Experiences prepared cadets to commission

Almost 40 members of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Corps of Cadets are set to commission as second lieutenants in the active-duty Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve in a 10 a.m. ceremony Dec. 9 in the Convocation Center at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Col. Greta Railsback '99, the first woman to commission from UNG and become a colonel, will serve as keynote speaker.

Jeremy Calhoun, a senior from Cumming, Georgia, earning a degree in cybersecurity, has appreciated the chance to learn from trial-and-error in his time as a cadet so he's better prepared when he commissions as an officer. Calhoun is a member of the Georgia Army National Guard and is on the Georgia Military Service Scholarship, which is worth about $85,000 over four years

Calhoun enlisted as a medic in the Georgia Army National Guard in 2020 before starting at UNG in 2022. His experience in helicopters was instrumental in his decision to pursue the Aviation Branch of the Georgia Army National Guard, for which he was selected in September. He is one of a UNG-record 37 Distinguished Military Graduates for 2025-26.

This semester, Calhoun serves as command sergeant major for UNG's Leadership Development Program, which prepares cadets for Advanced Camp — a major milestone on their way to commissioning. He is also the commanding officer for Scabbard & Blade, a military honor society.

"I'm thankful to be able to make an impact on younger cadets," Calhoun said.

He also appreciates the power of positive peer pressure.

"If you surround self with like-minded people, the only thing that's going to happen to you is you'll improve," Calhoun said.

Isaak Robley, a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, who is also earning a degree in cybersecurity, spent a semester during his sophomore year at Korea Military Academy through a cadet exchange program.

"I don't think I would have gotten that opportunity anywhere else," Robley said. "I really appreciated that about the Corps of Cadets."

He is a Distinguished Military Graduate and Distinguished Military Student.

Robley has a job lined up as a software engineer with Northrop Grumman, along with his upcoming commission as a second lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Branch of the Army National Guard. He has enjoyed learning about different leadership styles and seeing how to motivate others. For those coming behind him, his advice is simple.

"Don't stress yourself out too much," Robley said. "You'll do much better if you keep your cool."

Mia Libosada, a senior from Marietta, Georgia, earning a degree in international affairs with a concentration in Asia and a minor in Korean, has won the nationally competitive Boren and Critical Language scholarships. That funding allowed her to study abroad at Yonsei University and Pusan University in South Korea, and she also took part in a military exchange at Korea Military Academy. In total, she spent about two years studying in South Korea.

This fall in her final semester, Libosada completed an internship at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii.

She earned honors as a Distinguished Military Graduate and Distinguished Military Student.

Libosada, who is joining the Army's Military Intelligence Branch, credits a supportive community of fellow cadets, faculty and staff for setting her up for success. She encourages others to boldly embrace growth.

"As long as you do the hard work, opportunities are going to be put in front of you," Libosada said. "When you pursue them relentlessly, you're going to achieve your goals."

Tristan Rudisail, a senior from Loganville, Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, plans to commission in the competitive Army Nurse Corps. He said his time as a cadet has taught him patience, perspective and grit.

"I really had to push myself," Rudisail said. "I learned I could do a lot more things than I thought I could."

Rudisail is also a Distinguished Military Graduate. The combination of high challenge and constant support has paved the way for his success.

"It's how you respond to mistakes that defines your character," Rudisail said. "It makes all the difference to have people who have faith in you."