Commanding General of U.S. Army Cadet Command honored during Illini Game

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — Saturday was Military Appreciation Day during the Illinois Football game.

Dozens of members of the University's ROTC program were there on the field during the game against Minnesota.

That included Commanding General of the U.S. Army Cadet Command, Maurice Barnett. He has been part of the U.S. Army for close to 30 years.

Bennett said, he was in town to meet with the ROTC program at the university. And the honor was a great surprise.

"It's a tremendous honor to be a part of it. I think that the history here at the university of Illinois and the military particularly with what ROTC means here at the U of I is a tremendous opportunity to be part of that." said Barnett.

During the game, Commanding General Barnett led the oath for the new cadets joining the ROTC.