ROTC Cadets Earn Presidential Commissions

OMAHA – Twelve students from several Omaha-based ROTC programs have earned, or will soon earn, Presidential military commissions.

On Thursday, May 8, seven cadets from UNO's Air Force ROTC were recognized in a ceremony at the UNO Thompson Alumni Center. This is the seventh class of graduating cadets the Alumni chapter has provided with the second lieutenant commissioning sets.

Also earning comissions were three UNO members of Creighton's Army ROTC. Two members of UNO's Air Force ROTC from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), will formally earn their comissions and be recognized in late summer.

UNO works with both Creighton and UNMC to provide support military training options for students across all three campuses.

Included below is a list of commissioned officers, their hometowns and assignments.

Air Force ROTC (Spring 2015 Commissions)

2nd Lt. Andrew Butler
Hometown: Bellevue, NE
Position: Air Liaison Officer
Assignment: Fort Campbell, KY

2nd Lt. Mark Byrne (Creighton)
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Position: Pilot Training
Assignment: Vance Air Force Base, OK

2nd Lt. Colten Holden
Hometown: Sarcoxie, MO
Position: RPA Training
Assignment: Randolph Air Force Base, TX

2nd Lt. Joshua Komyathy
Hometown: Bellevue, NE
Position: Pilot Training
Assignment: Vance Air Force Base, OK

2nd Lt. Jason Komyathy
Hometown: Bellevue, NE
Position: Pilot Training
Assignment: Vance Air Force Base, OK

2nd Lt. Robert Kring
Hometown: Axtell, NE
Position: Office of Special Investigations
Assignment: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH

2nd Lt. Jacob Saddler
Hometown: Glenwood, IA
Position: RPA Training
Assignment: Randolph Air Force Base, TX

Army ROTC (Spring 2015 Commissions)

2d Lt. William Heida
Hometown: N/A
Position: Air Defense Office
Assignment: Active Duty

2d Lt. Zachary W. Schelm
Hometown: N/A
Position: Infantry Officer
Assignment: Active Duty

2d Lt. Jonathan Smolen
Hometown: N/A
Position: Field Artillery Officer
Assignment: Nebraska National Guard

Air Force ROTC (Summer 2015 Commissions)

2nd Lt. Pamela Jirsa (UNMC)
Hometown: Austin, TX
Position: Nursing
Assignment: Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

2nd Lt. Tiffany Ebueng (UNMC)
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Position: Nursing
Assignment: Travis Air Force Base, California

UNO's Air Force ROTC Detachment 470, also known as the Wolfpack, was established in 1951 and is one of the oldest Air Force ROTC programs in the country. At that time the university was one of 62 institutions chosen from a field of nearly 600 schools seeking to host an AFROTC unit. Today Detachment 470 includes students from Creighton and Bellevue Universities, and others.

UNO's Army ROTC partners with Creighton University to allow students to obtain their degree through UNO while participating in and receiving the benefits of Creighton University's Military Science Program. Students are able to complete their degrees while training to become Officers in the United States Army.

In 2014 was named the nation’s top university for military friendliness by Military Times, due in large part to the role of UNO’s AFROTC program and the Office of Military and Veteran Services, which was opened in 2012.

UNO currently enrolls over 1,000 students who are active duty or veterans in both undergraduate and graduate courses. Many of these students are part of UNO’s Veterans Student Organization, which regularly holds events to honor fallen troops and connect veterans with employment opportunities.

For more information about UNO’s ROTC programs or military-friendly offerings, please contact Charley Reed, UNO Associate Director of Media Relations, at 402.554.2129 or unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Become a fan of UNO on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unomaha and follow UNO's Twitter updates at http://twitter.com/unomaha.