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ROTC cadets and midshipmen parade at annual President’s Review
Looking sharp in full dress uniform, Yale’s ROTC Air Force cadets and Navy midshipmen paraded before an audience of family members and dignitaries at the annual President’s Review in the John Lee Amphitheater at the Payne Whitney Gymnasium on Thursday.
Yale President Peter Salovey served as the reviewing officer at the event, inspecting the officers-in-training as a commanding officer would do in a traditional military review. The event also featured cadets and midshipmen from other colleges and universities that participate in Yale’s Air Force ROTC and Naval ROTC programs.
Yale ROTC cadets and midshipmen participate fully in all aspects of student life, from residential college activities to scientific research, varsity sports, and student government. They do it while also training to serve as officers in the United States military.
At the President’s Review, Salovey saluted the midshipmen and cadets’ desire to pursue military service careers. “It is a desire to serve, to look beyond self-interest… it is the desire to inspire the world today for future generations,” Salovey said.
Dignitaries presiding over this year’s event, along with Salovey, were Naval ROTC Commanding Officer Ronald L. Withrow, Air Force ROTC Commanding Officer George R. Granholm, and retired Gen. John “Jay” Raymond.
Twenty-one cadets and midshipmen learned of their first military assignment locations during the President’s Review. The event also included awards to midshipmen and cadets in recognition of outstanding achievements during the past year.
“It’s exciting,” said Yale senior and Air Force ROTC cadet Kate Yeager, whose first military posting will be as a 2nd lieutenant at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in England.
“You spend four years training as a cadet, doing leadership drills and physical fitness training,” she said. “And now, you’re at the point where you get to do the job — the job I was trained to do. I can’t wait.”
In an event earlier in the week, Raymond, who served as the first chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, announced the first U.S. Space Force commissioning assignment for a University of New Haven cadet who participated in Yale’s Air Force ROTC program.
