Reporting for Duty!

Congratulations to the Marine Corps and Navy's newest officers - 2nd Lieutenant John C. James, Ensign Calvin Poche, Ensign Michael McCabe, Ensign Ryan T. Bloom, Ensign Tyler Fredrick, Ensign Jake Ramos, and Ensign Charles Koehler.

Captain John Barnett, Commanding Officer of the University of Wisconsin NROTC Unit, administered the oath of office on Saturday, 14 May 2022. During a beautiful morning on the Monona Terrace West Circle Rooftop, family, friends, NROTC Unit Staff, and Badger Battalion Midshipman gathered to witness the commissioning ceremony. After the pinning of rank insignia and placement of shoulder boards, each officer executed the traditional first salute with current and former enlisted personnel, passing a silver dollar as a symbol of mutual respect. Ulis Hekel, former Unit CO and XO, provided a blessing and presented the new officers with professional books on behalf of the Association.

The new officers will report in the next few months to follow-on training for their warfare specialties. 2nd Lieutenant James will be reporting to Quantico to begin TBS. Ensigns Fredrick and Poche to Goose Creek, SC to begin nuclear power training en route to the submarine force. Ensigns Bloom, Koehler, and McCabe are bound for Pensacola and aviation duty. Ensign Ramos is en route to USS GRAVELY (DDG 107) in Norfolk. We wish them all the best as they embark on their Naval careers and we welcome our newest alums! Welcome aboard!