LTC Joshua Drake administered the U.S. Army oath of office to graduating NSU ROTC cadets Christian Holmes, Ethan Jones, Lawson Turner and Layla Wood during a commissioning ceremony for family and friends.
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University ROTC Cadets Christian Holmes of Shreveport, Ethan Jones of Montgomery, Lawson Turner of Haughton and Layla Wood of Gheens commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during spring commencement May 13 with a separate commissioning ceremony hosted by NSU’s Department of Military Science for family and friends on May 14.
Holmes earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree with a minor in military leadership and was selected for active duty in the Chemical Corps where he will serve as a chemical officer. As a member of the Demon Battalion, Holmes earned several notable honors, including the Most Improved GPA Award and the prestigious Auburn Honor Medal. He actively participated in battalion intramural competitions and demonstrated leadership serving as First Sergeant, Assistant S4, S2 and Executive Officer. Holmes was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity serving as historian, chapter president, step master and membership chair.
Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and commissioned into the U.S. Army Chemical Corps to serve on active duty. He will attend the Chemical Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Leonard-Wood, Missouri. Jones joined the NSU Rowing Team as a freshman and simultaneously swore into the Louisiana National Guard. He was assigned to the C-Troop, 2-108th Cavalry in Coushatta as his National Guard unit. Jones joined ROTC in 2022 serving on the Color Guard and on the Ranger Challenge team and as the Demon Battalion’s Recruiting Officer, Supply Officer, Company Commander, Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer.
Lawson earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a concentration in sports media and a minor in military leadership. He will serve on active duty in the Armor Branch and will attend Armor Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, Georgia with hopes of attending Ranger School. During his time with ROTC, he served as the Battalion Intelligence Officer, Physical Training Officer and Company Commander. At NSU, was vice president and social media manager for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, served on the Student Activities Board and was a senator for the Student Government Association, a Demon VIP and part of the ESPN+ broadcasting crew.
Wood earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in management and a minor in military leadership. Wood completed the U.S. Army Cadet Command Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, last year and was selected to participate in Cadet Troop Leader Training in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion at Clay Kaserne. This fall she will attend the Logistics Basic Officer Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, before proceeding to her first duty station at Fort Benning. Georgia.
Wood served as this year’s ROTC Battalion Commander after serving as Squad Leader, Assistant Operations Officer, Company First Sergeant, Administrative Officer and Executive Officer. She was recognized as the top cadet in the program for all four years and was awarded the Military Science Department’s highest honor, the Touchstone Award. She also volunteered for many events and joined the Back Knights that supported the battalion through social events, fund raising and outreach and was on the Ranger Challenge team for two years.
Information on NSU’s Department of Military Science and Leadership is available at https://www.nsula.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/gallaspy-college-of-education-human-development/military-science-and-leadership/.