Major Gen. Mark Yenter, a 1981 graduate of the University, flew from his post in South Korea to deliver special remarks to the 12 senior cadets from the University who were recently commissioned as Second Lieutenants into the U.S. Army. The group included Micah Lee Gill, pictured at right. (Courtesy photo)
The University of Nevada, Reno, recently commissioned 12 senior cadets as Second Lieutenants into the U.S. Army, including Micah Lee Gill, a 2003 graduate of Lincoln County High School.
The commissioning ceremony is the culmination for cadets of four years of learning to become leaders who can critically think and solve complex problems.
It is the day that each Cadet strives for from the day they raise their hand to contract into the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The ceremony has three main parts, the pinning of the rank by the families of each commissioning Cadet, the oath delivered by a senior commissioned officer and the “Silver Dollar” Salute, which is a tradition in the Army that newly commissioned Second Lieutenants present a silver dollar to the first enlisted soldier who salutes them.
The coin symbolically acknowledges the receipt of respect due the new rank and position.
Major Gen. Mark Yenter, a 1981 graduate of the University, flew from South Korea to deliver the following words of advice to 12 University graduates who were moments away from commissioning as Second Lieutenants in the Army, “Lead by example and be an inspiring leader. Be open to trying new ideas. Take care of your soldiers and they will take care of you.”
The newly minted Lieutenants will be heading off to various assignments in the upcoming months. Seven are going on active duty, and four are going in the Nevada National Guard and one is going into the Army Reserves.
Gill is the son of the Pete and Debi Gill of Pioche. He plans to start school in August and currently works at UNR as an ROTC recruiter.
2LT Micah Lee Gill
Nevada National Guard – 168th General Support Aviation Battalion
Medical Services Corps as a MEDEVAC pilot.
