Four Commissioned As Army Officers

Newly commissioned Army officers include (from left): Kristopher Gillett, George Lindsey, Kevin Ridenour and Jarrod Shingleton.

Four Sam Houston State University students were commissioned as officers in the United States Army during a ceremony in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom Friday afternoon.

They include: Kristopher Gillett of Houston, George Lindsey of Houston, Kevin Ridenour of Daingerfield, and Jarrod Shingleton of Albuquerque, N.M.  All were commissioned with the rank of second lieutenant.

Lt. Col. Alan Mooneyham, SHSU professor of military science, addressed the cadets and told them that he did not realize until years later the importance of the unspoken messages he had received from his ROTC instructors while he was a cadet.

"Your ROTC experiences have laid a foundation for you that will carry you through your leadership roles," he said.

Mooneyham also addressed the friends and family members of the cadets in the auditorium, and told them that the commissioning ceremony was dedicated to them because of their sacrifices and support.

Gillett will continue his family's military tradition. His grandfather, father and brother have served in the army.  Gillett has held numerous leadership positions in the Bearkat Battalion, and has been on the Dean's List for the past four years.  During the summer of his sophomore year, he completed the United States Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga.

He recently returned from a trip to Lexington, Va. where he received the George C. Marshall Award, which is given to the top cadet from each school for excelling as a scholar, athlete and leader.  Gillett will attend the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Ala. starting in July.

Lindsey attended Sam Houston State on a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship.  He has been a member of Schuder's Rangers, commander of the Cannon Crew, and the fall battalion commander.  

He is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society.  Following graduation with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, Lindsey will serve as a Gold Bar Recruiter for the Bearkat Battalion at Sam Houston State.

Lindsey received an Active Duty Commission and will attend the United States Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Ga. in October.  After a 3-year branch detail, he will transition from the infantry branch to the signal corps branch.

Ridenour transferred to Sam Houston State from Northeast Texas Community College.  He enlisted in the army reserves in January 2001, and has been a member of the Simultaneous Membership Program with the 420th Engineer Headquarters in Bryan.

He was co-commander of the fall 2002 Ranger Challenge Team and spring 2003 executive officer for the Bearkat Battalion.  He served as a senator in the criminal justice caucus for the SHSU Student Government Association and is a member of the Baptist Student Ministries on campus.

Ridenour is branched infantry and will serve in the Army Reserve Component while pursuing a law degree from Baylor Law School.

Shingleton was a spring 2003 executive officer for the Bearkat Battalion.  His military career began in 1997 when he joined the Active Duty Army as a telecommunications operator/maintainer.  While in the army, he served his first tour in Korea and his second tour in Germany.  While in Germany, he applied for an Army Green-to-Gold scholarship and was accepted into the program.  He has attended Sam Houston State since 2000.

Shingleton graduates "cum laude" with a bachelor of computer science degree and will serve as a Gold Bar Recruiter for the Bearkat Battalion at SHSU.  He received an Immediate Active Duty Commission and will serve in the Signal Corps.  Following his assignment as recruiter, he will attend the Officer's Basic Course at Fort Gordon, Ga.

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SHSU Media Contact: Julia May
May 16, 2003
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