During campus ceremonies May 21-22, 23 graduating Cornell seniors took oaths of office and exchanged first salutes as newly commissioned second lieutenants or ensigns in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Space Force.
Two members of the ROTC Tri-Service Brigade – Sidney Anop ’26 and Juan Rodriguez ’26 – also became Cornell’s first to earn another informal title: mustang.
In the Navy and Marines, the term “mustang” refers to officers who started their military careers by enlisting, typically out of high school. Their less-conventional path into the commissioned ranks – including selection by highly competitive programs enabling them to attend college – commands respect from both enlisted service members who perceive them as more relatable, and senior officers who value their breadth of experience.
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