Cadets from the Highlander Battalion of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) usually spend their days in military fatigues or casual college attire.
However, for the recent Dining Out celebration, cadets from Lander University, Newberry College and Presbyterian College, which form the Highlander Battalion, put high fashion first. Hosted at Lander, Dining Out included an evening of toasts, award presentations, dining and dancing.
Maj. Adrian Chen, assistant professor of military science at Lander, said the Dining Out observance is part of military tradition and an opportunity for students from the three colleges to gather and celebrate their achievements.
“We spend quite a bit of time together in a field environment eating MREs and sleeping in the woods. Dining Out provides a formal event where we can invite people from outside the organization to celebrate with our cadets,” he said.
It’s also a time of transition. “For those cadets who are graduating and moving forward to military commissions shortly, this is the last time they can celebrate with their fellow cadets before they step up and become second lieutenants in the Army,” Chen said.
Guest speaker Lt. Col. Brian Pinson, of Greenwood, said he joined the U.S. Army “to do something fun, something extra … something bigger than myself.”
Pinson enlisted in the Army shortly after high school. He had five years of enlisted service before earning his commission through ROTC upon graduating from The Citadel in 2001. Since then, he has been deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Kuwait and was the Recruiting Operations Officer for the Highlander Battalion from 2008-2016.
Pinson, the inspector general for the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, encouraged the cadets to “prepare yourself for future assignments … start watching and learning from those around you.”
Through their training and fortitude, he said, “Regardless of the circumstances, you are going to get the job done.”
The awards program included:
Wysor Saber: Walker Mathews, Presbyterian College
Scottish Rite Medal: Ashley Flynn, Presbyterian College.
Military Order of World Wars Awards: Hope Green (Gold), Newberry College; Scott Chen (Silver), Lander University, and Tyler Hudson (Bronze), Lander University.
National Sojourners Medal: Andrew Hayes, Presbyerian College.
The Superior Cadet Decoration Award: MSIIII, Hannah Rikabi, Presbyterian College; MSIII, Rickey Moore, Lander University; MSII, Gus Darden, Lander University; and MSI, Kassey Daugherty, Presbyterian College.
Special Forces Association Award: Nizeyimana Aristide, Presbyterian College.
USAA Spirit Award: Kiara Williams, Lander University.
Top MSI Cadet: Jordan Hinnant, Newberry College.
Top MSII Cadet: Declan Dunn, Lander University.
Top MSIII Cadet: RJ Willard, Lander University.
Col. James A. Lander Award: Michael Hilley, Lander University.
Lt. Col. Walter Roark Award: Mykenzie Hart, Lander University.
Gold ROTC Medal, Daughters of the American Revolution: Juana Arce, Lander University.
Gen. George C. Marshall Award: Michael Hilley, Lander University.