Freshman earn recognition as members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets
After months of preparation, and two final days of rigorous physical tests and drills, freshmen cadets, grouped by company, marched from The Citadel’s Lesesne Gate to Marion Square on Saturday, March 24. The march to the original campus location in downtown Charleston marked the end of the highly regimented way of life that is The Citadel’s Fourth-Class System.
The Fourth-Class System, known as one of the most challenging military college training systems in the country, lays the foundation for the development of character and discipline central to the college’s mission of developing principled leaders.
Hours before the march the freshman cadets must complete an obstacle course referred to as “the gauntlet” before joining their companies in the barracks for the announcement of the end of that year’s Fourth-Class System, inspiring a flood of emotions.
During the march, hundreds of spectators lined the streets to cheer on the Class of 2021.While cadets made their way downtown, The Citadel Regimental Band performed “The Citadel Story” for the audience at Marion Square. The story featured cadets wearing recently restored period uniforms from every war in which Citadel men and women have fought, beginning with the Mexican-American War.
Once at Marion Square, the Class of 2021 recited “The Oath Renewal on The Citadel Green.” This oath was the same one recited at the beginning of the year and marked the freshmen’s official transition into the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.
After the oath, Rita Avila Zelinsky, commander of community affairs at the Charleston County Sherriff’s Office and member of The Citadel Class of 2003, gave the cadets a few words of wisdom. “While the Fourth-Class System is finally over, today is just the beginning”, said Zelinsky. “You have three more years as a cadet. Make them count. Live your life worthy of this calling.”
Governor presents Order of the Palmetto to Citadel President Lt. Gen. John Rosa
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster presented the Order of the Palmetto award to Citadel President, Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa, USAF (Ret.), during the college’s Corps Day dress parade on Summerall Field the same day. The Order of the Palmetto is the state’s highest award.
“In grateful recognition of contributions and friendship to the State of South Carolina and her people, I do hereby confer upon Lt. General John Rosa the Order of the Palmetto with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereto. In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of the Office of the Governor of the State of South Carolina at the Capitol in the City of Columbia, this twenty-fourth day of March in the year of our Lord two thousand and eighteen.”
Henry McMaster
Governor
Donna K. Rosa; Cadet Col. Dillon Graham presented with Palmetto Medal Awards
Palmetto Medal Awards were presented to The Citadel’s first lady, Donna Kangeter Rosa and the regimental commander of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, Cadet Col. Dillon Graham, in recognition of their exemplary leadership and service. Citadel Board of Visitors’ Allison Dean Love presented the awards to during the college’s Recognition Day parade.
Since 2006, Rosa has joined her husband, Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa in supporting the campus community serving as a mentor for cadets, and as a servant leader for the campus and the Charleston communities. Graham’s distinguished career as a cadet leader, academic front-runner, volunteer and commitment to serve the nation as a future United States Air Force officer were noted as his Palmetto Medal Award was announced.
Changing of the Summerall Guards
The Class of 2018 Summerall Guards reluctantly relinquished their swords to the incoming 2018-19 unit of senior cadets during a ceremony on Summerall Field on March 24. The new guards performed their first public drill before a crowd of hundreds.
Earning a position on The Citadel’s acclaimed Summerall Guards is among the highest honors a member of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets can attain. Each spring semester, after weeks of rigorous training and tryouts, 61 new guards are selected from more than 100 rising juniors for their physical stamina and drill proficiency.
Event honoring Joseph Shine, Class of 1971
On Friday, March 23, The Citadel community gathered to remember the late Joseph Shine, the second African-American cadet to matriculate and the only African-American member of the Class of 1971.
“It was more than 50 years ago that The Citadel Class of 1971 matriculated,” said Jim Lockridge, one of Shine’s Kilo Company classmates. “With that matriculation, a special trailblazer emerged from our class. That trailblazer was Joe Shine.”
Shine chose to attend The Citadel during a time of racial unrest across the nation and when the Vietnam War raged on. A history major with an Air Force ROTC scholarship, he graduated in 1971 with the rank of cadet captain and a place on regimental staff. He was also a founding member of the college’s African American Society.
