Seated in a Black Hawk helicopter, miles above sea level, gives some a totally different perspective on life.

ROTC cadets lined up and boarded as a Black Hawk helicopter, just back from Iraq with over 1,000 hours of activity, landed. This is the first time ROTC cadets’ lab offered the opportunity to fly in a helicopter.

Major Jeff Robertson said the significance of this event was to train cadets in helicopters and help them explore possible career options and for the North Carolina National Guard to show their abilities to the leadership of the University.

None of the cadets said they were nervous for the explorational training helicopter flight, but instead that they were looking forward to the activity.

“I’m excited, I always like to do stuff that gives me an adrenaline rush,” Phillip Webb, a freshman in zoology, said.

Provost Larry Nielsen and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford were in attendance and rode the first VIP helicopter flight over campus, yellow earplugs intact, securely strapped in as the open-doored helicopter began its mission.

Some students think ROTC has a reputation for being time consuming with cadets waking up at 5 a.m. to run, yet students said they feel no different from average college students.

“You can still be a college student and an ROTC, we still have a life outside of ROTC,” Calin Riley, graduate student in liberal studies, said.

Captain Matt Handley, state public affairs officer, said the ROTC are not average college students.

“Especially now, the U.S. is in a time of war; we tend to forget about it. But the likelihood that students will deploy somewhere are very high,” he said. “That commitment alone is what makes them of the best caliber.”

Many of the cadets have future plans of becoming officers. Travel, job opportunities and leadership skills were among the many reasons students chose this avenue.

“I wanted to serve my country somehow,” cadet Colleen McCammond, sophomore in animal science, said. Cadet Ryan Williams’ reason was simple.

“We realized we are called to do it,” Williams said.

Besides playing paintball for training or going camping, Robert Johnson finds the bond between fellow cadets unequaled.

“Brotherhood, people and comradeship is the best part of ROTC,” Johnson said.

Robertson said he enjoys seeing the metamorphisis of young college students into army officers.

“The best part of my job is watching young students come into this program and come out on the far side of the program as trained officers,” he said.

General Jennette, an alumnus, said he values the experiences he gained from this institution.

“I still practice what I’ve learned 20 years ago,” Jennette said.

Through the teaching of discipline, integrity and honesty among other attributes, Jennette said, “The ROTC program will benefit these kids no matter what they do in life.”