In keeping with more than two centuries of tradition, three graduating seniors marched onto the stage of Spaulding Auditorium on Saturday in a joint U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps ceremony, receiving their commissions as second lieutenants while friends and family members watched via streaming video.

The officers:

• 2nd Lt. Robert Hobart III ’21, U.S. Marine Corps, will report to The Basic School in Quantico, Va., for additional training in the fall.

• 2nd Lt. Jaeyoung Oh ’21, U.S. Army, will take an education delay and attend the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas before serving as a physician in the Army.

• 2nd Lt. Jacob Rozak ’21, U.S. Army, will report to the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, Ga., and will serve as an active duty Infantry officer.

From his home office in Maine, Dartmouth Trustee Emeritus Nate Fick ’99 opened the ceremony with a video welcome to the cadets and to those watching the livestream. Fick, who served as a Marine Corps infantry officer in Afghanistan and Iraq and later founded the cyber security company Endgame, thanked the cadets for their commitment to service and excellence.

“As a citizen, as a Marine, as a Dartmouth graduate and former trustee, I thank you for your willingness to serve, I wish you well as you embark on a great adventure, and I salute you,” Fick said.

U.S. Army Capt. Susan Redwine read the commission warrants and conducted the oath for the Army ROTC cadets and, on behalf of U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Erik Lindskog who was not able to attend, for the Marine cadet.

Redwine said of the new Army officers, “It has been such a privilege watching Cadets Oh and Rozak mature as leaders over the past several years. The Dartmouth ROTC program continues to produce top-quality officers with a well-rounded background who will contribute immensely to the intellectual diversity of the officer corps.”

Though Lindskog was not at the ceremony, he sent a few words about the new Marine officer. “It is always an incredible honor working with the high-caliber men and women found at Dartmouth College. Robert exemplifies the intellectual, athletic, and charismatic leader traits we look for in our future Marine officers; we know he will lead his Marines well.”

President Emeritus James Wright, a Marine Corps veteran, delivered the ceremony’s closing remarks. A longtime advocate for veterans at Dartmouth and beyond, Wright has attended every Dartmouth officer oath ceremony since he became president in 1998, including the commissioning of Fick as a Marine second lieutenant on graduation day 1999.

“If this huge space seems empty, remember this: it is not. That both here to join you, and watching this moment, are those who support and love you,” Wright said.

“We have endured a different world for the last 15 months. It’s been too often virtual and isolated. You three young men have signed on to serve in that world. You will at times in the next few years find yourself posted at places where you may feel alone. And on those occasions, just remember today. You have many people, family and friends and colleagues who care deeply about you,” Wright said. “You are not alone.”

“Today I simply want to express to you a tremendous sense of gratitude and respect, from your College, from me. This old Dartmouth man is very proud of you, and this old Marine salutes you.”

The Dartmouth Class of 2021 Commissioned Officers

Robert L. Hobart III ’21—Marines

Hobart was raised in Marin County, Calif., by Rob and Lesli Hobart. At Dartmouth, he majored in history and minored in Middle Eastern studies. He was a member of a fraternity, the Dartmouth Brovertones a cappella group, club lacrosse, the Counterinsurgency Learning Project, and the Rockefeller Leadership Fellows. Hobart studied abroad in London with the Department of History, held internships in the U.S. House of Representatives and at the U.S. Department of State, and graduated from the Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders Course in his junior summer. In the fall, he will report to The Basic School in Quantico, Va., for additional training. “I am immensely grateful for the family, friends, professors, and mentors who enabled me to claim the title of United States Marine,” he said.

Jaeyoung Oh ’21—Army

Oh was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, and moved to the United States with his family when he was 6-years-old. He grew up in Chicago. Oh majored in neuroscience, and participated in Dartmouth Emergency Services, attended a medical internship in Malawi and was a brother in the Phi Delta Alpha fraternity. After graduation, Jae will take an education delay and attend the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas before serving as a physician in the Army. Oh said, “I am grateful for my friends, my sister Yuri, and my parents Hannah and James, as I would not be where I am today without them.”

Jacob R. Rozak ’21–Army

Rozak grew up in Medway, Mass., with his two younger brothers Ben and Andrew. He received a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship. At Dartmouth, Rozak majored in biomedical engineering and is graduating with both a bachelor’s degree and a bachelor of engineering degree. He was a captain of the Club Alpine Ski Team, president of Bait and Bullet, served on the Dartmouth Outing Club directorate, and was a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team. Rozak conducted biotechnology research on campus, worked in the Thayer Machine Shop, and interned at a Harvard-based biotech startup. He was an active brother of Zeta Psi fraternity. In addition to his required ROTC training, Rozak graduated from the Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he qualified in skills including sling load operations and helicopter rappelling. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate and ranked in the top 10% of Army ROTC cadets nationally. He received his top choice Army branch of infantry. After graduating, he will report to the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning, Ga., and will serve as an active duty Infantry officer.

William Platt can be reached at william.c.platt@dartmouth.edu.