Banner Graduation Day for USNA’s Newest Jewish Navy and Marine Corps Officers

Banner Graduation Day for former Jewish Midshipmen … now Ensigns and a Second Lieutenant, USMC.

– Mazel Tov to:

– ENS Benjamin Usadi, future Submariner

— For the first time in over 100 years, the United States Naval Academy Band dedicated a march to a graduating class (“Aspera Est Libertas – Adversity is Freedom”).  Composed by ENS Ben Ngo Usadi, the march is inspired by their class motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera (To The Stars Through Adversity), and honors the “Teamwork, Tone, Tenacity”, and Transformation of Midshipmen as they become Navy and Marine Corps Officers.

— That’s Ben in the lower left getting his new shoulder boards pinned on by his significant other, Kelly.  Watching are sister LT Lillian Ngo Usadi, USNA ’21, and now a Fleet Submariner, and Mom!   Adam Usadi

— Ben and Lillian are the second brother-sister Jewish combo to graduate from USNA, along with USNA ’16 LCDR David Silver and Lillian’s ’21 classmate, LT Michelle Silver, now a Fleet P-8 pilot.

– Graduating with Distinction:  Mori Sokoloff (Mechanical Engineering) , and ENS Ryan Binder (Computer Engineering) Information Warfare

– Also noteworthy, the First Salute!  For Ensign David Rothenberg  (on the right), future Submariner, given by Jewish Midshipmen Club member and now “Plebe no more,” MIDN 3/C Evan Wassser.