Lincoln University Army ROTC graduated the first female combat arms cadet Friday.
Cadet Christiaunna Kelley officially became a 2nd Lt. in the United States Army in an early morning ceremony held at Lincoln's Martin Luther King Hall. The event was attended by ROTC cadets, university officials and members of Kelley's family, and featured Lt. Col. Charles V. Slider III as guest speaker.
"It's a big accomplishment for me," Kelley said.
It's also a big accomplishment for the program, Slider noted from the podium.
"Thank you for taking the huge step of being one of the few members within our United States to take on the challenge of leading America's most precious resource -- the American soldier," Slider said. "Probably one of the most humbling achievements is that (Kelley) is the first combat arms officer to commission from this program. I think that in itself deserves a round of applause."
Kelley, a Memphis, Tennessee, native, majored in business administration while at Lincoln. She currently serves in the National Guard as a 92A automated logistical specialist. In February, she will be stationed in Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, home of the United States Army Field Artillery School, where she will serve as a field artillery officer.
"I'm excited to learn about field artillery because I had never done it before," Kelley said. "It's all new to me."
After being officially sworn by Slider, Kelley's parents pinned the rank of 2nd Lt. on her shoulders. She then received her first salute from Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Garcia, followed by a commissioning certificate presentation from Lincoln University President John Moseley and professor of Military science Lt. Col. Nicholas P. Bell.
After the ceremony, Kelley's father, Christopher Young, was struck by the moment.
"Like a dream come true, I can't believe it," he said.
Young said he was somewhat taken aback when Kelley initially came to him with the idea of joining the Army. He asked her if she was sure.
"I asked her, 'Do you want to go to war?'" Young said, somewhat amused now by his early concerns. "Because that was it -- I didn't want her to go to war."
But Kelley's reply helped ease his nerves.
"She said, 'No dad, it's more than that.'"
After his daughter's graduation Friday, Young was filled with nothing less than joy and delight.
"I'm just so proud of her," he said.
Julie Smith/News Tribune
LTC Charles Slider, Operations Officer at the U.S. Army Armor School, administers the oath of office to Cadet Christiaunna Kelley as she receives a pin to become a 2nd lieutenant in the Army. Her commissioning took place Friday in Pawley Theater in Martin Luther King Hall on the campus of Lincoln University. Following graduation, Kelley will report to a field artillery division in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Julie Smith/News Tribune
Lincoln University Blue TIger Battalion Cadet Christiuanna Kelley stands on stage in Pawley Theater as her parents, Verlisha Kelley, left, and Christopher Young pin her lapels Friday during her commissioning ceremony to 2nd lieutenant. Seated in the background is LU President John Moseley, at left, and LTC Charles Slider III, who administered the oath of office.