Commissioning
Every December and May, the Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC Units hold a joint commissioning ceremony to officially bring the new graduates into the Officer Corps.
Commissioning is the culmination of 3-5 years of hard work from each midshipman, officer candidate and MECEP that has graduated and represents the completed transition to a true leader.
The day begins with a commissioned officer administering the oath of office to the commissionee.
Next, the commissionee's friends or family removes the old rank insignia and replaces them with the insignia of an Ensign in the Navy or 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps
Later at the joint commissioning ceremony, the newly appointed officers get their first salutes from an enlisted member of any service. As is tradition, the officer must pay for the first salute with a silver dollar and all future salutes must be earned.
Congratulations to all the newly commissioned officers from the University of Wisconsin NROTC Unit. We wish you fair winds and following seas.