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GWs Naval ROTC Holds Commissioning Ceremony
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Published
May 14, 2004
By Greg Licamele
Amid the backdrop of the Iwo Jima Memorial and its stirring words,
Uncommon valor was a common virtue, 28 students of the
GW Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) were commissioned
to the military on Friday morning.
Twenty naval
officers and eight marines from GW, Georgetown, the University of
Maryland, Howard and Catholic University, spent one last day together
as a class as family, friends and guests marked their rise to ensigns
and second lieutenants.
Youve been challenged and tested throughout this rigorous
process from your University academics, your Naval science classes
and drills, leadership experiences and summer experiences. You have
what it takes to be successful as a commissioned officer in the
fleet, said Captain Peter J. Healey, commanding officer of
GWs NROTC, the ninth largest in the country. I would
be proud to serve in the fleet with any of you.
Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spicer, deputy director of surface ships,
made the short trip from his Pentagon office to address the officers
and their families. Spicer dispelled notions that new officers would
have little impact in todays military activities around the
world. For example, in the war in Iraq, Spicer said Naval aviators
have flown long missions over Baghdad and surface ships have fired
more than 800 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
And you know whos usually in charge of those Tomahawk
strike teams aboard those ships? Spicer asked. Its
fresh-taught ensigns that are out there pushing the buttons.
The 28 officers, who also will be receiving their undergraduate
degrees from their respective universities, listened to a written
proclamation from President George W. Bush. Spicer administered
the oath of office and then families were invited to help don the
insignia of their sons or daughters new office.
Richard Southby, professor of global health at the GW Medical Center
and faculty liaison for the NROTC, expressed confidence that the
new officers would perform duties with valor, just as the soldiers
did at Iwo Jima during World War II.
Im sure that when you started your academic careers
at The George Washington University (and other area universities),
you did not imagine how much the world would change in four years,
Southby said. Our nation is now at war, and absent any dramatic
change in world politics and economics, this will be the situation
for some time to come. The demands on you will be great and yes,
dangerous. But Im confident that each and every one of you
will rise to the challenge and serve our nation proudly as many
of your fellow citizens are doing now and have done so before.
©2004 The George Washington University Office of
University Relations, Washington, D.C.
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