New Cadets Contract into USC Aiken Army ROTC

Aiken, SC (04/29/2022) — Cadets Kayliah Kennedy and Courtney Owens are the second and third cadets to contract as part of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Pacer Detachment at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken).

Cadet Owens of Allendale, SC, signed his contract on Tuesday, April 26 at a ceremony held on the university's campus. Cadet Kennedy of Hopkins, SC, contracted on April 1 during the Basic Rifle Marksmanship Range.

Kennedy is an exercise and sports science major in her junior year.

Owens is an applied computer science major in his sophomore year and decided to contract based on a desire to serve and defend his country. "I'm determined to better myself as a person, and this is one step closer to doing that. I want to be a leader and stand out in my community and my family," he said.

Robert Murphy, director of the Office of Veteran and Military Student Success (VMSS) at USC Aiken, explained that these ceremonies are a significant step for the cadets toward becoming commissioned officers in the United States Army. He spoke of the success the ROTC Pacer Detachment has had since being reinstated in 2021.

"Our year and a half plan was to have three cadets commission into the Pacer Detachment. Owens is number three, so we are six months ahead of schedule, and we have three or four more in the pipeline who are getting ready to commission as well," Murphy said.

Cadet Kennedy is scheduled to commission in May 2023, Cadet Fallaw in August 2023, and Cadet Owens in December 2024

For more information about the USCA Pacer Detachment, please contact Mr. Ryan Dimm, Recruiting Operations Officer, at Ryan.Dimm@usca.edu

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