“While most UA students spent their summers watching Batman and daydreaming about superheroes, some top-notch ROTC students were sent to locations across the country to bring these dreams to life. These real-life heroes were sent to undergo training in the most intense situations possible.”
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While most UA students spent their summers watching Batman and daydreaming about superheroes, some top-notch ROTC students were sent to locations across the country to bring these dreams to life.

These real-life heroes were sent to undergo training in the most intense situations possible. The cadets learned to jump from airplanes, deal with toxic environments and rappel from heights.

In June, Cadet Michael Pope attended Air Assault School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In addition to learning about basic issues concerning helicopters, Pope learned to sling loads to helicopters and to rappel from heights. Pope and his fellow cadets got to stay in the barracks, while keeping them as clean as if privates were there.

You do something wrong–you get smoked, Pope said. Of course, the term getting smoked is not being referred to in the typical college sense. This refers to getting pushed to your physical limits by doing push-ups, low-crawls, etc.

At Fort Knox, Cadet Wesley Farriss attended the Leader’s Training Course. A lot of people think ‘Oh my Gosh, I’m standing in an accountability formation, it’s 4:30 in the morning, and I’ve been here for half an hour… why am I here?’

Cadet Farriss said. The purpose of this course is to indoctrinate cadets who enter ROTC later in their school career. These cadets learned core skills at an accelerated pace.

You get a little experience of what being enlisted is somewhat like, added Farriss.

Two cadets were especially busy in July. Cadet Mike Riendeau interned at Drill Cadet Leadership Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. During his time there he was attached to a basic training company and viewed as a second lieutenant.

Riendeau was responsible for teaching one class, in order to gain a better understanding of the officer’s role in the military.

Cadet Caleb Shalala attended Air Assault School in Fort Benning, Georgia. During this time, Cadet Shalala learned how to exit an aircraft during flight with combat equipment, such as a rucksack and a weapon.

Cadet Alexander Lloyd attended the Leadership Development and Assessment Course in Fort Lewis, Washington.

During this time, he was ranked amongst every cadet in the USA. Officers ranked these cadets in the barracks and in the field.

The camp focused on refreshing basic skills, while allowing cadets to compete for duty branches and duty stations.

Some of the skills that were used include basic rifle marksmanship, first aid, and physical fitness.

Along with these skills, cadets are trained to take action in toxic environments.

They do expose you to some nerve agents, Cadet Lloyd said, The worst thing you’ll see is your own snot.

Do not be fooled- getting to this point in ROTC is not easy.

ROTC is a four-year program that focuses mainly on leadership, decision making, and problem solving.

Freshmen and sophomores spend their time learning basic skills, along with physical training and classes in addition to whatever their major is.

Cadets were chosen to attend the camps based on physical fitness, grades and attendance.

The program does, however, have some perks.

An ROTC graduate enters the army as an officer and receives tuition assistance as well as a stipend.

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