Dept. of Military Science Commissions Seven Army Officers
From left are MSgt. Daniel Strahan, 2nd Lts. Allen, DuBois, Fair, Kincade, Robertson and Thompson, Lt. Col. Cecil L. Clark and retired Col. John Reitzell. 2nd Lt. Bailee S. Toro is not pictured.
JONESBORO – The Department of Military Science and Leadership at Arkansas State University commissioned seven ROTC cadets into the Army during two ceremonies attended by family, friends and university staff.
The new officers also received their university diplomas during Arkansas State’s Spring Commencement.
Retired Col. John Reitzell of Huntsville, Alabama, who had a distinguished 28-year Army career, was guest speaker for the officer commissioning ceremony at Jonesboro. A second commissioning ceremony was held at A-State's partner program at ASU-Beebe.
Lt. Col. Cecil L. Clark, professor of military science and department chair, administered the oath to the new officers:
- Jonathan Allen of Greenbrier was commissioned second lieutenant into active Army, Medical Service Corps. Allen's degree is in biological sciences. He was pinned by his father, Jay Allen.
- Brandon DuBois of Cabot was commissioned second lieutenant into the Arkansas National Guard, Corps of Engineers Branch. DuBois, whose degree is in interdisciplinary studies, was pinned by his mother, Ginger DuBois, and his fiancé, Natalie Gray.
- Byron Fair of Paragould was commissioned second lieutenant into active Army, Infantry Branch. Fair, who earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, was pinned by his fiancé, McKenzie Cagle.
- Walter Kincade of Maynard was commissioned second lieutenant into active Army, Chemical Corps. Kincade, who received a bachelor's degree in criminology, was pinned by his wife, Ashley Kincade, and his parents, Richard and Lisa Kincade.
- Shareef Robertson of Philadelphia was commissioned second lieutenant into the active Army, Military Intelligence (Branch Detailed Infantry). Robertson, who completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology, was pinned by his mother, Kennette Marie Robertson.
- Gennifer Thompson of Burlington, Maine, was commissioned second lieutenant into the Army Reserve, Military Intelligence Branch. Thompson, whose degree is in interdisciplinary studies, was pinned by her husband, Wayne Thompson, and by her parents, Kevin and Kathy Wells.
- Bailee S. Toro of Sherwood was commissioned second lieutenant in the Arkansas National Guard, 39th Brigade Special Troop Battalion, as a combat engineer. Toro earned a bachelor's degree in criminology. She was pinned by her step-father, Timothy McMinn and her grandmother Susan Garomboly. Her commissioning was at Beebe.
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