“I’ve always wanted to be in the Marine Corps, and I also wanted a college education,” said Midshipman fourth class Patrick Lindie, a freshman in the College of General Studies. “Becoming an officer will be a great honor.”

Graduating ROTC does not mean the end of a cadet/midshipman’s responsibilities, though. Graduates can be required to stay on active duty for up to 10 years after graduating.

“There’s different communities, and they have different time requirements,” said Midshipman second class Jonathan Fisch, a junior in the College of Engineering. “The basic plan is four years of active duty, but on my track, aviation, I attend two years of flight school and have eight years of active duty.”

“They’re paying for my flight training; they might as well get their money’s worth,” he said.

The occupational hazards of being a member of the military are prevalent. However, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 haven’t increased the dangers of military service, according to Fisch.

“The same stuff happens all the time, regardless of whether it’s publicized or not,” he said. “You join knowing there’s a risk.”

However, Fisch acknowledged that danger seems more prominent now.

“If my mom had her way, I wouldn’t have joined,” Fisch said. “She would have a lot more to say now.”

For now, though, ROTC students have enough to worry about. To keep their grades high, freshmen in their first semester and other students whose GPAs dip below 2.5 are required to participate for four hours in academic study hall in the Department of Military Education. The study hall sessions are overseen by Dr. Joachim Maitre, the director of the Division of Military Education.

Lindie, who is in the study hall now, said the program works well.

“They really stress time management and try to help you schedule classes around other activities,” he said.

“It should be required for all students,” Fisch said.

In addition to academic responsibilities, ROTC students must engage in physically demanding training programs. The Army branch participates in the Ranger Challenge, a yearly series of competitions with 18 other schools in the Northeast area. Events include rifle marksmanship, a leadership reaction course and a 10-kilometer forced march.

“The Ranger Challenge was the most physically tiring thing I’ve ever done,” said Clayton Horney, an Aerospace Engineering Army cadet. “It’s very competitive, but not between people in your unit.”

Horney, an ENG senior, said joining ROTC was difficult, but he was able to rise to the challenge.

“When I first came into the program, it was so much more than I was comfortable dealing with,” he said. “But I spent two years getting used to it, and by junior year I was ready to take on more responsibilities, like the Ranger Challenge.”

Overall, participants said the ROTC was a good program to have on campus.

“It’s great for the military because we’re so visible,” Fisch said. “All of my friends know at least one person in the program.”

“It’s a great program,” Lindie said. “The camaraderie is great. All of their policies are justified.” –Dan Atkinson /DFP Staff