GoArmy.com > For Parents > 2LT Travis Street: A Leader For Life

A LEADER FOR LIFE: Travis is commissioned as an Army Officer and becomes a stronger person in the process.

Photo of MSG Celestine walking with 2LT Street on campus

Flash Version

When Army ROTC Cadets are commissioned, they become Officers in the U.S. Army. Being an Officer means you're the ultimate leader, motivator and counselor. Officers lead groups of Soldiers in all situations with confidence, and earn respect in and out of the Army.

When Travis was commissioned, it was not just an accomplishment for him but also for MSG Celestine and his mother. To honor them both, Travis had his mother pin one of his Lieutenant bars and MSG Celestine pin the other during his graduation ceremony.

The road to becoming an Officer was tough, but Travis persevered. The confidence and leadership skills he gained will last a lifetime and help him succeed in any competitive, professional environment. And in the end, all the hard work and dedication paid off. Travis is now working his dream job — an Army Officer.

adets gain experience and camaraderie that can't be found anywhere else. MSG Celestine was instrumental not only in Travis' leadership development but also in Travis becoming a well-rounded individual. Seeing the impact MSG Celestine had on her son meant the world to Kay. "Sergeant C brought out the best in Travis. He brought out the physical abilities of Travis. He brought out the strength of his personality. He brought out so much of the confidence of Travis. He has been huge in Travis' life."

Photo of MSG Celestine, 2LT Street and his mother

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Photo of MSG Celestine, 2LT Street and his mother

Kay: I heard about Sergeant C two and three times a week, Sergeant C pushed me to do that, and he pushed me to do that and I would hang up the phone and go yes, 'cause, you know, Sergeant C brought out the best in Travis, he brought out the physical abilities of Travis, he brought out the strength of his personality, he brought out so much of the confidence of Travis. He has been huge in Travis' life.

MSG Celestine: It got personal because I knew I actually took a lot of my time and effort to actually try to make a difference in his life.

Kay: Travis respected him so much and he trusted him and that made my job as a parent so much easier because I could trust what was going on over there.

MSG Celestine: When Travis Street commissioned, it was a feeling of accomplishment. I felt like wow, because there were some rough days when I thought can I actually do this, 'cause it was a challenge. This is the best feeling you can have. It's like watching your own kid grow up and leave.

Travis: Most people ask Sergeant C to give them a first salute, but I wanted to be unique, I wanted to be different, so my mom pinned one bar on and he pinned the other bar on, because those are two people that got me to the finish line.

Kay: That was an honor to pin the bars on for Travis, and he had to scoot down for me to be able to do it, because he's taller than I am. It was awesome. It was so much work to get to that point on his part and my part and Sergeant C's part, and it was just an awesome evening.

MSG Celestine: I think he's going to be a good leader. Opinionated but still reserved, and he's going to turn out to be a one of a kind.

Travis: The most rewarding part of Army ROTC is coming across that stage, taking that oath, getting my Lieutenant bars pinned on me, that's 22 years of hard work and a lifelong goal coming into fruition in a matter of five minutes.

Kay: He has developed into a stronger, better person.

Travis: My dream job is what I'm doing, is being an Army Officer.

Celestine: He did everything that he needed to do, determined that he was going to fulfill what he set out to do and he did it, you know, he did it.