On 16 December 2023, Second Lieutenant Hunter Bode and Second Lieutenant Kale Ensser commissioned into the United States Air Force. The ceremony took place in the Nebraska Capitol Rotunda. The highlight of the ceremony was when the commissionees took the oath of office. Both commissionees’ fathers administered the oath and
afterward their families came up and pinned on the gold bars. After this, both shared a Silver Dollar Salute with an enlisted member of the military. The Silver Dollar Salute is a military tradition where the new officer offers a silver
dollar in exchange for their first salute. Following this, both Lieutenants received the ROTC Alumni
and Military Affiliate Coin and the Airman's Coin and the Air and Space Training Ribbon.
Some of the people who helped make the ceremony possible were Second Lieutenant Bode and Second Lieutenant Ensser, who decided many of the details of the ceremony; the Protocol Officer Team, including Cadet Major Forcade, Cadet Hartley, Cadet Kurinec, and Cadet Rowe, who helped plan the event; Cadet Major Landkamer, the Master of Ceremonies; Cadet Leslie, the proffer; Cadet Captain Bowden and the Honor Guard, who presented the colors; as well as members of the cadre including Lieutenant Colonel Garito, who was the guest speaker; Major Mattheis, who helped with the planning; and Technical Sergeant Miller, who helped with the certification process and helped design the invitations.
