Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Mark Branklin talks to his mother, Lisa Branklin during Northern Illinois University’s Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, May 15, in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium on the university’s campus in Dekalb, Ill. Branklin branched Infantry in the Illinois Army National Guard. A prior enlisted Soldier, Branklin is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology from NIU. He has demonstrated exceptional physical readiness achieving one of the highest Army Fitness Test scores. The ROTC program commissioned 10 new Army second lieutenants, five of whom are joining the Illinois Army National Guard. Established in 1968, the NIU Army ROTC program has commissioned 715 officers into the U.S. Army. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2026 23:01 |
| Photo ID: | 9702253 |
| VIRIN: | 260516-A-OH563-9047 |
| Resolution: | 1388x1346 |
| Size: | 456.38 KB |
| Location: | DEKALB, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 2 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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