Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NROTC Midshipmen Commissioned

TROY, N.Y. (NNS) -- Twelve Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen were commissioned to ensign at a joint-service commissioning ceremony held during RPI's spring commencement exercises here, May 24.

The ten Navy-option and two Marine-option NROTC midshipmen were commissioned and recognized by Rear Adm. James Murdoch, the Program Executive Officer, Littoral Combat Ships, at the joint-service commissioning ceremony held in front of more than 100 people in the RPI Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC).

"It's an honor and a privilege to be commissioned into the world's greatest Navy," said Ensign Steffan Maiwald, one of the newly-commissioned officers. "I am looking forward to what my career brings me."

Ensign Aimee Konet's mother, Laura Konet, said watching her daughter be commissioned by Rear Adm. Murdoch was an extremely proud moment for her.

"I am beyond proud of Aimee's accomplishment. She is and has been a mother's dream daughter," she said.

Although numerous NROTC midshipmen will receive commissions over the next few weeks, receiving a commission from Rear Adm. Murdoch is a rare opportunity.

"Receiving their commissions from the rear admiral is an experience our new officers will never forget," said Capt. Daniel Arensmeyer, RPI NROTC commanding officer.

During his commencement address, Murdoch expressed words of encouragement to the graduates and newly-commissioned officers.

"Today with the technology at our fingertips it is crucial to have the highest standards of integrity and accountability," said Murdoch.

When Murdoch finished administering the oath of office to the newly commissioned officers, he congratulated them while their fellow graduates and those in the crowd gave them a standing ovation immediately following the ceremony.

"The amount of family and friends traveling across the country to come to the ceremony was incredible, not only that but I really like the amount of RPI students that came out to see the seniors off," said Midshipman Atticus Moll.

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://www1.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/.