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c/LTC O'Brien, Battalion Commander
I'm from Philadelphia, PA. I've had a desire to serve in the military since childhood and Army ROTC has been a great path to pursue this desire. I've always been one to chase after intellectual and physical challenges, and ROTC here at Wheaton has certainly been satisfying in these regards. This coming May I'll commission as an AD Infantry Officer and soon thereafter head down to Ft. Benning, Georgia. I pray that in all I do, including my vocation, I may honor Him - in His strength and for His glory.
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c/MAJ Curin, Executive Officer
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, I am a Lewis University cadet and am double majoring in psychology and criminal justice. I have been granted educational delay and will be attending school for my doctorate in psychology in the fall with the expectation of graduating and becoming an Army Psychologist. My passions are hockey and motorcycles.
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c/CSM Thompson
Parker Thompson is a Senior at Wheaton College. He is an Applied Health Science major and has received an Educational Delay with the Medical Corps to go to med school. He runs on the track and cross country teams and his favorite thing to do in the whole world is to spend time with his lovely fiancé. |
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c/CPT Phillips, S1
My name is James Phillips. I am a senior English and secondary education major at Wheaton College. I am from Portage, Michigan and graduated from Portage Central High School. My favorite activities are to read, ride my bike and play guitar. I am also a tutoring coordinator for a ministry that works on the south side of Chicago called Dearborn Tutoring. |
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c/CPT Keil, S2
During highschool I attended Maumee Valley Country Day School in northwestern Ohio. I am currently an environmental studies major focusing in geology, particularly soil science and agronomy. I originally joined the ROTC program to pay for college, but through my four years here at Wheaton it has been the most formative part of my college experience. |
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c/MAJ Ellsworth, S3
My name is Sean Ellsworth and I am from West Chester, PA, right outside Philadelphia. I have many family members who have served in the military, and several who have graduated from the Rolling Thunder Battalion. I am a history major and bible and theology minor at Wheaton College. While at Wheaton, I have had the opportunity to be involved in varsity soccer, residence life, student government, breakaway ministries, Wheaton in the Holy Lands, and symphonic band. The Lord has blessed me tremendously during my college years, and I am eagerly looking forward to what He has in store for me as an Armor Officer in the United States Army. |
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c/CPT Kranz, S3 Assistant
My name is Cassandra Kranz, and I am a Biology major at Wheaton College, IL with a concentration in the health care professions. I was born in Southern California, spent my childhood in Kenya, East Africa, and currently reside near Orlando, Florida. I attended Trinity Preparatory School, where I dedicated a lot of my time to swimming on the varsity swim team and performing as the principal flautist and piccoloist for the Florida Young Artist Orchestra. After commissioning into the Medical Service Corps in the Army Reserves in May 2013, I hope to attend Physician Assistant School. |
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c/CPT Beltran, S3 Assistant
Guerin College Preparatory High School, River Grove, IL Graduate of 2009. Wrestled, baseball, and football (varsity captain) in high school. Hometown is North side of Chicago, IL and now a senior (MSIV) at Lewis University majoring in Aviation Security, graduating and commissioning in May of 2013. Branching active duty Military Police (MP). One interesting fact about me is that I ran the Chicago Bank of America Marathon in 2009 (26.2 mi). |
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c/SGM Vanzwieten, OPS SGM
John VanZwieten was raised in Springfield, IL, and moved to Buffalo, NY just before high school. He graduated from Hamburg High School June 2009 and has attended Wheaton College since August 2009, studying Aerospace Engineering. As part of the dual degree program Wheaton has, John has simultaneously attended classes at the Illinois Institute of Technology in downtown Chicago. His favorite pastime is hiking trails, and has spent many summers working as staff at Camp Hickory Hill. |
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c/CPT Jones, S4
I’m a senior at Elmhurst College studying Art Business, with an emphasis in Graphic Design. I am branching into the U.S. Army Reserves in the Transportation Corps. I was raised in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, and hope to get into Advertising or Marketing. |
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c/CPT Kooiman, S5
c/Jason Kooiman is a senior at Wheaton College and is studying International Relations. Jason was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He has branched Infantry and hopes to become a Foreign Area Officer to a country in the Middle East.
