ROTC Commissioning Ceremonies

Star Notes

“ROTC Commissioning Ceremonies”

By Richard K. Sele

Brigadier General (Retired), US Army

ROTC commissioning ceremonies are a very “big deal” for young college graduates that are also being commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the US Army. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is the greatest source of new officers in the Army. Years ago, most of these new officers transitioned into the Army National Guard or Army Reserve. A few would go on active duty. Then for a while many were going on active duty and a small handful to the reserve components. Now we are seeing most, and sometimes all, of the new officers go into the reserve. It all depends on the number of new officers the Army needs in a given year.

Regardless of which component these new officers go to the ceremony is always the same. Ceremonies typically begin with the soon-to-be officers already seated in the auditorium, the ROTC cadre seated elsewhere in a reserved section, and the arrival of the official party (guest speaker, Professor of Military Science, and the Senior Enlisted Advisor is the norm). The National Anthem and posting of the colors (American flag). You’ll hear opening administrative remarks, possibly a military chaplain to say a blessing, one or two of the ROTC cadre may speak, and a guest speaker. This is followed by families and friends coming onto the stage to pin those new lieutenant bars on their sons or daughters.

It’s tradition for each new officer to receive a salute from a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of their choosing and after the salute is returned, the lieutenant passes a silver dollar to that NCO. Some of the more popular NCOs in the cadre will often walk away with a bulging pocket full of dollars. Then the new lieutenants take the oath of office.

There might also be special awards presented to select new officers and typically a small thank-you token to the guest speaker. My favorite gift was a t-shirt from the ROTC department. At this time the colors are retired, the official party departs, and the ceremony moves to an informal reception with cake and punch.

I spoke at many of these ceremonies as a colonel and then as a brigadier general. They were usually among my favorite duties of the year. It was a very special feeling to be there as new officers entered the Army. I’d always start to drift off thinking about my own Army memories and a feeling of envy would hit me. They had their whole careers in front of them and no idea of what kinds of experiences they had ahead.

On occasion the cadre asked me to speak to the new officers and offer any advice. I usually kept my comments very brief so I could spend most of my time with them answering their questions. Usually the lieutenants wanted to introduce me to their parents and get a photo together. I was always happy to oblige. My aide-de-camp was careful about not scheduling our flight or any other events after the ceremonies. This ensured I had plenty of time to stick around as long as I needed.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend an ROTC commissioning ceremony please do it! That new officer will have that memory for life.