Massachusetts Institute of Technology NROTC Midshipmen Commissioned

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., (NNS) -- Four Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) midshipmen were commissioned as naval officers at a ceremony held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 7.

The four Navy-option NROTC midshipmen were personally recognized by Rear Adm. John Christenson, U.S. Naval War College president, Professor Rafael Reif, MIT president, and Professor Daniel Hastings, MIT dean for undergraduate education. The midshipmen took their oaths of office, had their rank affixed by family members, gave their first salutes, and were presented their commission by Capt. Steven Benke, MIT NROTC commanding officer, and Christenson in front of approximately 100 people.

"I am so overjoyed to have been presented the rank of Ensign," said Ensign Fiona McCoy. "Saying the oath of office and receiving my commission in front of the most important people in my life have made this experience all the more significant to me."

Priscilla Kenney, Ensign McCoy's mother, was extremely proud to see her daughter commissioned.

"It was a beautiful ceremony," said Pricilla Kenney. "I loved seeing the military tradition, and the speeches were poignant and uplifting for this exciting time. We could not be more proud of our daughter."

"The specific knowledge you now have will soon become obsolete, but the attitudes and work ethic that you have developed here at MIT will serve you well," said Hastings.

Reif handed out degrees to all the MIT graduates at an earlier commencement exercise.

"Earlier today, I presented you, and over a thousand of your peers, your MIT degrees," said Reif. "However, only four of you have earned the right to be here this afternoon. Thank you for your decision to serve. Your country needs you."

Benke reflected on the significance of those in attendance for the commissioning ceremony.

"Receiving their commissions from Rear Adm. Christenson in front of the MIT President, Dean of Undergraduate Education, and over 100 people is an experience our new officers will never forget," said Benke.

In his keynote address, Christenson expressed words of encouragement to the graduates and newly-commissioned officers and offered his advice to make the future a success.

"There is one principle that you need to carry with you: love," said Christenson. "Love your family. Love your service. And love your country. With these, you will be able to do anything."

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/ .