The United States military is getting new officers from Purdue.
The university’s Reserve Officer Training Corps graduated 20 students, Monday, who took the oath of office to join their respective branches of the armed services.
Eight of the graduates are part of the Army program, seven are from the Navy, four from the Air Force, and there was one Marine graduate.
Major Paul Heslin is the Executive Officer for the university’s Army ROTC.
He says the graduates join a special group who has completed the program on the West Lafayette campus.
“The tradition is still Purdue is one of the older institutions and one of the few institutions that has all three services here as an ROTC program," said Heslin. "It's kind of unique in that regard.”
He says the way the program is designed prepares those commissioned for their next step of service.
“As they move up in the ranks as Juniors and Seniors, they ultimately are running the battalion. They are teaching their peers." he said. "In that sense, it is truly their program and they take ownership and pride in that.”
Major General Ross Ridge served as the guest speaker.
He graduated from Indiana University’s ROTC program in 1980 and went on to serve in Germany, Thailand, Korea, and Iraq.
Ridge says what the graduates accomplished is the result of sacrifice and commitment.
'That's what our military is looking for - whether it's the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps - we are looking for future leaders of our nation," he said. "We are working with them to develop that. They give a lot of their free time up while their here on the campus."
The graduates are being assigned across the country including in Georgia, Texas, and Alaska.