CORPS OF CADETS

Pandemic keeps training on-campus for senior commissioning cadets

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, training for seniors in UNG’s Corps of Cadets transformed from a summer event at Fort Knox, Kentucky, to a semester-long program on campus during the fall.

Operation Agile Leader was the Army- mandated replacement in 2020-21 for Advanced Camp, which cadets must complete to be commissioned in the military. The training assesses cadets’ proficiency as future officers. They are tested on areas that include rifle marksmanship, hand grenades, first aid, Army combat fitness, and land navigation.

UNG’s senior cadets completed their major Operation Agile Leader efforts with a field training exercise in November at UNG’s Pine Valley Recreation Complex.

Operation Agile Leader replaced Advanced Camp that usually takes place each summer at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

UNG was the best among 270 ROTC companies nationally in company-sponsored activities.

Corps recognized by AUSA

UNG’s Corps of Cadets earned the 2020 Most Active Company of the Association of the U.S. Army, a distinction which is based on the most company-sponsored activities.

This honor ranks UNG, which is one of six senior military colleges in the nation, atop the 270 ROTC companies nationwide.

“I am extremely proud of our cadets and all that they have accomplished, and I appreciate all of our faculty, staff and alumni who help mentor these students,” UNG President President Bonita Jacobs said.

This year, the award was accepted by Jacobs; retired Col. Joseph Matthews, commandant of cadets; and cadet Col. Benjamin Danko, the Corps of Cadets brigade commander.

“I’d like to express my appreciation to the hard-working cadets of the Boar’s Head Brigade, who devote so much time to their character and leadership development,” Matthews said.

Olmsted Foundation continues support of cadets

UNG has received a $26,000 grant from the Olmsted Foundation that continues its support of international opportunities for cadets from UNG and three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

While the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted travel and limited UNG to just one Olmsted-funded trip since spring 2020, unused funds may be used when restrictions are eased.

The Olmsted Foundation, UNG and Georgia State University entered an agreement in 2018 to provide international opportunities for cadets and three Atlanta-area HBCUs. Through the end of 2020, 33 cadets have been part of the overseas immersion opportunities funded by Olmsted.

Cadets honored for academic, military achievement

From left, Garrett Wilson, Eva Sykes and Derek Whitmore were all honored as Distinguished Military Students. Wilson and Whitmore were also recognized as Distinguished Military Graduates.

Nine UNG cadets have earned honors as Distinguished Military Graduates (DMG), including two who placed in the top 10% of Army ROTC graduates nationally.

Roommates Derek Whitmore and Garrett Wilson topped UNG’s list of DMGs for 2020-21.

DMGs finish in the top 20% of Army graduates on the national Order of Merit List by achieving superior grade-point averages, strong performance in the Army Combat Fitness Test, and proving their worth as exceptional leaders in their college ROTC training. UNG’s other DMGs are Ryan D. Abrahams, 2nd Lt. James C. Heriot, Zachary A. Lewis, 2nd Lt. Jared H. Pate, Nikulaus G. Pujals, Karch R. Swaylik, and 2nd Lt. William H. Walters.

UNG also had 24 cadets selected by Col. Joshua Wright, UNG’s professor of military science, as Distinguished Military Students (DMS) for 2020-21. To be selected as DMS, a cadet must be in the upper half of the academic class, the upper third of the ROTC class, and the upper third of UNG’s Order of Merit List. All nine DMGs also earned DMS recognition. The other DMS honorees are Holden J. Armstrong, Makayla L. Chastain, Lauden J. Ernst, 2nd Lt. Samantha D. Ethridge, Alex D. Fernandez, Morgan A. Gaynor, Desmond C. Henderson, Michael J. Laun, 2nd Lt. Zachary M. Rodriguez, 2nd Lt. Thomas R. Schwind, Roderick A. Selman, Joshua Shackelford, Eva L. Sykes, Brandon K. Weiss, and Penda K. Welcher.

“We are proud of both our DMG and DMS cadets,” Wright said. “They have shown great leadership both in the corps and in the classroom. These honors are well-earned.”

Parker, ’93, takes on new role at Pentagon

Brig. Gen. Charles “Rob” Parker, ’93, thrives on the work he gets to do every day at the Pentagon.

As deputy director for command, control, communications, and computers/cyber systems, Parker serves as a senior leader on the Joint Staff informing technology-related policy, requirements and acquisition. Promoted to brigadier general in July 2020, Parker began his latest role at the Pentagon in January 2021.

“It’s exciting to play a significant role in something so important to our national security and the collective ability of our armed forces to deter adversaries and win in conflict,” Parker said. “Each day, I rely on the valuable adaptive leadership skills that I learned as a cadet at UNG and have continued to refine over my career to bring together representatives from disparate organizations and align them toward common goals.”

Parker earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at UNG before commissioning in the Army.

His role as an Army leader allows him to meet many recent UNG alumni.

“With each engagement, it reaffirms my personal belief that UNG remains a national treasure as a leadership incubator for the military, government and commercial industry sectors while consistently producing respected, honorable and trusted leaders,” Parker said.

Parker previously served within the Headquarters Department of the Army as the director of joint and integration for Force Development and as chief of the Mission Command Division.