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University of San Diego NROTC Midshipmen Commissioned
Story Number: NNS130628-27
6/28/2013

By Midshipman 1st Class C Nicholas Perez, University of San Diego NROTC

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Forty-seven Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen were commissioned as naval officers by Capt. Patrick C. Rabun, commanding officer of the University of San Diego/San Diego State University NROTC unit, at the University of San Diego, May 24.

The 28 Navy-option and 19 Marine-option NROTC midshipmen, officer candidates and Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) students were personally recognized by the Rear Admiral Dixon R. Smith, commander, Navy Region Southwest, in front of an audience of more than 100 family members, friends and university staff.

"Swearing my oath and being pinned was an experience unlike any I have had before," said Ensign Kevin Shreffler, one of the newly-commissioned officers. "The pride I felt from looking back on what I've accomplished over the last four years to get to this point could not even begin to compare to the excitement and anticipation for what is to come."

Ensign Shreffler's mother, Noli Aschenbrenner, said watching her son be commissioned by the rear admiral was an extremely proud moment for her.

"Our greatest accomplishments are often the most difficult ones and this was not an easy road. But it is always worth the fight. I am honored to be Kevin's mother and I couldn't be more proud," said Aschenbrenner.

Although numerous NROTC midshipmen will receive commissions over the next few weeks, receiving a commission from Smith is a unique opportunity.

"Admiral Smith's refreshing candor certainly grabbed the attention of the audience and the midshipmen being commissioned," said Rabun.

Being the largest NROTC unit on the west coast, the commissioning ceremony at the University of San Diego was distinctive in the size of the commissioning body and the support from the audience.

"Our 28 new ensigns and 19 new 2nd lieutenants represented one of the largest NROTC Commissioning Ceremonies in the country this year. I'd also like to brag that it was the most professionally-conducted ceremony in the country," said Capt. Rabun. "The obvious pride of the families and friends also added an exciting spark to our ceremony."

The fellow graduates of the newly-commissioned officers also demonstrated how proud they were when they gave them a standing ovation immediately following the swearing-in of the officers.

Referring to the overwhelming support displayed by the crowd for the new officers, newly-commissioned officer Ensign Gabriel Mendiola said, "It wouldn't have been possible without everyone's support. The support from the unit, the university and family members allowed me to reach my end goal to commission."

The NROTC program, overseen by Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., 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.

Mewbourne and his NSTC staff oversee 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. This includes the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at more than 160 colleges and universities; Officer Training Command (OTC) on Naval Station Newport, R.I.; Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp, at Great Lakes, Ill.; and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information about NROTC, visit https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/.

For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.>
For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/.