CNSTC observes commissioning ceremony of University of Michigan NROTC midshipmen

Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) observed the commissioning of five University of Michigan Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen and two Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) enlisted Marines as Navy and Marine Corps officers during a ceremony in the League Ballroom on campus Dec. 18.

“Congratulations to the officers being commissioned today on your choice to serve our nation, on the contributions to the maize and blue of Michigan University you have given, and on the service to our country that you are going to provide,” said Rear Adm. Evans, in his keynote speech.

The seven NROTC students were also recognized by their Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Evans, at the ceremony. The newly commissioned officers will serve around the globe in a variety of military occupational specialties including aviation, surface warfare, submarine warfare, and the Marines.

“I am very happy today. Our newly commissioned ensigns and second lieutenants are embarking on an exciting profession of service, sacrifice and commitment,” said Capt. Joseph Evans, Professor of Naval Science (PNS) and commanding officer of the unit. “Nothing much beats being a part of a commissioning ceremony and listening to our midshipmen recite the oath of office. It marks a crowning point of 21 years of investment by their parents, mentors, teachers and my staff. I couldn’t be more proud of them as they go off to their first duty stations.”

Commissioned as ensigns were; Joseph Duggan, 22, from Skaneateles, N. Y.; Aaron Grzegorzewski, 22, from Cincinnati; Travis Johnson, 23, from Aurora, Colo.; Robert Squiers, 22, from Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.; and Edward Young, 22, from Lansing, Mich. Louis Collins, II, 32, from KawKawlin, Mich., and Andrew Perkins, 28, from Plymouth, Mich., were commissioned as a U. S. Marine Corps second lieutenants.

Ensign Duggan was chosen by his class to be the student speaker. He spoke of class accomplishments, camaraderie, and their future responsibilities. Duggan urged his classmates to remember the continued support they each will receive from family members and loved ones despite the challenges they may face in the future.

“I hope everyone takes away how much support we have received from our families and how much that will continue,” said Duggan, who is headed to Basic Underwater Demolition School (BUDS) as he works to become an officer in the Navy Special Warfare (SEAL) community. “It’s not easy having a son, daughter, brother, sister, husband or wife in training or on deployment and how stressful and both sides that can be. So I hope we who were commissioned today remember how much the support from our families can mean.”

Ensign Young, who was scheduled to head to Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S. C., said the ceremony was amazing. “I’m just so excited to finally be an officer and to start my Navy career. And I’m ready to finally be able to do my duty and serve the United States,” he said.

After the ceremony family and friends congratulated the newly commissioned officers. Many of the parents present described the moment watching their children commission as one of the proudest in their lives.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Sharon Perkins, mother of U. S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Perkins. “I never thought in a million years he would accomplish so much. He’s done more in his life than my husband and I put together.”

Capt. Evans closed out the ceremony saying each newly commissioned officer will now begin their professional journey and that journey will require each to maintain a strong foundation in the Navy’s Core Values.

“They will need to possess an adept ability to pass judgment, to decide what is right and what is wrong, and then, of course, to follow that judgment with appropriate, proportional and moral-based action. In the years to come, we will be expecting much from these young officers, but I will sleep well knowing that these young men will be standing the watch,” Capt. Evans said.