Friday, December 8, 2023

Roadrunner Battalion celebrates largest commissioning class

Roadrunner Battalion celebrates largest commissioning class

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.

Rebecca Luther



UTSA Today is produced by University Strategic Communications,
the official news source
of The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu.


UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.


Events


Spotlight

Spotlight

dtc-utsa-sign_680.png
University of Texas at San Antonio receives ‘transformational’ $40M gift

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.