Charleston

Southern

University

Presents...

Air Force ROTC

Detachment 772

Fall Commissioning

Ceremony

October 2nd, 2010

WELCOME

Welcome to the 2010 Fall Commissioning Ceremony.

Today we will be commissioning 2 cadets into the United

States Air Force. We are extremely proud of our

commissionees for their dedication and commitment to both

their academic degree and their completion of the Reserve

Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.

HISTORY of ROTC

The origin of military instruction in civilian colleges

dates back to 1819 when Captain Adden Partridge founded

the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy at

Northfield, Vermont. Today it is Norwich University.

The United States Reserve Officer Training Corps and

the Junior ROTC arose from the National Defense Act of

1916. World War 1 prevented the full development of

civilian educators and military professionals working

together. At the conclusion of WW1, the program was fully

implemented on college campuses. In 1964, the ROTC added

scholarships and expanded the Junior ROTC opportunities

at high schools all across the nation.

Opening Remarks

Arrival of Official Party

Arrival of Commissionees

Presentation of Colors

National Anthem

Invocation

Dr. Peter Beck

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Retired Lt Col Joseph F. Tallon

Oath of Office

Official Pinning

Presentation of Commissions

Closing Remarks

Departure of Official Party

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER

TRAINING CORPS

DETACHMENT 772

Department of Aerospace Studies

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Trudeau

Commander

Captain Christopher Saldana

Commandant of Cadets

Technical Sergeant Debra Rogers, NCOIC

Personnel & Information Management

REITRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOSPEH TALLON U.S. Army & U.S. Air Force

Retired LTC Joseph Tallon served with a total of 37 years in the U.S. Army

and the U.S. Air Force. Over the course of LTC Tallon’s career, he has

served 5 decades assuming many roles among both the Army and Air Force.

Joseph Tallon began his career as a private in the U.S. Army under the

infantry division, then artillery, and then combat engineering. Joseph Tallon

was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 12 June 1970 at Fort Belvoir, VA.

Joseph Tallon completed a full tour amongst the military police at Fort

Stewart before entering the aircrew field. LTC Tallon holds an aviation

rating in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircrafts.

Tallon got his draft notice in June 1969, took his physical in July and by

August was in the Army. He was an OV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance pilot. It

was the only unarmed, unescorted plane in North Vietnam, an easy target that

snuck in and out at night, often in overcast conditions, Tallon says. Tallon

was in Vietnam from May- August 1972. He was shot down Aug. 12 and

was medevac’d nine days later, he says. Just after a 1 a.m. takeoff into the

pitch black starless South Vietnam sky his plane took a missile in the number

two engine; he ejected at 80 mph about 90 ft. above the ground and his

parachute opened 35 ft. above the ground, he says. “I should’ve been dead.”

Joseph Tallon is a member of the founding class of

the Baptist College of Charleston (Charleston

Southern University). LTC Tallon currently serves

on the Board of Visitors and the Legacy Society

for CSU. LTC Tallon holds many awards and

medals such as the Purple Heart medal along with

the Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Air Medal,

and the Vietnam ribbon with bronze battle star.

LTC Tallon was also named Detachment 772’s

Honorary Commandant for the life of CSU’s Air

Force ROTC.

BIOGRAPHY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

To be commissioned Second Lieutenant,

United States Air Force:

Heather Garver

Dominique Lewis

Heather Garver

Keedysville, Maryland

Charleston Southern

University

Criminal Justice

Office of Special

Investigations

Kirtland AFB, NM

Dominique Lewis

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston Southern

University

Kinesiology

Cyberspace

Keesler AFB, MS

“The American people rightly look to their military

leaders to be not only skilled in the technical aspects of

the profession of arms, but to be men of integrity.”

- General Joseph L. Collins