ROTC graduates reminisce, tell about plans for the future

University Relations photos

Left to right: Cadet Brendan Michael Carney, Cadet Sean Marts, and Cadet Cassidy O'Neal.

As the semester comes to a close, many seniors are saying their goodbyes to their friends and classmates, and the on-campus Reserve Officer Trainer Corps (ROTC) is no different.

Senior student cadets in the ROTC are gearing up to graduate and leave their officers and friends behind.

This week, The Tropolitan will be highlighting three graduating cadets, sharing their memories of ROTC and their post-graduation plans.   

“They have all provided so much of their time and effort into training and mentoring future leaders of our great country, and we will miss them,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kedem Alon. “I am very excited to send them on the start of their adventure.

“Our cadets are going into a variety of Air Force jobs when they graduate.”

Cadet Brendan Michael Carney is a senior criminal justice major from Holtville, Alabama. After graduation, he will be stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. There, he will train to become an air battle manager.

“ROTC has been one of the best experiences in my life,” Carney said. “It has allowed me to grow as a leader and meet some lifelong friends.

“It will be hard to leave them as we go our separate ways, but I am sure we will meet again someday.

“I would like to thank my Cadre for their guidance in making me a more confident and refined leader. I would not be the person I am today without them.”

Cadet Sean Marts is a political science major. After graduation, he will be commissioned as an intelligence officer at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. There, he will complete technical training. Additionally, Marts was awarded the Dr. Sam Shelton Undergraduate Political Science Award at the Honors Convocation on Monday.

“I have greatly improved my leadership skills and created friendships that will last for life.

Leaving AFROTC is bittersweet,” Marts said. “My favorite memory from ROTC is having the opportunity to go to Project GO.

“Additionally, another great memory is spending numerous hours with my friends and growing together.”

Cadet Cassidy O’Neal will be stationed as a nuclear and missile operations officer and will begin training at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California.

“We are a small family, the six of us, and we spend most of our time together,” O’Neal said.

“To know that we will all be dispersed across the United States soon is a little sad, but we have all worked so hard to get to the point of commissioning that I am super proud of us and am very excited for all of my friends.

“Although our story as a team is coming to a close, our stories as individuals are just starting. I will carry this small group with me forever, and I will look back on our time at Troy University and at Detachment 017 with a smile and maybe a few happy tears.”

Cadets Logan Davenport, Kayla Knight and Victoria Zlotea will be featured in next week’s edition of The Tropolitan.