Hood Today

Many students around the Hood College campus have heard of ROTC, but do they know exactly what it is? Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is a college training program designed to help prepare students become officers for the Army.

This year, a group of 20 students have participated in physical training to help prepare for life after college. When the students join, they receive the rank as cadet. Within the company, each member has an individual duty to help make the company run as smoothly and as effectively as possible. An example is Ian Sparks, who is a junior here at Hood. Sparks is the First Sergeant (1SG), and it is his job to coordinate with the squad leaders, cadets, and commander.

Once graduated from the Army ROTC, cadets will earn the bar of a Second Lieutenant. After that, they will be commissioned into the Active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

Cadets go through many different physical training and activities that give them firsthand experience.

One type is called PT (physical training). These workouts allow the students to stay in great physical shape as well as maintain the Army standard for physical fitness and endurance. "I came into the program as the shy, quiet kid who was not physically capable of much. My first PT test was negligible at best. Overcoming my nervousness, as well as the physical hardships, was the most difficult part for me. Overall, it has made me a stronger individual," said Sparks.
Workouts consist of upper and lower body and cardio, such as weightlifting, pushups, sit ups, and pull ups. Cadets are required to participate in PT three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and have the option of participating in extra workouts two days a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, with each workout lasting approximately an hour long.

Another type is called FTX (field training exercises). These consist of land navigation, obstacle courses and weapon familiarization in order to prepare cadets for a military career. Cadets participate in these once or twice a month usually at Gunpowder training camp.

Outside of the daily training, some cadets are able to attend airborne school or Air Assault School if they are selected due to good grades and physical fitness.

Juniors in ROTC are sent to Fort Lewis, Washington state, in the summer before their junior year, to participate in LDAC (Leadership Development and Assessment Course).

However, physical activity is not the only part that is required to be a cadet. ROTC students are required to take a class called military science. Also, as a contracted cadet, one is required to maintain a 2.0 GPA and a 2.5 if one wishes to compete for a scholarship.

Members of the ROTC also have special events that they participate in. For instance, they have the opportunity to participate in the color guard. The color guard can be seen carrying the nation's flag at sporting events such as basketball games and ceremonies. Also, they have an annual military ball hosted by a college in the area which allows certain members and their dates to attend. At the ball, toasts are offered to the services and veteran.

Through all the training and experience, cadets are able to overcome hardships and grow as people as well. This is a family, who work hard together, to achieve a goal they all want to reach.

Article Tools