Military Science Commissions Eight

Among the eight seniors who earned the rank of second lieutenant during the spring Bearkat Battalion Commissioning Ceremony Friday afternoon are (front row, from left) Joshua G. Jeremiah, Kyra J. Willyerd, Tracy A. Castillo and Joy D. Crowder. On the second row (from the left) are Jason D. Perez, Christopher L. Davidson, Daniel L. Shalchi and Jeffrey D. Gleasman. The ceremony was held in the Academic Building IV Olson Auditorium.

Eight Sam Houston State University seniors took the Army Oath of Office and were commissioned as second lieutenants during the spring ceremony on Friday (May 12) afternoon in the Academic Building IV Olson Auditorium.

Tears, laughter and pride were all abundant as the friends and family members of Tracy A. Castillo, Joy D. Crowder, Christopher L. Davidson, Jeffrey D. Gleasman, Joshua G. Jeremiah, Jason D. Perez, Daniel L. Shalchi and Kyra J. Willyerd shared stories about each cadet as part of the Bearkat Battalion Commissioning Ceremony activities.

Castillo, from Medina, enrolled at SHSU on a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, holding leadership positions such as Ranger Company Executive Officer, Cadet Battalion Sergeant Major and Cadet Battalion Commander while serving in the program.

After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice during the May 13 commencement ceremony, she will serve an active duty commission as an Ordnance Officer. She will first serve as a cadre member at Warrior Forge Camp at Fort Lewis, Wash., before her first duty assignment, at Fort Riley, Kan.

Crowder, from Killeen, joined the U.S. Army in 1997 and had been stationed in Korea and Fort Hood, Texas, before she transferred to SHSU in 2004. While at SHSU, she served in the Army Reserves, as Cadet Battalion S-5 and the Marketing/Recruiting Officer, as well as owned and operated a massage therapy business.

She will receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology during the commencement ceremonies and will serve in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 355th Regiment, 95th Division in Round Rock through her reserve duty commission in the Adjutant General’s Corps.

Davidson, from Houston, came to SHSU in 2001 while serving in the Simultaneous Membership Program, with the 1/378th/95th Division in Conroe, as a Color Guard member and Cadet Battalion S-1 and S-4 during his college career.

He will receive his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice before serving as an Ordnance Officer through his reserve duty commission.

Gleasman, from La Porte, enrolled at SHSU in 2002 on a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, serving as Cadet Battalion S-2, Ranger Company Commander, Cadet Battalion Sergeant Major during his college career. He also attended Airborne School in 2003 and was given a Cadet Troop Leadership Training slot with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, he will serve a branch assignment to Military Intelligence with a branch detail to Armor in active duty. He will first serve as a cadre member at Warrior Forge Camp at Fort Lewis and the Armor Offficer’s Basic Course at Fort Knox, Ky., before his first duty assignment at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Jeremiah, from Bay City, returned to SHSU in 2003 after enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2002.

During his time at SHSU, he served as the Cadet Battalion S-4 and remained in the reserves as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet in the 228th CSH at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and the 15th Quartermaster Corps in Huntsville.

He will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and serve his first duty assignment with the 7/6th Cavalry Division in Conroe through his reserve duty commission in the Chemical Corps.

Perez, from Yorktown, transferred to SHSU in 2003, after having earned an associate’s degree from Coffeyville Community College, in Kansas, on a baseball scholarship and enlisting in the Army Reserve in 2002.

He served as a SMP cadet and acting Platoon Leader for the 3/5 platoon for two years at the 7/6 Cavalry Regiment in Conroe.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice, he will serve in the Army Military Intelligence Corps through an active duty commission and will report to Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.

Shalchi, from San Antonio, transferred to SHSU in 2004 from St. Mary’s University, serving as the Cadet Battalion S-4, Cadet Battalion Executive Officer and an SMP at the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade and working part-time at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

He will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and serve as a Military Police Corps Officer through an active duty commission. He will first serve as a cadre member at Warrior Forge Camp at Fort Lewis and attend the Military Police Corps Officer Basic Course before his first duty assignment, at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Willyerd, from Kingwood, enrolled at SHSU in 2003 on a two-year Army ROTC scholarship. She served as Color Guard Commander, Cadet Battalion S-3 and the MS I Assistant Instructor while at SHSU.

She will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and serve as an Aviation Officer through an active duty commission. Before going to flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala., she will serve as a cadre member at the Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
May 12, 2006
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