NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University observed Military Appreciation Day during the Nov. 4 home football game and continued the tradition of honoring members of the military. This week’s honorary captains who performed the coin toss were NSU alumni Master Sergeant Todd Derrick of Shreveport and Captain Jimmie Watson of Fort Polk.
Derrick is a native of Many and graduated from NSU in 2000. He has served over 27 years in the military, including combat service in Iraq and Kuwait. Derrick is assigned to the Army National Guard Joint-Force Headquarters and currently serves as NSU’s ROTC instructor at LSU-Shreveport. He has been instrumental in building Northwestern State’s ROTC program with partnership schools.
A native of Brookhaven, Mississippi, Watson was commissioned as an officer through NSU’s ROTC program in 2012 and Watson commands Charlie Company, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Division, 10th Mountain at Fort Polk. He has over 19 years of military service with combat service in Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. His wife Shauntay joined him to cheer on the Demons.
