Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, all graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army and are then required to serve five years of active duty. Students usually select an officer who helped them in their journey from “plebe” year to “firstie” to perform the ceremony. This event is a milestone in the graduating cadet’s life, as the officer and family members pin the bars of the second lieutenant on the cadet’s uniform, marking him or her as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.

The Superintendent of the Academy is a Lieutenant General and usually only performs the commissioning ceremony for the Cadet Commander—the First Captain. Emily was an exception. At her request, LTG Bill Lenox performed her commissioning ceremony.

At the ceremony, LTG Lenox dubbed Emily “The Full Package” for her achievements in academics, physical training, and military responsibilities.

Emily’s accomplishments at West Point not only included her being the first woman of color to be the Command Sergeant Major of the Corps of Cadets, but she was also the only one in the history of the academy to hold all Command Sergeant Major positions: first as Battalion Sergeant Major, then Regimental Sergeant Major, and finally Beast Sergeant Major. Her ascension culminated in her becoming Command Sergeant Major.

In his remarks before commissioning Emily, LTG Lennox said, ”Not many people realize this, but Emily ran the Corps of Cadets." He added that he expected Emily would make general if she chose the Army as a career.