2nd Lt. Shawn Balinas was commissioned as an officer through the University of Guam’s
ROTC program during a private family ceremony on May 23.2nd Lt. Ryan Guzman was commissioned as an officer through the University of Guam’s
ROTC program during a private family ceremony on May 23.
The University of Guam’s Army ROTC program commissioned 11 cadets as second lieutenants
in the U.S. Army on Saturday in separate private ceremonies.
The commissioning ceremony is the culmination of the ROTC program that the cadets
undertook while studying at the University of Guam. The cadets developed their leadership
skills in the ROTC classroom and field training environments with the hall-mark of
the ROTC curriculum being the real-world application of the leadership instruction.
The cadets participated in numerous paid summer internships and military training
courses throughout the world as well as annual field training exercises and cultural
exchange events to hone their abilities to lead people in challenging environments.
This year’s commissioned cadets became second lieutenants serving on active duty in
the Army or as reservists in the Guam Army National Guard. As part of the ceremony,
the cadets also were assigned to their branches, or military specialties.
2nd Lt. Larry Legado was commissioned as an officer through the University of Guam’s
ROTC program during a private family ceremony on May 23.
“We are so proud of our new lieutenants and the hard work they put in to become the
best leaders they can be,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson, the professor of military
science at the University of Guam. “Wherever they go next, they go as leader-ambassadors
representing the island of Guam and our region, and they will carry with them the
Triton Warrior spirit of the University of Guam’s ROTC program. They have so much
to be proud of.”
The cadets who earned their commission as U.S. Army second lieutenants are:
Alex D. Aguero, Active Duty, Infantry Officer, graduated from Simon A. Sanchez High
School
Shawn Balinas, Active Duty, Medical Services Officer, graduated from Simon A. Sanchez
High School
Lucand G. Camacho, Active Duty, Cyber Officer, graduated from Simon A. Sanchez High
School
Ryan Guzman, Active Duty, Engineer Officer, graduated from Southern High School
2nd Lt. Alex Aguero was commissioned as an officer through the University of Guam’s
ROTC program during a private family ceremony on May 23.
Larry Fuentes Llegado, Active Duty, Air Defense Artillery Officer, graduated from
John F. Kennedy High School
Jerome Long, Guam Army National Guard, graduated from Flour Bluff High School (Texas)
Christelyn Joy O. Lopez, Active Duty, Adjutant General Officer, graduated from Simon
A. Sanchez High School
Brandon Pablo, Guam Army National Guard, graduated from Father Duenas Memorial School
Christopher J.M. San Miguel, Active Duty, Military Intelligence Officer, graduated
from Notre Dame High School
Erbert Camacho Santiago Jr., Guam Army National Guard, graduated from Kagman High
School (Saipan)
Brendan Santos, Active Duty, Engineer Officer, graduated from George Washington High
School
The UOG ROTC program was established in October 1979 and is celebrating 40 years of
producing dynamic leaders for Guam, the Pacific, and the United States of America.
