MAY 13, 2020 — The UTSA Army ROTC Roadrunner Battalion will conduct its spring 2020 commissioning ceremony virtually this week to recognize its largest class in program history. Thirty-four cadets will take the oath as commissioned officers. They are among 50 who have been commissioned this year.
The ceremony will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube on Friday, May 15 at 1 p.m.
Keynote speaker for the event is Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) and senior commander of Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis. Other speakers include UTSA President Taylor Eighmy and Texas A&M–San Antonio President Cynthia Teniente-Matson.
“It is important to recognize this milestone in their military careers and in the history of our program.”
“It is an absolute pleasure to speak and render the oath of office on this special day as we celebrate 34 cadets who will become second lieutenants in the United States Army,” said Richardson. “Parents, families and friends can be very proud of the accomplishments of their loved ones, proud of their dedication and willingness to serve and proud that they had the courage to step up, volunteer and represent the less than 1% of our society that defends our freedoms on behalf of us all.”
UTSA Army ROTC became an independent ROTC battalion and commissioned its first class in 1982. Since then, UTSA has commissioned more than 850 cadets. It is the third largest Army ROTC program in Texas—with nearly 280 cadets currently—and serves as host university for cadets from Texas A&M–San Antonio, Alamo Colleges and Wayland Baptist University. Of the 34 cadets being commissioned, 26 are UTSA students who are graduating this semester, five are graduating from Texas A&M–San Antonio, and three are graduating from Wayland Baptist. Among the class are six distinguished military graduates (top 20% in the nation) and the battalion’s first female armor officer. Four are graduating with master’s degrees.
“Roadrunner Battalion produces an average of 25 Army officers a year, so we are very proud to have doubled that with 50 commissioned officers for 2019–2020,” said Lt. Col. Kristen Shifrin, professor of military science. “While we are not able to celebrate our spring 2020 commissionees with a traditional ceremony, it is important to recognize this milestone in their military careers and in the history of our program.”
In addition to being a distinguished battalion, UTSA Army ROTC also is a diverse one, Shifrin noted. Thirty-one percent of cadets are female (compared to 16% in the Army), and 71% are underrepresented minority (compared to 40% in the Army), including 37% Hispanic/Latino.
