ROTC cadet recognized as one of the top cadets in the nation as a Distinguished Military Graduate

12/02/2024

By Brett Buckner  

Jax State ROTC cadet Wesley Lacy has been named a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG), ranking 97th out of 5,200 students. Such recognition means that in the National Order of Merit List, Lacy earned more points for things related to ROTC, life, and college in general. Members of the ROTC are ranked among their peers according to GPA, extracurriculars, teams in college, work, service hours and leadership.   

The determining factor is how well cadets perform at Advanced Camp, a 35-day training event in Fort Knox, Ky., designed to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Advanced Camp is the capstone leader development opportunity for all Cadets between their Military Science (MS) III and MS IV years of ROTC. At Advanced Camp, Lacy earned the Recondo Badge, which was given to the top cadets at Advanced Camp.  

"(It) validated the efforts that I have put in behind the scenes to help project my military career and future civilian job opportunities," said Lacy, a senior nursing major. "Being a Distinguished Military Graduate will enhance my military career by helping me get the branch of officer I want when I graduate, as well as helping me on the civilian side by building my resume." Lacy is a fifth-generation soldier. His great-great-grandfather served in WWI. His great-grandfather served in WW2 and Korea. His grandfather served in Vietnam and Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. His father served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Kuwait, and his oldest brother served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.   

Lacy enlisted in August 2020 as a Combat Medic to get a background in Medicine and contracted with ROTC at Jax State in 2022. Being from a military family contributed to his enlisting and contracting with ROTC. "But it went deeper than that," Lacy said. "I wanted to and still want to serve my country and let that lineage live on." After graduation, Lacy will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Alabama National Guard and plans to work in the Emergency Department of a hospital in either Alabama or Georgia.   

Being in the ROTC has provided more opportunities to further his military career by allowing him to enroll in specialty schools like Airborne School. It's also taught him that resiliency and hard work pay off. "I had many setbacks along the way after starting Jax State and ROTC, but in the end, it has all been worth it," he said. "Upon graduation, I will get to have the civilian career I have dreamed of, have set my military career up for success, have met many great people along the way and built lifelong relationships."