Iowa State University NROTC Commissions New Navy Officers

By Ensign Ian Jordan, Iowa State University, NROTC

AMES. Iowa (NNS) -- Five Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen and officer candidates were commissioned as naval officers at the Iowa State University Memorial Union, May 10.

The four Navy-options and one Marine-option NROTC students were recognized by the commissioned officers of Iowa State University NROTC and the guest of honor, Cmdr. Harry Statia, in front of an audience of more than 80. These newly commissioned officers will serve around the globe in a variety of military occupational specialties including surface warfare, submarine warfare, aviation, oceanography, and Marine Corps air and ground.

Statia recently turned over duties as the NROTC unit's executive officer and will retire this summer after nearly 30 years of naval service. He spoke to the new officers, their families and friends about his commissioning and how it was the highlight of his career at the time.

"The ceremony is special, because it represents the culmination of so many years of hard work for some like our two former officer candidates, Ensigns Jordan and Crocker," said Statia. "This has been a journey for them that they saw begin years before they ever set foot on campus here at Iowa State."

Statia continued, "this is just the beginning and the really hard work is about to start. These young men and women will be faced with numerous challenges throughout their careers where they will have to fall back on the training they learned here at ISU NROTC and life's experiences to make the tough calls and uphold our values of 'service before self' and the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment."

Commissioned as ensigns were; Jeremy Crocker, Ian Jordan, Kelly Larkin, and Alyssa McKenna. Commissioned as a Marine Corps 2nd lieutenant was James Kokjohn. All individuals were commissioned by officers of their choosing.

Ensign Alyssa McKenna said, "This has been an incredible experience and opportunity. I never imagined I would have enjoyed this as much as I have. I look forward to getting out to the fleet," referring to her experience at ISU and in the NROTC program.

The audience contained parents, friends, family, alumni, and staff members.

"We are so proud of our son. It is incredible to see him finally realizing his dream and getting the opportunity to pursue a career as a Navy pilot," said Dee Larkin, the mother of Ensign Kelly Larkin.

"I am so proud of these young men and women. They have really developed into some fine young officers, and they are a true testament to the quality of education one can get here at Iowa State NROTC," said Lt. Jordan Mack, the nuclear programs officer.

Capt. Ricks Polk, Iowa State NROTC commanding officer, said, "I would sure like to join you in your future endeavors. I would go back to submarines in a New York minute. I would be glad to take that new division officer assignment aboard USS Nitze (DDG 94). I've moved from enlisted to officer, from doing the work, to leading the work. You are in for an amazing ride."

Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. This includes NROTC units at more than 160 colleges and universities around the United States.

The NROTC program was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, loyalty and Navy core values in order to commission college graduates as Naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the Naval service and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

NSTC also supervises Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp, at Naval Station Great Lakes; Officer Training Command (OTC) at Naval Station Newport, R.I.; Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.