MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Six local high school students were sworn in to the Army, but it was no ordinary enlistment ceremony…
It was the first ever enlistment ceremony given from space.
Marinette High School was the site for one of 150 special ceremonies across the country on Wednesday.
From 250 miles above earth, U.S. Army Col. Andrew Morgan, a NASA astronaut, swore in the Army’s newest recruits..
“We make a trip around the earth every 90 minutes. I just checked we were out over the Pacific Ocean by the end of this conversation we’re having today I’ll be over the United States,” Morgan told recruits via satellite from the International Space Station.
Six of them repeated the oath of enlistment from Marinette High School.
“You’re laying down everything for your country and you’re just putting it all on the line,” said enlistee Gage Hartin of Marinette.
They’re not out of high school yet, but they know why they’re enlisting.
“Pure patriotism,” Hartin said.
“I’m proud to be an American,” said enlistee Cameron Farrar of Oconto.
It was a unique ceremony and a first for the Army.
“I swore in to the Army through the International Space Station,” Hartin said.
Staff Sgt Kenneth Kluge says it was done to show all of the different paths people can take in the Army.
“A lot of people associate the Army with infantry or tanks,” Kluge said. “This is just to show hey we do a lot more than boots on ground. We have more than 150 different opportunities.”
The Army says only 29% of young people meet the minimum qualifications to serve as soldiers.
“These guys are definitely top-tier material,” Kluge said. “I’m really proud and honored that I get to meet them.”
All of the students will do four years of college before they serve.
The six who participated in Wednesday’s ceremony at Marinette are Addison Fitzgerald, Konnor Bunting, Taden Stone and Gage Hartin of Marinette; and Caleb Farrar and Cameron Farrar of Oconto.
