Commissioning signifies the beginning of a student’s active military service as officers in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. During the ceremony, each student takes an oath of office in his or her respective branch of service. By taking the oath, each student is making a commitment to serve as an officer.
This year, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) commissioning ceremony was especially poignant for members of the Yager family, who have had several members carve out a path of service in the United States Armed Forces.
Lieutenant Commander Michael Yager, USN (Ret.), who previously served as the senior adviser for the Navy ROTC at Rensselaer, administered the oath for his son, Cole Yager, a senior who majored in nuclear engineering. Following the oath, Cole’s grandfather EMC (SS) Karl Yager, USN (Ret.), gave his first salute.
While graduation may be over, the Yager family still has special connection to Rensselaer. Jakob Yager is a rising junior majoring in civil engineering. Upon graduation, he will join the ranks of the Rensselaer “legacies,” students who have had a relative graduate from Rensselaer.
The ROTC programs at Rensselaer are elective programs for students who desire commissions in the United States Armed Forces. This year, 30 students graduated from the ROTC program, andstarted active military service as officers with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.