UNL ROTC cadets to be commissioned as officers by President Bush

Two University of Nebraska-Lincoln Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets will be commissioned as officers May 17 by President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C.

Michael Keblesh and Michael Horab, both graduating seniors, will be part of a select group of Army cadets -- one from each state -- commissioned in person by their commander in chief. The ceremony is planned for the White House.

Horab, a history major and native of Williston, N.D., was selected on behalf of his home of record, but will represent UNL at the ceremony. Keblesh is an Omaha native and Creighton Prep graduate who majored in international studies and political science at UNL.

"Because they're recognized as the top commissioning cadets, that says something about the quality of the program here at UNL, and the hard work and dedication that these young men bring to their studies as well as to this program," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Cisne, who nominated the cadets for this honor.

The two men are completing pre-commissioning requirements to earn their commissions as officers. The course includes training events designed to develop their individual leadership skills and attributes, Cisne said.

The cadets and two guests each will be flown to Washington in mid-May. They will participate in a media training, ceremony rehearsal, uniform inspection and city tour.

"This is not going to be just a mock event for the media, this is the official commissioning ceremony for them," Cisne said. "They will raise their right hand and swear the oath of office as commissioned officers in the U.S. Army. They will pledge to uphold the Constitution."

"Being commissioned by the president is a tremendous honor, and I can't think of a better way to begin a career in the military," Keblesh said. "But more importantly, I'm happy for my parents. They've done so much for me, and this is the first time I've had an opportunity to give them something in return."

This summer, Keblesh will spend eight weeks at Fort Lewis, Wash., and seven weeks at Fort Sill, Okla., before enrolling in flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. Horab will train in Oklahoma and Missouri before settling down at Fort Polk, La. He said he plans to make the military his career.

In addition to Horab and Keblesh, a number of ROTC cadets received scholarships and awards at the April 19 Chancellor's Review. Twenty-nine other Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps cadets in the UNL ROTC program will receive their commissions at a 1:30 p.m. ceremony May 5 in the auditorium of the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St.

"All of our cadets work hard, and the focus of the program is to develop leadership skills and attributes, communication and analytical skills, the ability to be planners and executors, and the ability to assess performance and evaluate it for improved future performance," Cisne said. "These are skills that can be used in any field. We train them to be leaders in the army, but those skills can be applied in any civilian scenario as well."

Following is a list of candidates by hometown, with their service branch and the rank at which they will be commissioned. All are UNL students unless otherwise noted.

NEBRASKA

Alliance: 2nd Lt. Jon Bowling, Air Force.

Ceresco: 2nd Lt. Aaron Tvrdy, Army.

Eustis: 2nd Lt. Bronson Malcom, Air Force.

Geneva: 2nd Lt. Timothy Wilkins, Army.

Gothenburg: 2nd Lt. Heather Yancey (Doane College), Air Force.

Kearney: 2nd Lt. Sidonya Suleiman, Air Force.

Lincoln: 2nd Lt. Stephen Austria, Army; 2nd Lt. Tri Huynh, Air Force; 2nd Lt. Robert Kerr, Marines; Ensign Benjamin Kohn, Navy; 2nd Lt. Nicholas Kubick, Army; 2nd Lt. Alyssa Paul, Air Force.

Omaha: 2nd Lt. Anita Clark, Air Force; 2nd Lt. Michael Keblesh, Army; 2nd Lt. Adam Stahlecker, Army; 2nd Lt. John Wood, Air Force; 2nd Lt. Neil Wood, Air Force.

O'Neill: 2nd Lt. Christopher Bahrij, Air Force.

Papillion: 2nd Lt. Joseph Mucia, Air Force.

St. Paul: 2nd Lt. Andrew Soneson, Marines.

Tekamah: 2nd Lt. Samuel Shamburg, Air Force.

West Point: 2nd Lt. Timothy McDevitt, Air Force.

Wilcox: 2nd Lt. Levi Adam, Marines.

ELSEWHERE

Fort Leavenworth, Kan.: 2nd Lt. Christa Andraschko, Army.

Holyoke, Colo.: 2nd Lt. Derrick Besse, Air Force.

Menno, S.D.: 2nd Lt. Katherine Schultz, Air Force.

Nairobi, Kenya: 2nd Lt. Emily Meredith, Air Force.

Ogema, Minn.: Ensign Jon-Andrew Anderson, Navy.

Sioux Falls, S.D.: Ensign Ross Woltjer, Navy.

Wasilla, Alaska: 2nd Lt. Chad Huggins, Army.

Williston, N.D.: 2nd Lt. Michael Horab, Army.

CONTACT: Lt. Col. Elizabeth Cisne, USA, Professor, Military Science, (402) 472-4268