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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (7/20/2012) - “I, James Sturges,
having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States,
as indicated above in the grade of second lieutenant do solemnly
swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;” was a part of the
Oaths of Office as the newly minted officer made the transition from
civilian to military officer. His professor of military science
attached his shoulder boards as he donned his beret, with a gold bar
on it, for the first time.
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Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. James Sturges salutes Maj. Gen. Jefforey A. Smith, commanding general, U.S. Army Cadet Command, before receiving a plaque for earning honor graduate during his assessment course, Warrior Forge, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, July 17,
2012. Cadet Sturges
was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army during the
graduation ceremony. Photo by Army Sgt. Austan Owen
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The former Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet received his
commission as a second lieutenant in the Army at Watkins Field
during the Warrior Forge graduation ceremony on Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
July 17.
Sturges recently finished the Leader Development and
Assessment Course known as “Warrior Forge” ranking second in his
regiment of approximately 450 cadets. During the ceremony he was
recognized for his accomplishments as honor graduate and was
presented with a plaque by Maj. Gen. Jefforey A. Smith, commanding
general, U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Sturges, a Littleton,
Colo., native, joins the ranks of officers and military members like
generations in his Family before him. He said he has always thought
about serving in the military and now he is a leader in it.
“It's been a big family tradition, my great-grandfather was a
general, my grandpa was in World War II and my dad was in military
school when he was younger,” Sturges said. |
The newly commissioned officer said his Family, and
especially his grandfather, would be very proud of him as he
moves forward into a career in the military.
“My
grandpa passed away about three years ago and that's really
when I decided I wanted to join,” Sturges said. “When he
passed away I felt like I needed to, and every since then
it's been the greatest thing I have ever done.”
Sturges managed to overcome several struggles while pursuing
his goal of becoming an officer. Some of the determination
has come from his experience in organized sports.
“When I started out playing lacrosse in high school I was
pretty bad,” Sturges said. “My freshman year I picked up a
lacrosse stick for the first time and decided I wanted to
play, and I wasn't very good. I didn't play much. When I
didn't play those first couple of games, it just stuck to me
that it's all about hard work and determination. The next
year I started and I've started every game since then
through college. I was captain of my high school team and
went on to play for some national teams and Team Colorado. I
think it has really taught me a lot about team work. In that
everyone plays a specific part but if you want it you have
to go and get it.”
Being mentally and physically
tough plays a large role in accomplishing any task in the
Army and is a mantra that is heard repeatedly spoken from
leaders' mouths. Sturges has had some setbacks during his
pursuit of a commission and has been able to persevere. One
such incident occurred while playing lacrosse for the
University of Colorado.
“I had a pretty severe
shoulder injury; I ripped out all the tendons in my shoulder
right before I joined the ROTC,” Sturges said. “So that set
me back about a year, so I'm actually a fifth year senior
now. I ended up going to basic training a summer later than
I wanted to. I had a knee injury last year after I finished
air assault school. I arrived here and they instantly sent
me back because my body was messed up. So those have been a
little bit of a setback but last year I just trained up
again, came back this year, and it all went well.”
While one chapter ends another one begins, Sturges has
received his commission and will be headed to a National
Guard unit in Grand Prairie, Texas, where he will become an
infantry platoon leader.
His dedication to studies,
training and leadership skills have impressed both his peers
and superiors as he moves on from Warrior Forge to the next
step.
“He's going to do great things, hopefully go
out there and get a platoon and lead warriors in combat,”
said Capt. Emil Kesselring, assistant professor of military
science, University of Colorado, Boulder. “He's one of the
best and he'll be a hell of a leader.”
“He will
always lead from the front,” said Vincent Gonsior, ROTC
cadet. “Infantry is a perfect fit for him, he will go to
Ranger School and get tabbed, I have no doubt. He's going to
be an outstanding leader, he will be a poster child for Army
officers.”
In the near future he plans on attending
several more military schools.
“I look forward to
IBLOC [Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course]; I leave Dec.
2, for Fort Benning, Ga., and then Ranger School following
that,” Sturges said. “I've been looking forward to that for
a long time, so I'm ready to get it started.”
For the
future, Sturges plans on completing his commitment in the
National Guard while working a tactical job for the U.S.
Border Patrol in Texas. After his commitment is finished he
intends to go active duty Army and join the Special Forces.
“This commission means a lot as far as the honor behind
it, definitely the hard work, the blood sweat and tears that
have gone behind it, it means a lot,” Sturges said. “It has
been a long time coming; there have definitely been some
hiccups along the way. It means a lot to me because I know
that it would mean a lot to my grandfather as well,”
By Army Sgt. Austan Owen
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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