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South Dakotan gets Army commission at White House

17 May, 2007

South Dakota State University graduate Jordan Day joined 54 of his fellow ROTC cadets and midshipmen Thursday in a historic joint commissioning ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

It was the first time in the nation's history that a U.S. president hosted a ceremony at the White House in which ROTC cadets and midshipmen from all four branches of the military were sworn in.

"You all have brought out some of the brass," joked President Bush, as he spoke for about 13 minutes to the crowd that included family and friends.

Joining the president were Acting Army Secretary Pete Geren, Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey.

Afterward, Defense Secretary Robert Gates administered the oath for commissioned officers and the president shook hands and posed for photos.

As the young honorees stood on a riser behind him, Bush thanked them for serving their country. The group included 16 women.

The group represented all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bush noted that many of the new officers were in high school when terrorists struck the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

"And yet, some of you understood that the cause of freedom would soon depend on your generation's willingness to step forward to defend it," Bush said. "And when it came time to be counted, each of you volunteered, knowing full well the risks involved during a time of war."

He joked about some of the hardships they faced during their officer training.

"When your roommates slept in, you got up at dawn for a three-mile run," said Bush, while the crowd roared with knowing laughter. "While others spread out on the grass on a sunny day, you marched in formation.

"And when your friends called it a night and headed out to the town, you stayed back to shine your shoes and iron your uniform in preparation for the next day's inspection."

Day, 22, graduated from Highmore High School in 2003 and South Dakota State University in May with a degree in sociology.

Before the ceremony, Day said he was chosen to represent South Dakota at the ceremony because of his leadership skills and accomplishments during mock military exercises last summer at Fort Lewis and at Fort Benning's airborne school the summer before that.

This story first appeared in the Argus Leader, May 17, 2007. © 2007 Argus Leader Media.. All Rights Reserved.