“On this day, the third day of March, in the year 2012 at 23:00 hours…”
Those are words that the class of 2015 will forever remember. It was that day when “Rookdom” ended and the rooks became full members of the Corps of Cadets, as 4th class cadets. Recognition, the formal process of inducting the Rooks into the Corps, is one of the few important events left in which the process is a closely guarded secret. All cadets have gone through it, but none talk about it except to those who have been through it.
With Rook Recognition having come and gone, there are few important milestones left in this academic year. Spring break is here. After the break, the seniors have less than two months until graduation and commissioning. Junior ring ceremony is just a short month away after spring break, and a few weeks after that, summer break will bring a much-needed rest from the rigors of academics.
As students, we mark the passage of time by events that have occurred, or that we await in the future. Things come and go and some milestones are more important than others. However, I am sure that the third day of March in the year 2012 will be forever remembered by the class of 2015. Congratulations and welcome to the Corps.