All five of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ROTC senior cadets seeking active duty were among those chosen from a nationwide pool to serve as new active duty lieutenants.

 

Those selected were Isaac Bandfield, a psychology major from Stevens Point; Alec Foster, an international studies major from Madison; Nicholas Lemke, an athletic training major from Medford; Christopher Salm, a resource management major from Larsen; and Bryton Vanderloop, a business administration major from Kimberly. They were among 3,000 chosen by the U.S. Army Cadet Command from 5,500 cadets ranked nationwide. They will begin their service after their May 2016 graduation.

 

“The competition is always tough, but was especially so this year,“ said LTC Gary Thompson, a professor of military science at UW-Stevens Point. “Cadets have been on edge, waiting for the list’s release.”

 

Three UW-Stevens Point cadets were named Distinguished Military Graduates for being in the top 20 percent of cadets nationwide on the basis of high scholarship, evidence of high moral character, military aptitude and demonstrated leadership ability. These were Salm, Vanderloop and Mary Workman, who will enter the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

 

More than 500 cadets have received a commission through UW-Stevens Point’s ROTC program since its inception in 1968, Thompson said. Usually about half of these cadets seek active duty, but often not all are selected during this annual process.

 

“It’s a rare day in the Army when everyone gets what they want,” Thompson said. “Today is one of those days.”