Army

Second Lieutenant Lance Clark, an Army ROTC recruiter and graduate of State, said Army ROTC is a commission program designed to take students and make them effective combat leaders.

“A majority of people graduate between four and four and a half years. They have to maintain a full-time status, get no lower than a 2.0 GPA, pass the Army physical test, make the height/weight standard, take one military science class a semester and go to PT [physical training] three days a week,” Clark said.

For some students, financial aid through scholarships helps pay for most of the fees attending the University incurs.

“Freshmen coming in can apply for the National Scholarship. They can start the application in February of their junior year,” Clark said. Other scholarships help cover tuition and room and board fees, as well as offer a book allowance and a monthly stipend.

Time management and discipline are key lessons Army ROTC students learn through the program, according to Clark.

“Not only do you have to take regular classes but you have to go to PT and lab,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. I never pictured myself in a nine-to-five job. This helps me get outside. I like the atmosphere a lot.”

As part of their training, students go to places such as Camp Butner and Fort Bragg to learn basic skills.

“We do land navigation courses, situational training. You have a mission and you have to execute it,” Clark said.

After graduation, which includes a joint commission ceremony and a branch commission ceremony, students have many options.

“They have a choice to go to active duty, National Guard or Army Reserve. They can go a lot of places,” Clark said.

Navy/Marine Corps

Lieutenant Matthew Burich, a naval science instructor, said that although the program is open to all University students, some general requirements must be met.

“You must be a U.S. citizen, they must be at least 18 and they have to be less than 27 years old the year they graduate with their bachelor’s degree,” Burich said. “There are also certain medical and physical requirements students have to meet in order to participate. Being in good physical shape is a prerequisite. Running is a big part of the program.”

As far as physical readiness is concerned, Burich said there are a couple of differences between the Navy and the Marine Corps requirements.

“[For Navy,] they have to be able to run a mile and a half in less than 11 minutes — that’s part of their PT test every semester — and they do two minutes of timed push-ups and sit-ups. Of course the standards are different for men and women,” he said. “The Marine Corps has a three mile run and instead of push-ups and situps it’s pull-ups and sit-ups.”

As with the Army ROTC, the Navy and Marine Corps program offers scholarship students full tuition and board with monthly stipends and textbook allowances. Burich said the main focus of the program is academics and leadership.

“Our battalion is completely student run. Our students will immediately be going into leadership positions in the military. We expect leadership by example, in the way they conduct themselves,” he said. “We expect them to uphold the high standards that we require of them in order for them to lead by example when they graduate from here. The structure and discipline they take on as part of the program is designed to prepare them for their careers.”

During physical training, Burich said the students are trying to incorporate new things like polymetrics, which are body-weight exercises, and CrossFit applications, which focuses on strength and conditioning. After graduation, Navy students receive their commission and can do anything from serving aboard a ship to training to become a SEAL.

“The Navy students generally can become either an officer that serves aboard ship, which we call surface warfare. They can also become navy nuclear power trained officers. They go to Navy nuclear power school after graduation. Men ultimately wind up serving on a submarine,” Burich said. “Another option is to go into naval aviation, in which case they either serve as a navy pilot or they can serve as a naval flight officer (NFOs — they do everything but fly the plane). For a very small number of students, they have the opportunity to go to Navy dive school or to Navy SEAL training.”

For Marine Corps students, graduation does not the end the schooling experience.

“After graduation they all go to the Basic School which is where they are taught how to be Marine officers over the course of about six months,” Burich said. “They serve in all kinds of ground positions, artillery, infantry and aviation, to name a few.”

Burich said the University is a prime location for students who wish to pursue a Navy career because there is a big focus on technical majors such as engineering, math or science-related majors.

Air Force

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Froeschner, professor of aerospace studies and commander of Air Force ROTC, said the four-year program is designed for a person to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

“I try to relate the whole ROTC experience to a test drive of a car. They join ROTC to check if it’s a good fit for them,” Froeschner said. “We’re looking for solid character, leadership, solid academics as well as solid athletics.”

Cadets must pass a physical test, attend physical training, take an ROTC class, go to a leadership laboratory and wear their uniforms on uniform days.

“They go to morning PT programs twice a week. They have to pass the physical fitness test — one minute of push-ups, situps and a one and a half mile run for time. Everyone has to pass that per semester,” Froeschner said. “Cadets lead cadets. They are learning to lead by actually leading. They aren’t expected to be perfect, we give them training along the way.”

Froeschner explained the different roles each year plays in the program.

“The freshmen are just learning how to use a uniform, salute, about the custom career fields. During leadership lab they learn how to march. The sophomores learn about air power history, the history of flight and air power,” Froeschner said. “Our juniors learn about leadership, ethics and management. Usually our juniors are the ones leading 10 to 15 freshmen and sophomores. The seniors run everything. We’ve got lots of objectives they have to fulfill – they have to figure out how to do it.”

He said the difference between regular students and ROTC students is the latter have taken on more responsibility and a bit more accountability.

“It’s not an easy program. They apply themselves for leadership. Every one of our people are required to have a designated leadership position,” Froeschner said. “They’ve taken on a higher time commitment. We want leaders of character. All military hold themselves to a higher standard than the general public.”

Cadets have to self-report to the leaders like Froeschner, and there is very little leeway for students who mess up.

“Character is huge to us. There are three core values: Integrity first — my word is my bond. Service before self. And excellence in all we do,” Froeschner said.

Patrick Phillippi, a sophomore in meteorology, said friendship and leadership training are two key experiences he has discovered through the program.

“You get a lot closer friends within ROTC than you would in other place. It creates a good friendship with people of all ages,” Phillippi said.

A typical week for a student such as Phillippi is filled with normal classes and Air Force specific activities.

“We have two PT sessions; I wake up at 5:30 to meet the entire wing at 6. We work out from 6-7. All the different years have an Air Force class. We have once a week a leadership lab with the entire wing. Seniors are in charge of it, they pick a staff, they have a certain number of objectives they have to meet. That’s a standard week,” Phillippi said. “You can get as involved as you want. I’ve done a little bit of everything.”