ETSU will commission six Army ROTC cadets as second lieutenants on Dec. 12, reflecting the university’s long tradition of supporting military-affiliated students.

In just a few days, six East Tennessee State University cadets will cross a stage and step into a new chapter of service, trading their cadet ranks for the gold bars of a United States Army second lieutenant. It’s a milestone rooted in years of early mornings, field training, leadership development and academic grit. It’s also a proud moment for a university that has been preparing military leaders for generations.

When is the ROTC commissioning ceremony?

The special ceremony is Friday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Student Center ballroom on ETSU’s main campus.

The free public ceremony continues ETSU’s long-standing commitment to serving military-affiliated students. The university’s Army ROTC program, established in the 1950s when ETSU was still East Tennessee State College, has commissioned more than 1,600 second lieutenants over the decades.

Who is being commissioned?

The following cadets will receive their commissions:

• Cadet Blaine Anderson – Signal Branch
• Cadet Nicholas Bristol – Air Defense Artillery Branch
• Cadet Justin Dubin – Cyber Branch, South Carolina Army National Guard  
• Cadet Nicholas Kiser – Quartermaster Branch, Virginia Army National Guard
• Cadet Alex Scott – Army Nurse Corps
• Cadet Cory Waddell – Infantry Branch

What does the ceremony represent?

The commissioning ceremony marks the culmination of years of rigorous military training and academic achievement. Upon commissioning, each cadet begins service as a newly minted second lieutenant in the United States Army, Army Reserve or National Guard.

ETSU’s military-friendly mission

ETSU maintains a strong tradition of supporting veterans, active-duty personnel and military-affiliated students through academic resources, financial support and campus programs designed to help them succeed.

Earlier this year, U.S. Veterans Magazine named ETSU a 2025 Yellow Ribbon School, the latest recognition in what’s becoming an impressive streak of military-friendly honors for the university.

Learn about all the ways ETSU supports military service members and their families at etsu.edu/veterans.