ROTC units at ASU, the Department of Military Science (Army ROTC) is the oldest. It was founded in 1935 and is located in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This year, there are 154 cadets, freshmen through seniors, who are members of the Sun Devil Battalion at ASU.
The Air Force ROTC at ASU – Detachment 025 – is home of the Flying Devils. There are 123 cadets enrolled in classes in the Department of Aerospace Studies. First founded in July 1948, Detachment 025 has had a long history of excellence in commissioning outstanding officers while continuing to change in order to meet the needs of the Air Force.
The day after the commissioning, on May 14, cadets from each of the ROTC units participated in pinning ceremonies.
Beginning in fall 2010, Arizona State University also will be home to a Naval ROTC program. The establishment of the Naval ROTC unit was announced April 7 by Rear Adm. Cliff Sharpe during a visit to the ASU’s Tempe campus.
Below are the names and universities of the Army cadets who were commissioned by President Obama on May 13:
- Jordan Breau, ASU
- Matthew Brown, ASU
- Teri Cunningham, ASU
- Andrew Headid, ASU
- Dean Hill, ASU
- Young Lee, ASU
- Archangel Muscato, ASU
- Annie Bernholtz, GCU
- Michelle Dehorney, GCU
- Aaron Shramek, GCU
- Carlton Griffin, NAU
- Kelly Alford, NAU
- Holly Vance, Embry-Riddle
- Brian Swift, Embry-Riddle
- Yousef, Balooshi, UA
- Enewi Liber, UA