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Karl Kruskopp (center) and Brittany Toney (right) take the oath of office during their commissioningceremony. |
Two AV抖阴 students were honored with a ceremony signaling the end of their participation in the Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corps (ROTC) program at AV抖阴 and their commissioning as second lieutenants in the Army Reserves.
Karl Kruskopp of Van Buren, an information technology graduate, was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserves Signal Corps, while Brittany Toney of Clinton, a nursing graduate, was commissioned into the U.S. Army Reserves Nursing Corps.
Pinning on Kruskopp鈥檚 bars was his wife, Shanda Kruskopp, and Sgt. 1st Class Jody Mize rendered the first salute. Pinning on Toney鈥檚 bars were her parents, Joshua and Elisa McKinney, and Sgt. Candy Titus rendered the first salute.
For Kruskopp, the commissioning will help him receive more opportunities throughout his military career.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big relief to get past this hurdle, and my potential has increased exponentially because of the ROTC,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s a non-commissioned officer, I only had a few more ranks to ascend through, then I would鈥檝e been at the end of my progression at that point. But now, I鈥檝e got potential for promotion all the way through the end of my career.鈥�
Toney, a first-generation college graduate, expressed gratitude for her family鈥檚 support.
鈥淚鈥檓 just very appreciative for the love and support I鈥檝e received from everyone I鈥檝e had in my life who helped me get where I am today,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember to graduate college. It鈥檚 amazing to be a part of a leadership team that will inspire everyone to do their best.鈥�
Retired Lt. Gen. George A. Crocker served as the guest speaker during the ceremony. A native of Russellville, Crocker has commanded at every level, commanding a company, battalion, brigade and division at Fort Bragg in the 82nd Airborne Division. Additionally, he served on the Army staff in the Pentagon and served combat tours in Vietnam and Grenada.
His various decorations he鈥檚 received include two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Defense Superior Service Medal.
Kruskopp and Toney took their state oaths of office during the ceremony and recited their federal oaths of office during the university鈥檚 commencement ceremony Dec. 15.
Following their recitals of the state oath of office, the two were presented a certificate of achievement from the Military Officers Association of America. Col. Anita Deason, military and veterans liaison for U.S. Sen. John Boozman, presented them with gold bars representing their ranks in the Army.
ROTC is a program through the U.S. Army that allows university students to take elective leadership classes in the hopes of transitioning to officer positions with the armed forces following graduation. The commissioning ceremony signifies such a transition. The ROTC program began at AV抖阴 in 2008.
For more information about the ROTC program, contact Jason Hogue, assistant professor of military science, at 479-788-7522 or jason.hogue@uafs.edu.
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