Space station astronaut helps Central Florida students take Army oath of enlistment

Local students selected to ask Army astronaut questions during enlistment of 1,000 new recruits

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A handful of local students were selected to be part of a historic enlistment ceremony conducted by the U.S. Army from space.

The seven students we part of the first nationwide oath of enlistment from the International Space Station given by Army astronaut Col. Andrew Morgan. Morgan is a combat-veteran and was selected to be an astronaut in 2013.

The Army selected Lake Brantley High School’s TV production studio as one of the more than 100 locations where future soldiers pledged to protect the U.S. About 1,000 new recruits were sworn-in to the armed forces by Morgan via live video feed across the country.

“This is the first time they’re ever doing this,” Edgar Higareda, U.S. army recruiter said. “Before they even start their military career, they’re already doing a once in a lifetime experience.”

Dai Chin from Olympia High School, An Nguyen of Evan High School, Noah Belcher and Bryan Seely from Lyman High School, Ally Hawkins and Mariah Mendoza from Windermere High School and Linsey Alexander of Lake Brantley High School part of the ceremony.

The event, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, NASA and Space Center Houston, allowed for a questions-and-answers portion after the ceremony, allowing Alexander from LBHS to ask a question.

“You will at some time hear that voice saying maybe you should quit now and there are more comfortable ways to go about life," Morgan told her and the new recruits. “And that’s your signal that what you’re doing is worth doing.”

Recruits are set to ship out for basic training in June.


About the Authors:

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.

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