Graduating Fighting Saints Battalion cadets at a December 2019 banquet.
Six St. Cloud State graduating seniors were among 21 Fighting Saints Battalion cadets commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army May 9.
The new lieutenants have volunteered to serve in the Army – either in the National Guard, Army Reserves, or on active duty.
“I am extremely proud of these individuals who have decided to serve our nation during a time of crisis,” said Lt. Col. Steven Beard, Professor of Military Science.
Conducting the ceremony via Zoom, The Fighting Saints Battalion was honored to have Gen. Paul N. Nakasone as keynote speaker and to administer the Oath of Office.
Nakasone serves as Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency/Chief Central Security Service. He is a native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and a graduate of Saint John’s University.
The St. Cloud State students Commissioned were:
Kamal M. Atassi, Finance
Tyler J. Datzman, Criminal Justice
Adrian A. Johnson, Criminal Justice
Kelvin E. Johnson, Criminal Justice
Sara M. Magno, Biomedical Sciences
Jonah T. Warner, Mechanical Engineering
The Fighting Saints Battalion is comprised of students from Saint John’s University, The College of Saint Benedict, and St. Cloud State University. Students within the battalion are active in the universities and various ROTC events such as student leadership, athletics, Ranger Challenge, Northern Warfare Competition, and Bataan Death March.
