FLORENCE, Ala. -- Graduating cadets in the largest Reserve Officers' Training Corps commissioning class at the University of North Alabama have already taken the first step in facing the types of leadership challenges that every Army officer must overcome in their careers, they were told by a Redstone Arsenal general officer at their commissioning ceremony May 13.
Describing the 13 graduates as "confident and committed officers," Brig. Gen. Douglas Gabram, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command, said the most important lessons they will learn in the course of their Army careers will be focused on leading Soldiers.
"The number of tasks that Soldiers train on is extremely lengthy, and it starts with physical training early in the morning, and it doesn't end until both Soldiers and their equipment are properly secured at the end of the day," said Gabram in his keynote address to the graduating cadets.
"One common denominator among the many challenges in a typical day is that the platoon leader -- your new lieutenants -- will participate in every event with their Soldiers, and will lead them by example. This is critically important -- in the Army 'Do as I say' does not work nearly as well as 'Leading by Example' or 'Follow Me.'"
Of those who were commissioned, seven will serve on active duty, six will enter the Alabama National Guard. Two of the new officers have already served as enlisted Soldiers.
Two of the officers will serve in the Military Police Corps, two as Military Intelligence officers, three in the Infantry branch and one each will serve in the Field Artillery, Signal Corps, Army Nurse Corps, Transportation Corps, Ordnance Branch and Army Aviation.
"Soldiers train and fight as part of a team, and the Soldiers in every Army branch perform many critical functions in peace and war," Gabram said. "Not long after this ceremony, every one of these officers will head to Army schools to learn vital skills pertinent to their branch specialty -- but they will spend the bulk of their training time on leadership skills."
Those leadership skills are important because of what the Army is -- "a people-centric enterprise, and people -- when properly organized and led by committed, caring and competent leaders -- can accomplish amazing things," Gabram said.
The graduating cadets are among less than 1 percent of the American population who serve in the Armed Forces. As the nation remains at war and the global threat continues to grow, Gabram said "the chances are high that we will continue to send Soldiers into harm's way for the foreseeable future."
The Army's more than 186,000 Soldiers support six combatant commands around the world.
"By training with Allies, our Soldiers are deterring aggression from potential foes, assisting friendly nations in shaping operations while others stand ready to respond to unexpected requirements and, of course, others are still serving in combat," Gabram said.
"Soldiers stationed domestically maintain readiness in order to respond to both global requirements and the needs of our own citizens when national disasters strike. I guarantee you, these young officers are about to do great things for our Army and our nation."
The commissioning ceremony for an ROTC cadet is the culmination of years of study and effort that results in being commissioned as a second lieutenant. It marks the transition from officer trainee to a leader of Soldiers, Gabram said.
The UNA ROTC program is led by Lt. Col. Cochran Pruett. Gabram thanked Pruett and his staff as well as the UNA faculty for their commitment to educating the cadets. He thanked the cadets' parents and families, who have provided their loving support throughout the years.
"Entering the Army as an officer is a great honor, but with that honor comes tremendous responsibility. Your sons and daughters will soon be tasked with very significant leadership and managerial responsibilities and, most importantly, they will have the sacred responsibility to lead other sons and daughters, possibly into harm's way," Gabram said.
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