The ceremony takes place Friday at 1 p.m.

The community is invited to celebrate the commissioning of cadets in the Army ROTC Program at East Tennessee State University, an elite program that is ranked No. 1 in the Volunteer State. 


The 1 p.m. ceremony is in the Brown Hall Auditorium, located on the university’s main campus along Stout and Sherrod Drive near University School, on Friday, Dec. 15.   


ETSU alumni Gary McAllister, a retired colonel, will be the guest speaker. The university inducted McAllister, a 1983 ETSU graduate with a distinguished military career, into the ROTC Hall of Fame earlier this year. 


On Friday, the following ETSU cadets will earn their commission as second lieutenants: 


  • Logan Bowling, who held the rank of captain in the Buccaneer Battalion. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management and is receiving his commission in the Military Police Corps.   

  • Ari King, who held the rank of cadet captain in the Buccaneer Battalion. He earned a bachelor’s degree in media and communications and is receiving his commission in the Military Police Corps.  

  • Jacob Roark, who served as battalion nurse. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is receiving his commission in the Nursing Corps. 

  • Jacob Thomas, who held the rank of cadet lieutenant colonel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in management and is receiving his commission in the U.S. Army Reserves.  


ETSU’s Army ROTC unit was first assigned to what was then East Tennessee State College in the 1950s. Since then, the group has commissioned more than 1,500 second lieutenants. To learn more about ROTC at ETSU, visit etsu.edu/cbat/rotc.  


The university has a long and established history of helping veterans and has secured the respected Military Friendly designation for more than a decade.   



East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

 

 

Browse Related Stories

Stay in Touch

Follow ETSU on Social