May 15, 2024

In its largest commissioning ceremony since May 2014, Columbus State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, battalion commissioned 19 of its cadets as the newest second lieutenants of the U.S. Army. The ceremony was part of the university’s Spring 2024 graduation events, which included its three commencement ceremonies on May 10 where these commissioning cadets also received their academic degrees.

The spring class of commissionees included 14 who earned undergraduate degrees and five who earned master’s degrees.

The group completed their studies with an average 3.58 grade point average, and six of the 19 received Distinguished Military Graduate honors for ranking among the top 20% of the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s 2024 commissioning class nationwide. Col. Patrick Douglas, commander of the 197th Infantry Brigade at nearby Fort Moore, commended the cadets’ collective academic strengths and physical fitness attributes.

“The Cougar Battalion has produced exceptional officers for over 50 years—not mediocre, not officers that get by, but exceptional officers,” he said.

Speaking to the cadets, he continued, “You have chosen to embrace this opportunity to serve [your] country and [to accept] the tremendous responsibility to serve as a leader responsible for our nation’s treasure—its sons and daughters.”

Col. Douglas administers the oath to the Army's newest second lieutenants.

During the ceremony, the new second lieutenants received their gold bars, pinned on by family and friends, marking their commissioning. Following that, each received their first salute—an acknowledgment of the respect now due to the newly minted officer. The tradition is known as the “Silver Dollar Salute,” as it includes a coin exchange between the second lieutenant and the service member rendering the first salute as a symbolic request to be trained and mentored by a professional man-at-arms.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to recognize you today as Columbus State graduates, but also to thank you for the service that you’re about to embark upon,” President Stuart Rayfield said before presenting each of the Army’s newest second lieutenants with a Columbus State presidential coin. “We’re very proud to have you as part of the Columbus State University family.”

This spring’s class of commissioned second lieutenants included:

2nd Lt. Jonathan Baker: Baker was pinned by his mother Patrica Singletary and brother Dylan Baker. He received his first salute from retired Sgt. 1st Class Peter Maisano. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s degree in business management, commissioned as an Active-Duty Field Artillery second lieutenant and will attend the Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

2nd. Lt. Calvin Bradford: Bradford was pinned by his wife Vanessa, daughter Mia, and sons Tristen and Liam. He received his first salute from retired 1st Sgt. Miguel Hendry. He was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate and honored by the Sons of the American Revolution for fostering the principles of the “citizen-soldier” with exceptional military bearing and leadership qualities. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in communication, commissioned as an Active-Duty Medical Service Corps second lieutenant and will attend BOLC at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

2nd Lt. Donghek Chae: Chae was pinned by his wife Sunghee Park and received his first salute from retired 1st Sgt. Kenny Thomas. He graduates this spring with a master’s degree in organizational leadership, commissioned as an Active Duty Transportation Corps second lieutenant and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Sasha Fanfan: Fanfan was pinned by her mother Purcess Ellis, father Donald Cunningham, and mother Christolyn Milligan. She received her first salute from her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Steve Fanfan. She graduates this spring with a master’s in organizational leadership, commissioned as an Active-Duty Medical Service Corps second lieutenant and will attend BOLC at  Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

2nd Lt. Britney Guitroz: Guitroz was pinned by her husband Ashton and children Aaliyah, Autumn and Auvèon. She received her first salute from Master Sgt. Elizabeth Scott and retired Sgt. 1st Class Stanley Oliver. She received the Daughters of the American Colonists Award for outstanding academic performance and citizenship. She graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in criminal justice, commissioned as an Active-Duty Adjutant General’s Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

2nd Lt. Daryus Jenkins: Jenkins was pinned by his wife Dimitri, son Jamari Atkinson, daughter Aubree Jenkins, and mother Jamie Jenkins. He received his first salute from Sgt. Kendric White. He was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, commissioned as an Active-Duty Medical Service Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

2nd Lt. Demetrius Johnson: Johnson was pinned by his father, Sgt. Maj. Retired Eugene Johnson III, mother Elizabeth, brother Spec. Delvon Johnson and sister Dehja. He received his first salute from his father and was recognized with the USAA Spirit Award for embodying the spirit of service to others. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, commissioned as an Active-Duty Medical Service Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