“Despite the experiences of his knob year and the challenges he faced in a segregated hometown, Joe wore The Citadel ring with pride,” said Faith Rivers James, J.D., assistant provost for leadership and department head and professor of The Citadel Department of Leadership Studies. “He embodied the idea of principled leadership that the ring represents and led with humility and authenticity.”
NASA Commander, Col. Randy Bresnik ’89, provides leadership and inspiration at 11th Annual Principled Leadership Symposium
Col. Randy Bresnik, NASA astronaut, U.S. Marine Corps aviator, Citadel alumnus, and recent commander of the International Space Station came to his alma mater to help lead the 175thanniversary celebration. He presented the Greater Issues speech, captivating the Corps of Cadets with his powerful stories from his most recent time on the ISS, with a video of spectacular sights from space that he made with his Expedition 53 astronaut colleagues.
“Whether it is the Marine Corps or the Peace Corps, Wall Street or Broad Street, teacher or as a preacher, life is too short to make it all about you. I know it’s hard to appreciate while you’re still rising to the sound of a bugle and standing morning inspections, but cherish the memories you have because you are making lifelong bonds with your classmates and other cadets.”
The two-day symposium attended by the Corps and guest student delegates also included a speech by author and journalist Sean Naylor, panels with leading influencers in the areas of business, engineering, humanities, mathematics and science, and student research presentations.
The Principled Leadership Symposium, led by the college’s Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics is one of The Citadel’s signature events.
Following his participation at the symposium, Bresnik spoke to attendees at a 175thanniversary luncheon sponsored by The Post and Courier about the magnificence of viewing the earth from above and about the physical willpower it took to step out into the vastness of space during three recent space walks. The Post and Courier
Following his presentation, he answered questions from the audience and greeted a long line of friends and admirers during a dessert photo session. View a photo gallery of the luncheon by the Post and Courier here.
View a yearlong cadet blog covering Bresnik’s Expeditions 52/53, from training until he landed back on earth, here.
Swain Boating Center groundbreaking leads way to restoring Citadel’s water culture
With hardhats on and shovels in hand, the college broke ground at the site of the future Swain Boating Center on March 22. The campus location for the boating program is where the old boathouse always was, but a generous donation from Dr. and Mrs. Christopher C. Swain, ’81, is making it possible for a state-of-the-art facility with unprecedented water access to be constructed. Additionally, the tidal creek entrance was dredged recently to allow larger watercraft to enter the center when the project is complete in mid-summer of 2019.
The college has had a strong water culture since moving to its current campus location on the bank of the Ashley River in 1922, with a sailing club, a rowing team, marine biology courses and activities designed to take advantage of the Lowcountry’s beautiful marshland and ocean access.
Washington Light Infantry presents 175th anniversary medals to cadets
Members of the Washington Light Infantry (WLI) visited the Corps on March 20, the actual day of The Citadel’s 175th anniversary to present commemorative medals to every cadet. The Washington Light Infantry (WLI), organized in 1807, is one of the nation’s oldest militia units.
“These special medals serve as a reminder of the long and special relationship between the WLI and The Citadel,” said Henry I. Siegling, WLI commander.
The WLI, organized in 1807, is one of the nation’s oldest militia units. Anticipating a second war with Britain, the citizens of Charleston planned for a number of volunteer corps, one of which was the WLI. Volunteer corps are not generally long lived, but the group still exists today, with much of its membership coming from The Citadel.
Citadel kicks off anniversary celebration with a look at cadets uniforms since the beginning
Founded in 1842, the first twenty cadets entered The Citadel on Marion Square, in March 1843, to take up their dual roles as students and armory guards. From her inception, The Citadel has been at the forefront of every significant conflict in our nation’s history. In honor of the college’s 175th anniversary and thanks to a donation, cadet uniforms cadets wore in every conflict were restored, and The Citadel Story was revived. Read the full story here or watch a video below.
Citadel kicks off its year-long 175th anniversary celebration this weekend
A Charleston institution turns 175: The Citadel celebrates its past, looks to future
Open for business: The Citadel produces military leaders, yes, but even more pursue civilian careers
