2nd Lt. Jesse Benton UA Army ROTC commissioned officer

UA Army ROTC Graduate to Represent All Programs Nationwide

2nd Lt. Jesse Benton UA Army ROTC commissioned officer
2nd Lt. Jesse Benton

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A recent graduate from The University of Alabama, 2nd Lt. Jesse Benton, will take part in the Army ROTC National Commissioning Ceremony, representing UA’s Army ROTC program, the state, the region and all 274 Army ROTC programs.

It will be conducted by the secretary of the Army on behalf of every Army ROTC cadet commissioned this year.

The nationally televised ceremony will be held at the Pentagon Friday, June 12, at 9 a.m. Central time, with Benton participating virtually from his home in Titus, Alabama.

“Jesse was selected to represent all 6,000 cadets that were commissioned,” said Lt. Col. Antwan Brown, professor of military science and chair of the department of military science at UA. “The secretary will say what it means to be in the Army ROTC and then render the oath of office. It’s symbolic since Jesse and most of them have already been commissioned.

“We have a great program and with him being one of the cadets that can represent the nation gives us more pride in what we do here on a day-to-day basis. To have someone from our home state that will go on to serve as an officer in the Alabama Army National Guard gives us more honor on a national level.”

Benton, commissioned virtually in May, said being selected to represent his fellow Army ROTC commissioned officers, the Alabama Army National Guard, UA’s ROTC program, the 20th special forces group and his family, which has a long history of military excellence, is an extraordinary honor.

“Being able to represent all of these military aspects in my life truly makes all of the hard work and dedication I have put forth the past few years worthwhile,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for each unit and program I have had the honor of being a part of, and I’m excited to be able to give back the recognition they deserve.”

Benton was selected for the honor when he wrote a bio about his life growing up in a one-stop-light farm town in a thoroughly military family. The bio was selected as the best in the state and region before selected as one of the top 10 nationally.

To watch the Army ROTC National Commissioning Ceremony live online Friday, use this YouTube link or Facebook live link.

Contact

Jamon Smith, Strategic Communications, jamon.smith@ua.edu, 205/348-4956

Source

Jesse Benton, jdbenton1@crimson.ua.edu