ROTC Commissioning ceremony

Brian C. Mitchell
Bucknell Hall
May 19, 2007

It is my great pleasure to be part of this special occasion honoring the individuals who will today be formally commissioned – Jennifer Hrabik, William Mennis, Timothy Nagle, Ryan Orbison, Katharine Urosevich, and Stephen Wolf.

I am especially honored to welcome Judge Susan Crawford to the ceremony this morning. Judge Crawford is the chair of Bucknell’s Board of Trustees and has established herself as one of the leading figures in American military jurisprudence. In 1983 she was named general counsel of the Army, and from 1989 to 1991, she served as inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Following that appointment, she served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for 15 years, including five years as chief judge. In February, Defense Secretary Robert Gates named her the convening authority for military commissions. In this role, Judge Crawford is responsible for overseeing the court appointments, processes, and charges of “alien unlawful enemy combatants,” specifically, the trials dealing with the Guantanamo Bay detainees. Welcome, Judge Crawford.

Honor your hard work
Maryjane and I extend our deepest congratulations to our six graduating cadets and to their families, friends, and Bucknell’s dedicated ROTC staff, who have contributed so much to your success. Today we honor your hard work, determination, and ability – traits that will serve you well as you embark upon your military career.

Bucknell Hall is a marvelous building. It exudes a sense of history and pride in our heritage - a real connection to preceding generations of Bucknellians who lived and learned on this beautiful campus.

It is an especially appropriate setting for today’s ceremony, for each of the individuals commissioned today has earned a special connection to Bucknell’s traditions. They are part of the elite group of Bucknellians who have proudly stepped forward to serve their country.

Bison Battalion
With its five partner schools, the Bison Battalion is widely recognized as one of the best small-school battalions on the East Coast. Some people may be surprised to learn that a traditional liberal arts university like Bucknell – let alone one of the finest liberal arts universities in America - is home to a robust ROTC unit. But Bucknell’s military program has long been a source of pride.

The Bison Battalion dates back to 1863, when the Student Voluntary Company was called to assist at Gettysburg. Its members served in the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. This Army ROTC unit was established at Bucknell in 1951, and its members have served their country in every major conflict since. You will leave this ceremony as the newest of the 2,026 second lieutenants commissioned by the Bison Battalion over the years.

Reaching this milestone requires a rare combination of skills and, frankly, moral courage. In addition to having what it takes to succeed as a student at Bucknell, you actively sought out the additional responsibility that comes with being a cadet.

Responsibilities
Let me clarify some of those responsibilities for the benefit of your family and friends.

Like any Bucknell student, you maintained a full course load and took part in extracurricular activities. For this group, these pursuits included varsity sports, volunteer firefighting, Greek leadership, student government, study abroad, and working as a teaching assistant.

That might seem enough for most students. And it would be an impressive addition to the demands of academic life at Bucknell. But you also simultaneously undertook a rigorous program of ROTC training.

Rising before dawn
During the past year, you rose before dawn to supervise hour-long physical-fitness training sessions for the entire battalion, three days a week.  I am sure the six officers commissioned today need no reminder of that particular facet of cadet life.

As seniors, you were also responsible for planning and executing all battalion training events outside of classroom, as well as fall and spring field training exercises. Many of you volunteered to coach and mentor younger cadets.

Last summer, you each spent a month in specialized military training. One of you traveled to Korea to take part in an active-duty shadowing program. Another learned to jump out of airplanes and earned her pilot’s license. I feel confident in saying that very few new college graduates have a resume that lists “flying helicopters” as a skill.

Dramatic transformation
By now, your family and friends may be wondering when you slept. In fact, we all are.

You arrived at Bucknell fresh from high school. You will leave Bucknell as commissioned officers and future leaders of the United States Army. That you completed this dramatic transformation in four years is nothing short of remarkable, as I am sure your proud families will attest.

Your Bucknell education, combined with your ROTC training, has fully prepared you for the challenges ahead. It has tested your spirit, your intelligence, and your leadership. And you have endured and succeeded. With admiration, we wish you success and safe journeys. Go forward with confidence, and remember that no matter where your military duty takes you, you will always have a home at Bucknell.

Thank you.