The United States Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment was given to a group of future Marines at the university during the Horned Frogs' last football game of the season.

This was the first time the oath was given to students trying to become Marine officers at the university.

Taking that oath on the field was a memorable experience for Nick Custis, a sophomore criminal justice major.

“It was nerve racking, lots of people, but it’s definitely something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Custis said.

Evan Folan, sophomore journalism major, took the oath for the first time on Saturday.

"Breathtaking. I got the chills, especially when everyone stood up and clapped for us,” Folan said. “I’m definitely going to work my butt off to make it through OCS and become a Marine officer.”

Each student had their own reason for wanting to join the Marines, for Custis it was a feeling of patriotism.

“I want to make a difference. I felt like everyone who has been given rights from this country should be able to give back to it,” Custis said.

The Oath of Enlistment is taken by everyone joining the military, whether as an officer or enlisted personnel Captain Isaac Middleton said.

Middleton is the officer selection officer who was in charge of administering the oath to the Platoon Leaders School students.

The PLC is the program the students are in as there is no Marine’s ROTC program at the university.

“I run the Platoon Leaders Course, which is what they’re in as an ROTC alternative,” Middleton said. “I’m trying to develop kind of an ROTC without an ROTC there.”

If you are interested in learning more about the program, you can go to the Platoon Leaders Class page on the Marines’ website.