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Rolling Thunder Battalion Army ROTC
Commissioning Ceremony
Thaliya Rosa Martinez proudly marched her United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduating class onto the stage during their commissioning ceremony held at Centennial Chapel, as well as at the ROTC commissioning ceremony in Larsen on the Olivet Nazarene University campus on May 11, 2024. She was commissioned alongside her peers Nicholas Carrell, Chinguun Gankhuleg, Cassandra Pichardo, and Kiley Sowa.
As part of the ceremony, Thaliya rendered her first salute to Sergeant First Class Richard Badger, a retired military science instructor from the RTB. She took her oath of office from Lieutenant colonel Alex Moen, the Professor of Military Science. The pinning of her insignia was a special moment, with her mother and stepfather proudly performing the honor.
Following her commissioning, Second Lieutenant Thaliya Rosa Martinez will report to the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, before transitioning to her first assignment with the 224th Sustainment Brigade.
Mayor Paul Shore and Senator Michael Hastings
Commissioning Speech
During the first semester of my sophomore year, I became the Rolling Thunder Battalion civilian photographer. In the second semester, I was wearing the uniform.
Participating in this program, even without the support of a scholarship, completely transformed my college experience in a way that was unlike anything I had ever imagined. It presented me with numerous challenges, demanding three times the effort and dedication.
However, the journey was immensely rewarding because it allowed me to delve deep within myself and discover hidden capabilities that I was previously unaware of. Through this experience, I learned that pushing beyond one's perceived limits is not only possible but essential for personal growth. It taught me not to be afraid to be myself, understanding that I shouldn't change for others' perceptions of me, as that is not who I am, but rather to strive for the glory of God in all I do. Ultimately, it helped me evolve into the best version of myself.
I am grateful for my classmates and cadre for never giving up on me. And my family who continue to encourage me to pursue my dreams. Being a part of RTB has truly been a blessing in my life. To my classmates and cadre, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for an amazing and unforgettable journey.
“With God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26
Cadet Battalion CSM
Thaliya Rosa Martinez served as a Cadet Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the Rolling Thunder Battalion Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Ranger Challenge
Thaliya Rosa Martinez became a member of the Rolling Thunder Battalion Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 2021, where she promptly joined the Ranger Challenge team (RC). Ranger Challenge, recognized as the varsity sport of Army ROTC, is a rigorous competition designed to test cadets both physically and mentally while enhancing leadership development and fostering team cohesion. This competition is conducted annually by Army ROTC during the Fall Semester and includes a variety of events: the Army Combat Fitness Test, First Aid Lane (which involves casualty evaluation), 9-line MEDEVAC procedures, buddy carries, Land Navigation (scoring six points during the day), a timed 10-kilometer road march with a full combat load, assembly and disassembly of the M16A2 rifle and M9 pistol, the one-rope bridge, and a rifle competition.
Despite being new to the competition, Martinez secured a spot on the five-man team, which placed second at the conference competition. In the subsequent year (2023), she advanced to the nine-man team, where they competed against esteemed universities such as Northwestern and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), ultimately achieving first place and winning the trophy, bringing it home to Wheaton College. Notably, Martinez was the sole female representative from Olivet Nazarene University. Records at her school reflected her performance, demonstrating that she achieved one of the fastest two-mile run times and ruck times in the program, as well as the highest Army Combat Fitness Test score among female cadets.
She accomplished all of this while also competing on the Olivet Nazarene University Women’s Cross Country team, where she made it to cross country nationals in 2023. Her strength for the nine-man team stems from her cross country training, while her physical strength for cross country stems from her Ranger Challenge training, and she would not have been able to do it without God giving her strength every step of the way.
Top ACFT Female Award
Thaliya Rosa Martinez has received the Top Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) Female Award for three consecutive years since joining the Rolling Thunder Battalion Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 2021. This consistent recognition demonstrates her exceptional athleticism as a multi-sport athlete and serves as a powerful testament that she can achieve anything she puts her mind to with the strength from God. The award recognizes her outstanding performance across demanding events including the Three Repetition Maximum Deadlift, Standing Power Throw, Hand-Release Push-up, Sprint-Drag-Carry, Plank, and Two-Mile Run.
*This only consist of some of her awards*
CTLT
Thaliya Rosa Martinez was selected for her top choice, Aviation, to train over the summer after completing the 30-day Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT) program provides cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units over a three to four-week period. She trained with the 12th Aviation Battalion in Virginia and Washington, D.C., where she shadowed a First Lieutenant named First Lieutenant Fox and learned a great deal about the role of an officer in aviation. She participated in training on a UH-60 Black Hawk and traveled throughout Virginia, Baltimore, D.C., and Maryland aboard the aircraft. She also completed four-aircraft training, including air assault operations and night dust landings. At the end of the four-aircraft training, they bumped into the Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia and Suzanne Youngkin, the First Lady of Virginia.
This immersive experience deeply inspired Martinez to pursue a career as a pilot, especially as she realized there were less than 1% of Black/African American female pilots and the absence of statistics on female pilots sharing her particular diverse roots being African American, Latina/Indigenous, Hispanic, and Caribbean, fueling her desire to break barriers in the field.
Governor and First Lady of Virginia
Charlie Company 12th Aviation Battalion bumps into Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia and Suzanne Youngkin, the First Lady of Virginia while conducting a 4-aircraft training air assault training.
Contracted
Thaliya Rosa Martinez contracted with the United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in 2022 alongside her classmates, without being on an ROTC scholarship.
Where It All Started: PAO
Thaliya Rosa Martinez volunteered as the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) even before officially joining the Rolling Thunder Battalion Army Officers' Reserve Training Corps (ROTC). It was in this role, capturing an image during the Ranger Challenge Competition (RC), that she realized her life would be changed forever.
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