Six ROTC cadets commissioned as Army officers

Six McDaniel graduating seniors, who served as members of the Green Terror Battalion, received commissions as Army officers on May 20. The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Antonio V. Munera, commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Lieutenant Colonel Seth Hartmann speaks at the commissioning ceremony held in Baker Memorial Chapel.

Six graduating seniors from McDaniel, who served as members of the Green Terror Battalion, were commissioned as Army officers at 3 p.m. May 20 in a ceremony in Baker Memorial Chapel. Cadets from Mount St. Mary’s University and Hood College were commissioned in separate ceremonies.

Anthony Munera speaks at the 2022 ROTC Commissioning. — Maj. Gen. Anthony Munera served as keynote speaker.

McDaniel President Julia Jasken shared opening remarks, thanking veterans in the audience and congratulating the six new lieutenants. "The Green Terror Battalion has commissioned more lieutenants than the state's flagship university, and we're very proud of that," she added.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Maj. Gen. Antonio V. Munera, commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Munera, who has had a 31-year military career, shared his insights on how to be a successful leader. "I know you don't realize it yet, but the foundational education you received at McDaniel College and in your ROTC leadership training will serve you very well in life," he said. "It will serve you well in and outside of the military and will add grit and hard work to what you do in the future, and that's coming from someone who also graduated from a small college."

Drew Everett Jeffries was recognized with the Lieutenant General (R) Otto Guenther Leadership Award, which annually goes to the commissioning cadet who best exemplifies the character, morals, leadership, and lifelong dedication demonstrated by the late Otto Guenther, a 1963 alumnus and former chair of McDaniel’s Board of Trustees, both to the U.S. Army and to his alma mater.

Drew Jeffries receives the Otto Guenther Leadership Award with Julia Jasken. — Drew Jeffries, recipient of the Otto Guenther Leadership Award, with Lieutenant Colonel Seth Hartmann (left) and President Julia Jasken (right).

The following McDaniel seniors took the oath of office and received commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army:

Christopher Garnsey shakes hands at ROTC Commissioning.

Christopher Thomas Garnsey

Christopher Thomas Garnsey of Columbia, Maryland, is a two-year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting Economics. During his time at McDaniel, he was an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He completed Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and will attend Field Artillery Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Garnsey will serve in the Maryland Army National Guard Field Artillery and will be assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery in Dundalk, Maryland.

Azagio Herd shakes hands at 2022 ROTC Commissioning.

Azagio J. Herd

Azagio J. Herd of Waldorf, Maryland, is a two-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. He was a member of the Green Terror football team during his four years at McDaniel and served as president of the Alpha Delta Gamma chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He completed Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Herd will serve active duty as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Officer (CBRNE) and will attend CBRNE Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with a follow-on assignment to 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Drew Jeffries received his bars at ROTC commissioning.

Drew Everett Jeffries

Drew Everett Jeffries of Severna Park, Maryland, is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. At McDaniel, he served as president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He completed Air Assault at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Jeffries will serve in the active-duty infantry and will attend the Infantry Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, beginning in June 2022.

Jonathan Jacobs salutes at 2022 ROTC Commissioning.

Jonathan M Jacobs

Jonathan M Jacobs of Reisterstown, Maryland, is a two-year ROTC non-scholarship cadet graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During his time as a member of the Green Terror Battalion, he completed Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Jacobs will serve with the Army Reserves in Baltimore and will attend Transportation Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Jennifer Robinson receives her Army commission at 2022 ROTC Commissioning.

Jennifer V Robinson

Jennifer V Robinson of Sicklerville, New Jersey, is a two-year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. She is a member of the Pi Gamma Mu international social sciences honor society. During her college career, she completed Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Robinson will be attending the Transportation Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, and upon completion, will be assigned to the 253rd Transportation Company in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Robert Rupert shakes hands at 2022 ROTC Commissioning.

Robert Gabriel Ruppert

Robert Gabriel Ruppert of Severna Park, Maryland, is a three-year ROTC scholarship recipient graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He participated as a four-year member of the Green Terror men’s lacrosse team and was in the Pi Gamma Mu international social sciences honor society. He completed Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia; Cadet Troop Leader Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Ruppert is commissioning active duty into the Medical Service Corps. Upon completion of the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he will attend flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, to train as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot.

The six ROTC cadets pose together for a photo. — Pictured at the Commissioning Ceremony are Christopher Thomas Garnsey, Jonathan M. Jacobs, Jennifer V Robinson, Robert Gabriel Ruppert, Azagio J. Herd, and Drew Everett Jeffries.