Sources: Army Lt. Col. Scott Bridegam, 785-532-5175, bridegam@k-state.edu;
and Air Force Lt. Col. Ed Meyer, 785-532-6600, edmeyer1@k-state.edu
Note to editor: Jonathan Dokos is a graduate of Olathe East High School.

Monday, Dec. 13, 2010

AIR FORCE, ARMY ROTC CADETS EARN COMMISSIONS

MANHATTAN -- Nine Kansas State University Reserve Officer Training Corp cadets have earned their commissions as second lieutenants.

Commissioning ceremonies for K-State's Army and Air Force ROTC units were Dec. 10 at the K-State Student Union. Earning commissions were five cadets from K-State's Wildcat Battalion Army ROTC unit, and four cadets from the university's Air Force ROTC Detachment 270. All of the cadets are candidates for degrees from K-State this fall. Two of the Army ROTC cadets are being commissioned as Distinguished Military Graduates, ranking them among the top 20 percent of cadets nationwide. The ranking is based on grade point average, Army physical fitness scores and leadership acumen.

Ret. Maj. Gen. Donald Jacka, Topeka, served as the guest of honor and commissioning officer at the Army ROTC ceremony. Jacka earned his bachelor's and master's from K-State, where he was a member of the Army ROTC program. He also is a member of the Wildcat Battalion Hall of Fame. Jacka is CEO and on the board of directors of the Kansas Homestead Rehabilitation Corporation.

The guest speaker for the Air Force ROTC ceremony was Col. Ron Langford, operations group commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita. Langford is an alum of the Air Force ROTC program at Southwest Texas State University.

K-State ROTC cadets commissioned as second lieutenants include:

Anthony "Alex" Kleinsorge, Colby, was commissioned in the Army's Engineer Corps. He will attend the Engineer Corps Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Kleinsorge is a bachelor's candidate in history.

Benjamin Jewell, Derby, was commissioned as an Air Force developmental engineer. He will be stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Jewell is a bachelor's candidate in mechanical engineering.

Kelly Simms, Hutchinson, was commissioned as a force support officer with the Air Force. He will be stationed at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. Simms is a bachelor's candidate in kinesiology.

Christopher Pierson, Leavenworth, was commissioned in the Army's armor branch. He will attend the Armor Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Knox, Ky. Pierson is a bachelor's candidate in management.

Joseph Wranich, Leavenworth, was commissioned as a financial management officer in the Air Force. He will be stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Boston, Mass. Wranich is a bachelor's candidate in technology management.

Stephen Wiemers, Manhattan, was commissioned in the Army's infantry branch as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He will attend the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga., and be assigned to Fort Stewart, Ga. Wiemers is a bachelor's candidate in management information systems.

Jonathan Dokos, Olathe, was commissioned in the Army's Adjutant General Corps and will be detailed to the infantry branch. He will attend the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga., and be assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas. Dokos is a bachelor's candidate in human resource management.

William Tyler Keller, Stilwell, was commissioned as a space and missiles officer in the Air Force. He will be stationed at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Keller is a bachelor's candidate in criminology.

Jessica Williams, Belleville, Wis., was commissioned in the Army's Transportation Corps as a Distinguished Military Graduate. She will attend the Transportation Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Lee, Va., and be assigned to Fort Stewart, Ga. Williams is a bachelor's candidate in English literature.