May 15, 2023

In a ceremony on Friday, May 12, Columbus State University’s Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, battalion commissioned 14 of its cadets as the newest second lieutenants of the U.S. Army. The CSU ROTC Cougar Battalion’s commissioning ceremony at the National Infantry Museum was part of the university’s graduation events culminating later in the day with its three commencement ceremonies—during which these commissioning cadets also received their academic degrees.

The ceremony featured remarks by Maj. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard (pictured with 2nd Lt. Sinecoff), who was appointed commanding general of U.S. Army Fort Moore and the Maneuver Center of Excellence in July 2022. Buzzard also administered the oath of office to the battalion’s second lieutenants. 

Afterward, each new second lieutenant received their gold bar, pinned on by family and friends, and marking their commissioning. Following that, each received their first salute—an acknowledgment of the respect now due 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.  

The “Silver Dollar Salute” is a custom thought to pre-date the formation of the U.S. armed forces—going back to British regiments. Authorized by the U.S. Congress on April 2, 1792, the silver dollar traditionally is the only coin given in exchange for the first salute. The coin represents more than a dollar in currency and soon-to-be lieutenants go to great lengths today to secure their “silver” dollar.  

Among the awards and commendations presented to the commissioning cadets, six were named 2022-23 Distinguished Military Graduates for finishing in the top 20% of Army graduates on the national Order of Merit List. They qualified by achieving superior grade-point averages, strong performance in the Army Combat Fitness Test, and proving their worth as exceptional leaders in their college ROTC training. The designation will remain on their Army record throughout their military career.

2nd Lt. Cortney Moore's family pins her with her gold bars.

This spring’s class of commissioned second lieutenants included:

2nd Lt. Arron Aviles 

2nd Lt. Aviles was pinned by his wife Daniella, son Phenix, father Antonio, and Sgt. Jacob Rodriguez. He received his first salute from Staff Sgt. Michael Folwkes.

Aviles graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. He will report to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps at Ft. Gregg-Adams in Virginia for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for his first duty assignment

2nd Lt. Sophia Boyer

2nd Lt. Boyer received the National Society Daughters of the Colonial Wars Award for her demonstrated qualities of patriotism, loyalty and perseverance. She was pinned by her daughter Kennedy, mother Claudy, and sister Hannah Moore. She received her first salute from Staff Sgt. Harold Flowers.

Boyer graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. She will report to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps at Ft. Gregg-Adams in Virginia, for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Stewart, Georgia, for her first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Devonta James 

2nd Lt. James received the American Legion Award for Military Excellence in Silver for demonstrating military excellence. He was pinned by his mother Peggy Bartee and father Ken James, and received his first salute from his uncle, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Nathanial Bartee.

James graduated with a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the Turner College of Business & Technology. She will report to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps at Ft. Gregg-Adams in Virginia for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Korea for her first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Latravious Lewis 

2nd Lt. Leis was pinned by his son Treyson, wife Kahleah and mother Dimitra Anderson. He received his first salute from his uncle, retired Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Lewis Jr.

Lewis graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health science  from the College of Education & Health Professions. He will report to the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Moore, Georgia, for his first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Laila Maddox

2nd Lt. Maddox received the American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence in Gold for demonstrating scholastic excellence. She was pinned by her mother and father, Lovett and Dana, and she received her first salute from Master Sgt. Curtis Spivey, the battalion’s senior military science instructor.

Maddox graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the College of Letters & Sciences. She will report to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps at Ft. Gregg-Adams in Virginia for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Bliss, Texas, for her first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Jacob McCallister 

2nd Lt. McCallister received the American Legion Award for Scholastic Excellence in Silver for demonstrating scholastic excellence and earned the Distinguished Military Graduate distinction. He was pinned by his father, retired Maj. Jeremy McCallister, and grandfather, retired Lt. Col. Denny Evans. He received his first salute from Master Sgt. Curtis Spivey, the battalion’s senior military science instructor.

