From staff reports
The United States Armed Forces now have more than 180 new officers after members of The Citadel’s Class of 2023 accepted commissions into the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force.
Local members of the Class of 2023 who accepted commissions include:
– Christopher Rohrer of Beaufort (U.S. Army)
– Thomas Conrad of Beaufort (U.S. Marine Corps)
Held on Friday, May 5, during a joint commissioning ceremony, approximately 30% of the Class of 2023 accepted commissions into the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force. This year’s joint ceremony was held in McAlister Field House.
The ceremony included the now-officers reciting their oath, as well as having gold bars pinned on their uniforms by their sponsors. Following the ceremony, the graduates gathered on Summerall Field where they received their first salutes as officers.
The commencement ceremony for the Corps is held the day after the commissioning ceremonies.
The Citadel (Charleston) offers a classic military college education for young men and women focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. The approximately 2,300 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets are not required to serve in the military, but about one-third of each class earn commissions to become officers in every branch of U.S. military service.
