June 18, 2012
By Deborah Marie Smith, Phoenix Army Recruiting Battalion
PHOENIX — The Army Strong Milsap Family heritage marked history when 2nd Lt. Corey Milsap became one of the first African-Americans to receive an officer commission from the University of North Texas May 11.
“Words cannot describe the pride I felt when I gave my son his first salute,” said Command Sgt. Maj. John Milsap, Phoenix Recruiting Battalion. “I grew up in the deep South which was filled with segregation and little promise for African-Americans. Being the first Milsap to serve in the military, I am proud my son decided to continue the tradition of serving our nation as an officer in the Army.”
Corey, described by his father as one who beats the odds, was born a preemie and not expected to live longer than two months. He weighed only one pound and was no bigger than his father’s hand. After two months Corey’s parents were able to take him home from the hospital and his father knew because his son had survived, there was “something extraordinarily special” about him. Corey matured into an above average child (both academically and physically) who possessed a love for learning, playing musical instruments and running track. Yet Corey was not considered likely to follow the footsteps of his father and become a leader in the Army ranks.
Even though Corey was born an “Army brat” he never expressed interest in learning about the Army or his father’s occupation and states his father did a great job in separating and balancing work and Family life.
“He is like his mother, into math and science, very book smart — but did not know what my rank was until after he entered the ROTC program at UNT,” Milsap said. “I did not want to push the Army on him. I wanted him to make his own decisions about whether or not he would pursue an Army career.”
During his senior year of high school, Corey received a four-year ROTC scholarship to UNT but was hesitant to accept it. He agreed with his father that if he did not feel the Army was for him, he could leave the program after two years. However, Corey quickly became motivated by the incentive he could be one of the first African-Americans to receive an officer commission from UNT and the first commissioned officer in the Milsap Family.
“I worked extremely hard, academically and physically to earn every stitch on my gold bars,” he said.
During his sophomore year, Corey was selected for the Ranger Challenge — the varsity sport of Army ROTC in which universities annually compete to perform military tasks. The challenge includes a written examination that test cadets’ Army knowledge, physical fitness drills and field exercises.
Corey graduates from UNT with a bachelors degree in hospitality management in August. He will become an Army quartermaster officer who wants to positively influence as many Soldiers as possible to become the best they can be for themselves and for the Army.
“The Army has already benefitted my life tremendously and molded me from a 17-year-old teenager into a 21-year-old man,” he said. “Additionally, I had the opportunity to make history at the University of North Texas by becoming the first minority class of Army officers. I am extremely anxious to see the greater challenges and experiences the Army has in store for me.”