McCallister graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of Education & Health Professions. He will report to the U.S. Army Nurse Corps based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

2nd Lt. Cortney Moore 

2nd Lt. Moore received the Department of the Army Superior Cadet Award for her outstanding academic performance in ROTC and earned the Distinguished Military Graduate distinction. She was also recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution for demonstrating outstanding character, leadership ability, and a fundamental patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training. She was pinned by her daughter Peyton; her mother Mindy Passmore; her father, former Spec. Brad Groff; and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Margy and retired 1st Sgt. Allen Moore. She received first salute from her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Moore.

Moore graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health science  from the College of Education & Health Professions. She will report to the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps at based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for her first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Andrew Munsey 

2nd Lt. Munsey earned the Distinguished Military Graduate distinction. He was pinned by his mother and father, Dare and Glen. He received his first salute from Master Sgt. Curtis Spivey, the battalion’s senior military science instructor. 

Munsey graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the College of Education & Health Professions. He will report to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps at Ft. Gregg-Adams in Virginia for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for his first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Kendrick Parker

2nd Lt. Parker was pinned by his mother Denise Kendrick-Hamm and step-father, retired Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Hamm—the latter who also administered his first salute.

Parker graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. He will report to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Riley, Kansas, for his first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Reynaldo Pena

2nd Lt. Pena was recognized by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for fostering the principles of the citizen-soldier with exceptional military bearing and leadership qualities. He also earned the Distinguished Military Graduate designation. He was pinned by his children Isaiah and Reina, his wife, 1st Lt. Roshel Pena; and his parents, Lyzbeth Ocasio and Reynaldo. He received his first salute from Master Sgt. Stephanie Severson.

Pena graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and will report to the U.S. Army Adjutant General’s Corps at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for his first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Julia Rodriguez 

2nd Lt. Rodriguez earned the Distinguished Military Graduate designation. She was pinned by her mother Tonya and Staff Sgt. Calen McKinney. She received her first salute from her father, former Cpl. Albert Rodriguez.

Rodriguez graduated with a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the Turner College of Business & Technology. She will report to the U.S. Army Military Police Corps at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to the U.S. Army Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii.

2nd Lt. Brandon Sinecoff 

2nd Lt. Sinecoff was recognized by the Military Officer Association of America for his service as the cadet battalion commander for the past academic year. He also earned the Distinguished Military Graduate designation. He was pinned by his daughter Rowan and wife Samantha. He received his first salute from Master Sgt. Justin Stokes.

Sinecoff graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. He will report to the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Carson, Colorado, for his first duty assignment.

2nd Lt. Tristan Stanley 

2nd Lt. Stanley was recognized by AMVET for outstanding and dutiful service to God and country. He was pinned by his mother and father, Jennifer and retired Maj. David Stanley—the latter who also administered his first salute.

Stanley graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the College of Education & Health Professions. He will report to the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Gordon in Georgia, for the Basic Officer Leader Course.

2nd Lt. Justin Trinh 

2nd Lt. Trinh was recognized for embodying the spirit of service to others with the USAA Spirit Award. He was pinned by his sons Jason and Lucas and his wife Brittney Trinh. He received his first salute from Staff Sgt. Bryan Santiago.

Trinh graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the College of Letters & Sciences. He will report to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for the Basic Officer Leader Course, then Germany for his first duty assignment.

Interim President Dr. John M. Fuchko III, a colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard, administers the oath of office to commissioning cadets at the College of Education & Health Professions commencement ceremony

Many of the commissioning cadets participating in their respective college’s commencement ceremonies later in the day were readministered the oath of office by Dr. John M. Fuchko III, the university’s interim president who also serves as a colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard.

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 is known as the Cougar Battalion.

In June 1974, the battalion commissioned its first 12 ROTC graduates, 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 640 officers and is recognized as one of the strongest units in the Cadet Command.

The battalion is currently under the leadership of Lt. Col. Michael J. Rybacki, its professor of military science who assumed command of the battalion 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/. Additional photos of the commissioning ceremony are available online.

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