SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — On May 18, Seton Hall University celebrated New Jersey’s 14 newest second lieutenants at the Pirate Battalion annual Army Reserve Officer’ Training Corps commissioning ceremony at Jubilee Auditorium on the South Orange campus of the university.
The guest speaker was retired Brigadier Gen. Thomas Maffey, chief operating officer of McChrystal Group, who retired after a 30-year career with some of the military’s highest performing organizations, including the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Joint Special Operations Command.
He praised the second lieutenants as being part of a profession of arms, saying, “Great leaders build cohesive teams,” and advising them on the importance of self-awareness, trust, competence and integrity. Congratulating their families, Maffey said, “You’ve raised men and women of character.”
Being inducted into the ROTC Alumni Hall of Fame Award was retired Col. Patrick J. Breheny ’66/MBA ’68, whose wife of nearly 50 years, alumna Carole Aielli Breheny ’84/MAE ’90, was also recognized.
“I’m proud of all of you and look forward to serving with you for many years to come,” Lt. Col. Russell Lemler, the school’s military science professor, told the graduates. “The mentor relationship doesn’t end today, you will always have a place here.”
Lemler administered the Oath of Office, and then family and friends participated in the pinning of second lieutenant bars on the uniforms. Next was the traditional Silver Dollar Salute. Each newly commissioned second lieutenant proudly handed a silver dollar to the first non-commissioned officer, who saluted him. That person is typically selected by the newly commissioned second lieutenant as a sign of respect and gratitude to the NCO for training him.
The Pirate Battalion includes 24 colleges and universities in northern New Jersey. The 2018 commissionees include: Kyle A. Adams of Garnet Valley, Pa., Seton Hall University, National Guard Chemical Corps Officer; Anthony M. Antonini of Gibbstown, Seton Hall University, Judge Advocate General’s Corps Officer; Eric Z. Banks of Pitman, cross-enrolled with NJ Institute of Technology, National Guard Military Intelligence Officer; Christopher Arnold C. Blaza of Union, Seton Hall University, Active Duty Field Artillery Officer; Michael Chalhoub of Wayne, cross-enrolled with Rutgers University, National Guard Military Intelligence Officer; Christopher J. Dahdouh of Wayne, crossed-enrolled with Montclair State University, National Guard Signal Officer; Nathan G. Hill of Fairport, N.Y., Seton Hall University, Active Duty Field Artillery Officer; Patrick J. Hurley of Dayton, Seton Hall University, Active Duty Field Artillery Officer; Danyelle M. Jackson of South Amboy, crossed-enrolled with Kean University, Active Duty Field Artillery Officer; Brian M. McDonough of Parlin, crossed-enrolled with Montclair State University, Active Duty Infantry Officer; Justin T. Nicholas of Sicklerville, Seton Hall University, Active Duty Chemical Corps Officer; Jong W. Park of Ridgefield Park, Seton Hall University, Active Duty Aviation Officer; Abel M. Samuel of Bloomfield, cross-enrolled with Rutgers University, Active Duty Nurse Corps Officer; and Michael A. Walton Jr. of Carteret, cross-enrolled with Kean University, Active Duty Medical Services Officer.
Photos Courtesy of Seton Hall University
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