Published: May 04, 2008 09:38 pm            

ROTC membership = leadership skills

MORGANTOWN — When Steven Parrish returned from his deployment in Iraq, he faced a decision: To continue his enlistment in the U.S. Army or go back to college.

By contracting in West Virginia University’s Army ROTC, he was able to do both.

“I wanted to continue my military career because I feel that I could give something back,” Parrish said. “The military has made me who I am today, and without it I wouldn’t have the opportunities which I have now.”

Army ROTC leads students through college and upon graduation they commission as U.S. Army officers. ROTC often offers scholarships to contracted cadets, making it possible for veterans to afford school tuition.

Justin Cartmill, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, came to WVU on the Green to Gold program. This Army program provides scholarships to current enlisted soldiers, giving them the opportunity to become commissioned officers after graduating from the college of their choice.

Originally from Charleston, Cartmill chose to come to WVU.

“My motivation was to become an officer but at the same time be close to my family, have some fun, meet some people, and see some football games,” said Cartmill.

Sometimes the transition from the battlefield to the classroom can be stressful for returning veterans. John Robbins served in Iraq from September 2005 to November 2006 and joined ROTC after returning to West Virginia with his guard unit.

“Coming back to the world after being gone so long is hard,” Robbins said. “You are with the same people every day out there and everything is simple and routine. Coming back to America was stressful and intense, but returning to college was exciting.”

At first, being a part of ROTC made college difficult for Robbins.

“The cadets want you to talk about Iraq, which is hard at first, but after a while it doesn't matter and you like to talk about it,” said Robbins.

Despite the difficulties some veterans face, most think ROTC has been the best decision they have made in relation to their college careers.

“ROTC means opportunity; opportunity to look inside yourself and see what kind of a leader you can truly be,” said Parrish.

The program has weekly leadership labs where cadets assume leadership positions and work together as a team to accomplish assigned missions. They must also attend military science classes and participate in early morning physical training exercises. Every semester, a weekend-long field training exercise is held where cadets must test their knowledge by being graded as leaders of a squad.

According to Iraq War veteran Christopher Lowe, the knowledge he has gained from ROTC helps in both the civilian and military life.

“Not only do you have the confidence in yourself to be able to accomplish whatever life throws at you, but also the ability to step in and take charge of whatever changes in your surroundings,” Lowe said. “The ability to adapt and keep your cool under pressure is by far one of the most successful aspects of any leader, whether in the military or in the civilian world.”

According to Cartmill, ROTC gives the advantage that being a military officer gives to those who are later looking for jobs in the civilian world.

“ROTC builds the foundation for leadership characteristics that all companies are looking for,” said Cartmill.

Cadet Lowe will graduate from college in May and then will commission as a second lieutenant.

“The ROTC program fulfilled my desire to truly understand how to lead soldiers,” Lowe said. “It also implied in me the sense that the rank that I will achieve upon completion in May is not a right, but an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with the lives of America’s sons and daughters that are putting their lives on the line for this great nation.”

        

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