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c/CPT Blake, S6
Cadet Blake attended Geneva High School where he played varsity soccer, was a violinist in the school orchestra, and served in youth ministry and several missions trips through his church. Cadet Blake's father was a Marine Corps pilot, inspiring him to join the military and the RTB for its academic excellence, leadership training, and emphasis on Christian values. He is involved in the Student Nurses Association as a nursing student at Lewis University and works as a lifeguard/manager during the summer. Cadet Blake has completed the U.S. Army Air Assault School and will graduate in May 2014. He hopes to serve on active duty in the Army Nurse Corps. |
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c/CPT Henderson, MFT
Born in Omaha, Nebraska on Offutt Air Force Base where my father was serving with the Air Force. Moved to Rockford, Illinois where I was raised and attended Rockford East High school. During high school I was a three sport varsity athlete playing football, wrestling, baseball and I also earned my Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. I attend Elmhurst College where I am a member of Pi Gamma Mu the national honors society for the social sciences and a member of the Elmhurst College grounds crew which cares for the Level II Arboretum. I have also participated in Elmhurst College Rugby for three seasons. |
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c/CPT Yarian, Chaplain
Born in Carroll County, Maryland, growing up he spent thirteen years in Togo, West Africa, where his parents served as missionaries. Ran track and cross-country in high school. Hobbies include martial arts, horsemanship, and board-gaming. Has been a member of the Wheaton Ranger Challenge team all four years. Earned air assault wings at Ft. Knox, KY in the summer of '11. Was married in the summer of 2012, and is currently living happily with his wife. Will commission into the Chemical Corps and attend BOLC at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. |
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c/CPT Wirth, Command Nurse
My name is Courtney Wirth I was born in Harvey IL. I moved to New Lenox and live there today. I use to fly gliders in high school and have played the violin for about 11 years. I am a Nursing student at Lewis University and I plan on branching Nurse Corp.
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c/CPT Gotchey, PAO
Hi, my name is Joel Gotchey and I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO. I have lived in the country of Bosnia-Herzgovina for two years and now I live in Manhattan, KS. I love playing soccer and I am a communication major here at Wheaton. I am branching National Guard and MS. |
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c/CPT Dagg, A CO TAC
In High School was a three-sport varsity athlete all four years and served as track team captain during junior and senior year. Eagle Scout, worked as stonemason and lifeguard during the summers. In college served as track team captain and competes in the 400m hurdles. In ROTC participated in a CULP trip to Ecuador to translate for naval doctors, attended CTLT with the 1-41 Field Artillery at Fort Stewart, GA. Rated 146 out of 6,000 cadets on the national OML in 2012, branched Aviation and will report to Fort Rucker next year. |
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c/CPT Benson, B CO TAC
Cadet Benson grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska, attended Grand Island Senior High School, graduated in the top 10% of his class, and is a four year Army ROTC scholarship recipient. Cadet Benson participated in intramural sports, varsity choir, varsity jazz, concert, and marching band as well as many theater and musical productions while in high school. Cadet Benson is a undergrad student at Wheaton College and will be graduating with a Christian Education major and a Military Science certificate. Cadet Benson ranked in the top 20th percentile of the OML this year, is a Distinguished Military Graduate, branched Army Engineer Corps, and will be going active duty for eight years following his graduation in May 2013. |
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c/CPT Ortiz, PLT TAC
A native of Chicago, IL Ortiz attended Joliet Central High school, He is currently attending Lewis University and majoring in criminal justice. Cadet Ortiz is entering the Infantry Core. Upon his release from the Army he intends to pursue a career in criminal justice as a police officer and hopes to one day work in narcotics. Cadet Ortiz has attended Airborne School, 2010 and the Army Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) 2012. |