Eight new cadets sworn in to MTSU ROTC program
MTSU’s military science program ushered in the fall semester with a brief but formal swearing-in ceremony, as eight newly contracted students took the oath Thursday (Aug. 23) outside Forrest Hall after passing their physical training exercise this week.
Before administering the oath, U.S. Army Maj. Carrick McCarthy addressed the new and returning cadets, family members and others. He said this is “step one of the cadets’ career in the Army. We take this seriously and are very passionate about this.”
McCarthy told the cadets “to watch out for each other — not just in our building or on campus but also in town.” He added his favorite part of his job is when they are commissioned as second lieutenants and second favorite part is the swearing-in ceremony … “so we look forward to the day you are second lieutenants.”
New cadets include sophomore Jordan Anderson of Morristown, Tennessee; junior Brittany Bauer of Murfreesboro; sophomore Sheridan Harrison of Murfreesboro; sophomore Alana Kassing of Smyrna, Tennessee; sophomore Maggie Potter of Maryville, Tennessee; graduate student Curtis Rookard of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; sophomore Kevin Vaughn of Franklin, Tennessee; and graduate student Juante Williams of Murfreesboro.
It was one of McCarthy’s official duties since inheriting the program in July. He replaced Lt. Col. Jackie McDowell, who now is in Human Resources Command with Special Forces at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
In one of McCarthy’s first duties, he oversaw the summer commissioning of Bianca Crawford of Memphis, Tennessee, and Phillip Parker of Murfreesboro as U.S. Army second lieutenants.
Crawford recently earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and will serve in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and will be with the U.S. Army Reserves.
To learn more about the military science program, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/arotc1/index.php or call 615-898-2470.
MTSU has more than 300 combined undergraduate and graduate programs. Military science is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments.
