Future soldiers sworn-in from space at WSSU

Twelve future soldiers took the oath of enlistment on Winston-Salem State University’s campus during a mass Future Soldier Swearing-in Ceremony administered from space by Army astronaut Col. Andrew Morgan on Feb. 26.

The ceremony was originally set-up for the Houston Recruiting Battalion; however, the Army decided to make it a national swearing-in. Recruiting battalions around the country assembled future soldiers to be sworn in via Livestream, including the Winston-Salem Recruiting Station.

SFC. Michael Lewis, U.S. Army and Army Reserve recruiter for the Winston-Salem area, said that WSSU was chosen as a hosting site because of their partnership with the university.

WSSU student Kolbi Nathaniel Shaw, a sophomore, business administration major from Wilmington was among the newly recruited soldiers.

“We are doing this through Livestream to recognize that the army is diverse,” said Lewis. “We have astronauts in the army. It’s more than just kicking in doors and shooting.”