2008 Woodie Awards
Military Influences at UCM
Jeanette Bowen/for the Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Homecoming 2006
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Before the sun rises in the morning, an ROTC cadet will already be awake. This cadet will be dressed and ready for a strenuous full-body workout by 6:30 a.m. As the group of cadets come together for early morning PT, or physical training, they run at least a couple of miles, do push-ups and several other exercises to keep in shape.
"It's a good workout," said Asa Wheeler, ROTC cadet. "It's a good experience and helps us to form good comradeship."
Wheeler said it isn't just a workout, but gives the cadets a chance to hang out, too. These early morning sessions together give them the opportunity to be very close and get to know everything about each other.
On the days they have their military sciences classes, cadets dress in their battle dress uniform. This is a fully camouflaged uniform with shiny black boots and a brown T-shirt worn underneath. The dots on their hats or chest signify their rank.
Wheeler said ROTC isn't just on campus for their training and classes, but the organization is also very active in the community. He explained the group is community service-based and enjoys volunteering on campus.
The ROTC cadets also focus on supporting each other in everything they do. A lot of the cadets are involved in organizations such as track, cross country, baseball, fraternities and sororities.
ROTC is one of the most-recognized military influences on campus, but the cadets aren't the only military students around. Right now, there are 58 ROTC cadets, but there are between 400 and 450 students attending school using the GI Bill. Lisa Morse, the Veteran's Affairs (VA) certifying official in the financial aid office, said the GI Bill is a program military personnel buy into for 36 months to pay for their school.
Morse said the number of students using the GI Bill has gone up recently because of the guardsmen coming back from war. She has been working in financial aid with the VA since 1997 and has noticed some changes, including the number of people who have been on active duty coming back to attend school. Now, she said, a lot of the students she works with are in the National Guard or the Reserves.
"It's a good workout," said Asa Wheeler, ROTC cadet. "It's a good experience and helps us to form good comradeship."
Wheeler said it isn't just a workout, but gives the cadets a chance to hang out, too. These early morning sessions together give them the opportunity to be very close and get to know everything about each other.
On the days they have their military sciences classes, cadets dress in their battle dress uniform. This is a fully camouflaged uniform with shiny black boots and a brown T-shirt worn underneath. The dots on their hats or chest signify their rank.
Wheeler said ROTC isn't just on campus for their training and classes, but the organization is also very active in the community. He explained the group is community service-based and enjoys volunteering on campus.
The ROTC cadets also focus on supporting each other in everything they do. A lot of the cadets are involved in organizations such as track, cross country, baseball, fraternities and sororities.
ROTC is one of the most-recognized military influences on campus, but the cadets aren't the only military students around. Right now, there are 58 ROTC cadets, but there are between 400 and 450 students attending school using the GI Bill. Lisa Morse, the Veteran's Affairs (VA) certifying official in the financial aid office, said the GI Bill is a program military personnel buy into for 36 months to pay for their school.
Morse said the number of students using the GI Bill has gone up recently because of the guardsmen coming back from war. She has been working in financial aid with the VA since 1997 and has noticed some changes, including the number of people who have been on active duty coming back to attend school. Now, she said, a lot of the students she works with are in the National Guard or the Reserves.
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