HONOLULU—The University of Hawaii at Manoa hosted its 104th Reserve Officer Training Corps spring commencement ceremony at the Kennedy Theatre, May 19.
Thirty cadets were commissioned as second lieutenants; 25 joined the ranks of the Army and five raised their hands to serve the Hawaii National Guard.
Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, U.S. Army Pacific command general, was the guest speaker for the ceremony. Brooks gave the cadets advice for success in the Army. He said there are three words that begin with the letter “L” that would help them become successful while in the military.
“First listen to your noncommissioned officers,” he said. “They have experience, and they will advise you on the right path to walk. Listen to the voices of your Soldiers and their families because you’re charged with their care and well-being.”
Brooks stated the second L stood for learn and that the cadets should always strive to learn the profession they are about to join.
The final L was to lead. Brooks stated that even as second lieutenants the Soldiers would expect the new lieutenants to lead them.
As the cadets sat on stage looking into the audience, soon they would make the transition from apprentices to leaders. For the graduating cadets, they did more than just graduate — they prepared themselves for a new life in the military. Some of the cadets have had prior military service and some are currently in the military but decided to become commissioned officers.
“It’s been a long bumpy three years to get to this point but it feels amazing,” said 2nd Lt. Dylan Foreman, newly commissioned cadet. “I owe it to my friends, family, loved ones and cadre, they are reason that I’m here today. I’m going to take what I’ve learned here from the University of Hawaii and use it to develop the Soldiers that I’m put in charge of.
Foreman stated that the University of Hawaii has prepared him for his next chapter in his life as a professional in the Army. He said he will also start his career off assigned to USARPAC.
As they cadets transitioned from student status to active duty or the national guard, they donned their gold bars ready to teach others some of the valuable lessons they’ve learned over the years.