WVU Army ROTC to commission 8 second lieutenants

The WVU Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion will commission eight cadets at 10 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 18) in the Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room. (WVU Photo)

WHAT:The West Virginia University Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalionwill commission eight cadets as second lieutenants during the annual Fall Commissioning Ceremony.

WHEN:Thursday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m.

WHERE: WVU Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room, 1550 University Ave., Morgantown

WHO:Col. Robert Kincaid, chief of the joint staff for the West Virginia National Guard, will be the keynote speaker. He is awaiting his certificate of eligibility for promotion to brigadier general. Prior to his current assignment, Col. Kincaid served as the Army chief of staff for the West Virginia Army National Guard. His extensive leadership experience includes commanding the 111th Engineer Brigade, the 1092nd Engineer Battalion and serving as the director of operations.

Col. Kincaid earned a Master of Business Administrationfrom WVU, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Bachelor of Arts from WVU.

Lt. Col. Eron Hilty, WVU professor of military science, and Master Sgt. William O'Neal, senior military science instructor, will present the cadets for commissioning.

Those commissioning from WVU include the following:

Devin Booth from Weirton, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in computer science. He commissions as a military intelligence officer but will be detailed as an armor officer for his first tour. He served in the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet while completing his degree.

Landon Burns from Bridgeport, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife and fisheries resources. He will assess into the West Virginia Army National Guard as a field artillery officer with B Battery, 1-201st Field Artillery Battalion. He served in the West Virginia Army National Guard while completing his degree.

Andrew Helbig from Oakland, Maryland, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in general business. He will assess onto active duty as a signal corps officer after completing an initial detail assignment in the infantry.

Ethan Knepp from Altoona, Pennsylvania, graduates with a Master of Science in Coaching and Sport Education. He will assess into the West Virginia Army National Guard as a corps of engineer officer with the 821st Engineer Company in Summersville.

Bryce Mattox from Richmond, Virginia, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He will assess onto active duty as a military police officer. He served with the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet while completing his degree.

Hunter Ringeisen from Morgantown, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He will assess into the West Virginia Army National Guard as a signal corps officer with the 1092nd Engineer Battalion. He served with the West Virginia Army National Guard as a Simultaneous Membership Program cadet while completing his degree.

Those commissioning from other institutions include the following:

Thomas Furgason from Rivesville, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Fairmont State University. He will assess onto active duty in the Corps of Engineers. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate and served in the West Virginia Army National Guard while completing his degree.

Samuel Hamilton from Bowie, Maryland, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Waynesburg University. He commissions into the Army Reserve in the logistics branch.

Watch the event on the Mountaineer Battalion Facebook page.

BACKGROUND:Army ROTC is the premier, four-year progressive leadership development program on campus. During classes, leadership labs, physical training and field training exercises, cadets learn firsthand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and conduct missions as an officer in the U.S. Army. Cadets are required to complete a 35-day leadership assessment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, known as Advanced Camp. Upon earning their degrees, cadets commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on active duty, in the Army National Guard or in the Army Reserve. Upon earning their degrees, cadets commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on active duty, in the Army National Guard, or in the Army Reserve.

The WVU ROTC program was recognized in 2007-08 as the best program in the Eastern Region of the United States and was subsequently awarded the General Douglas MacArthur Award.

The commissioning class for 2025-26 is comprised of 21 total cadets from the three schools forming the Mountaineer Battalion - WVU, Fairmont State University and Waynesburg University. Of those 21, three are from FSU, one is from Waynesburg University and the other 17 are WVU cadets. Of the eight lieutenants commissioning in this ceremony, four will transition onto active duty, three will commission into the West Virginia Army National Guard and one will commission into the Army Reserve. One cadet commissioned earlier in the fall semester and 12 are on track to commission in May.

This year's class includes five Distinguished Military Graduates who ranked among the top 20% of cadets nationwide determined by the National Order of Merit list.

MEDIA NOTES:Pre- or post-ceremony interviews with any of the newly commissioned officers and/or guest speaker can be arranged on an individual basis. Cadet biographical photos are also available upon request for hometown news outlets.

-WVU-

jd/12/17/25

MEDIA CONTACT: John Dowling
Recruiting Operations Officer
WVU Army ROTC
304-894-6641, [email protected]

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