Uncle Sam Wants You! And he's willing to pay your way through college.
That's the message the ROTC program is trying to get out to students throughout campuses nationwide.
The catch? Depending upon eligibility, paid tuition, a tax-free monthly stipend, money for books and after graduation, committing to serving four years in the armed services.
The four branches of the military--the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines--are all represented here on The U of M campus. There are approximately 120 U of M students who are part of the ROTC program.
"I knew I needed to grow up," said Cadet Adrian Donahoe of his decision to join the Army.
Donahoe, 24, a sophomore studying business management, is getting his education with the Army's "Green to Gold" program. Donahoe was enlisted in the Army for six years when he decided to apply for the college scholarship program aimed at the enlisted personnel. After completing his studies, Donahoe will become commissioned as an officer.
Donahoe said he likes the support and teamwork effort the Army provides. He said his first duty station was in Germany where he developed a sense of team and cohesion with his fellow soldiers.
"There was nothing like it," Donahoe said. He said he also spent nine months serving in Bosnia. "My mother was in the Navy," Donahoe said. "My father was in the Navy and my stepfather was a pilot in the Army."
Hattie Clark, 27, is a junior studying food systems management. Clark who is in the Air Force's ROTC program said she chose the program because her goal is to become a dietitian and she wants to work in a hospital. She said going in as an officer would give her the advantage of outranking 85 to 90 percent of all Air Force personnel.
"The Air Force is the best program of all the branches," Clark said. "They take care of their own."
Clark should know--her mother was in the Air Force and her older siblings were in the Army.
"I'm a military brat." Clark said.
"Leadership Starts Here" is the Army's battle cry at the U of M campus. The Army's ROTC recruiter, Capt. Robert "Doug" Ferguson, said the mission is to commission lieutenants in the U.S. Army.
Ferguson said students attend developmental classes that cover topics such as military history. They also attend survival leadership courses where they learn the basics of water survival, hand-to-hand combat, land navigation and repelling. Ferguson said cadets who are between their junior and senior year will attend an advanced camp for 35 days at Fort Lewis in the state of Washington.
"There is always a need for young officers," said Lt. Col. Ricky Willis, an Air Force ROTC recruiter. "We do need people."
There are a variety of scholarships available to students. Lt. Brian Hyde of the U.S. Navy said the 4-year paid scholarships are for students who applied while they were in high school and were accepted to the program.
For the college student, there are two- and three-year paid scholarships available. There is also a non-scholarship program available in which a student participates in the ROTC program, reaping the benefit of being commissioned after graduation.
The curriculum requirements are different in each branch of the Armed Forces. The Navy requires the college program student to take two semesters of college-level math and two semesters of physical science. The Army requires a class in military history while the Air Force has no required classes.
"Set your goals," Donahoe said. "Look at a way to reach your goals."