2nd Lt. Brandon Jordan: Jordan was pinned by his mother Lisa Taylor and received his first salute from Staff Sgt. Kow Andah. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, commissioned as an Active-Duty Quartermaster Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Agnelo Lopes: Lopes was pinned by his wife Malia, son AJ, daughter Alina, and mother Teresa. He received his first salute from Sgt. 1st Class Edward Compian and earned the designation of Distinguished Military Graduate. He graduates this spring with a master of public administration degree, commissioned as an Active-Duty Ordnance Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Calen McKinney: McKinney was pinned by his mother Linda, sister Rubecca Upton, brother-in-law Brandon Upton, brother Ceasar Rivas, and stepfather Stanley Pierce. He received his first salute from Staff Sgt. William Leonard. A Distinguished Military Graduate, he was also recognized by the Association of the United States Army for demonstrating academic excellence and for advancing the ROTC program. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in communication, commissioned as an Active-Duty Infantry second lieutenant and will attend BOLC at Fort Moore, Georgia.

2nd Lt. Adam Parker: Parker was pinned by his mother Kimba Anthony and his father Joseph Parker. He received his first salute from the battalion’s senior military science instructor, Master Sgt. Curtis Spivey. He graduates this spring with a master’s in organizational leadership, commissioned as an Active-Duty Transportation Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at  Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Moses Ramkissoon: Ramkissoon was pinned by his wife Miyoshi and received his first salute from retired Staff Sgt. Ryan McAvoy. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, commissioned as an Active-Duty Transportation Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Jerome Ramos: Ramos was pinned by his mother Gladdy and father Roger. He received his first salute from his father-in-law, former Marine Lance Cpl. Steve Huber. He was recognized by AMVET for outstanding and dutiful service to God and country. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, commissioned as an Active-Duty Adjutant General’s Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

2nd Lt. John Ramsey: Ramsey was pinned by his wife Kristen and sons Mac and Thatcher. He received his first salute from Sgt. 1st Class Rico Reyna. A Distinguished Military Graduate, the Military Officer Association of America honored him for serving as the cadet battalion commander for the past academic year. He graduates this spring with a master’s in organizational leadership, commissioned as an Active-Duty Signal Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia.

2nd Lt. Robert Reilly: Reilly was pinned by his wife Jennifer and sons Nolan and William. He received his first salute from retired Master Sgt. Stephen Krivitsky. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, commissioned as an Active-Duty Armor second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Moore, Georgia.

2nd Lt. Juliana Rivera: Rivera was pinned by her mother LeeAnn and father Roberto and received her first salute from her cousin, Spc. Ostyn Conners. She graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in nursing, commissioned as an Active-Duty Nurse Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

2nd Lt. Amirah Rogers: Rogers was pinned by her mother Ramacina and father Cornell and received her first salute from her grandfather, retired Staff Sgt. Charles Williams. She graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in criminal justice, commissioned as an Active-Duty Quartermaster Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Joe Salman: Salman was pinned by his wife Amina and received his first salute from the battalion’s senior military science instructor, Master Sgt. Curtis Spivey. A Distinguished Military Graduate, the Association of the United States Army honored him for academic excellence and his knowledge and interest in history. He graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in political science, commissioned as an Active-Duty Ordnance Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

2nd Lt. Courtnie Shafer-Fries: Shafer-Fries was pinned by her sisters Katelynne and Litalee Shafer-Fries, and niece Arya Shafer-Fries. She received her first salute from her brother, Marine Corporal Cole Shafer-Fries. She graduates this spring with a bachelor’s in communication, commissioned as an Active-Duty Ordnance Corps second lieutenant, and will attend BOLC at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

ABOUT THE ROTC COUGAR BATTALION

Columbus State’s ROTC program dates to 1972, when the U.S. Army designated then-Columbus College as an ROTC host institution. In 1973, CSU’s ROTC Department authorized its distinctive unit crest, modeled after the official seal of Columbus College with the motto “Primus Inter Pares” or “First Among Equals.” The battalion later adopted its name from the school’s mascot and today is known as the Cougar Battalion.

In June 1974, the battalion commissioned its first 12 ROTC graduates this spring, and since then, CSU’s ROTC program has grown in both size and reputation. Over the last 50 years, the Cougar Battalion has commissioned over 650 officers and is recognized as one of the strongest units in the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

The battalion is currently under the leadership of Lt. Col. Michael J. Rybacki, its professor of military science who assumed command in August 2022. For more information about Columbus State’s ROTC Cougar Battalion, or to explore ways to benefit from adding ROTC participation while a Columbus State student, visit columbusstate.edu/rotc/. Photos from the commissioning ceremony are available through the university’s Flickr account. 

Media contact:
Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu