Florida Tech ROTC Panther Battalion Commissions Army Second Lieutenant Alexia Pearah

By  //  September 16, 2019

guest speaker was former Florida tech Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel TJ O’Conner

LEFT TO RIGHT: Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Crook, Professor of Military Science at FIT; 2nd Lieutenant Alexia Pearah; and Colonel Steve Bond after the Commissioning Ceremony. (MOAACC image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Florida Institute of Technology ROTC Panther Battalion commissioned the newest Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in ceremonies at the Florida Tech All Faiths Center on September 7.

Alexia N. Pearah took the oath of office with Florida Tech Panther Battalion Cadets, cadre, family and friends in attendance. She was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps and will train to become a Medical Evacuation (MEDIVAC) pilot.

Second Lieutenant Pearah graduated from FIT with a degree in Biomedical Science and has applied to Medical School at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

Colonel Steve Bond, U.S. Army Retired and 2nd Vice President of the Military Officers Association of America’s Cape Canaveral Chapter, presented her with “Gold Bars,” the rank insignia of Second Lieutenants in the Army, and welcomed her to the Officers Corps on behalf of the Cape Canaveral Chapter and the 350,000 members of MOAA.

Colonel Steve Bond, U.S. Army Retired and MOAACC 2nd VP, presents Second Lieutenant Alexia Pearah with a Commissioning Set of “Gold Bars” and membership In the Military Officers Association of America’s Cape Canaveral Chapter. (MOAACC image)

The guest speaker at the ceremony was former FIT Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel TJ O’Conner, US Army Retired.

Second Lieutenant Pearah learned of the FIT ROTC program while attending FIT, and received a 3 ½ year ROTC scholarship. She is using that as an opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming a medical doctor and flight surgeon.

As part of her cadet training at FIT, she interned at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii and, this summer, she returned to Hawaii to fly with Army MEDIVAC pilots stationed there.

Military Officers Association of America’s Cape Canaveral Chapter Good Deeds Foundation Supports Space Coast Honor FlightRelated Story:
Military Officers Association of America’s Cape Canaveral Chapter Good Deeds Foundation Supports Space Coast Honor Flight

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS