There are many organizations that
cadets can participate in. For example, the ranger team competed at Ranger
Challenge, at Fort Knox against many schools in different events. Some of
the events they competed in were a PT test, grenade assault course, assemble
an M-60 machine gun, patrolling, build a rope bridge, and a 10 K ruck march
(which everybody runs the event since it is timed. After Ranger Challenge
all participants are allowed to wear the coveted black Ranger Challenge
beret.
Another organization cadets can participate in is the color guard team.
Many hours of grueling practice are endured so that the color guard will
look perfect when presenting and retiring the colors for many establishments.
The ROTC color guard team attended the football team memorial at the student
center and a dining out for one of the local reserve units this past fall.
This spring cadets attended a garden club conference at the Radisson Hotel,
Marshall Day at the capitol in Charleston, and a safety conference also
at the Radisson. Precision and timing is the key to having a good, presentable
color guard.
An ROTC cadet can participate in OCF, Officer Christian Fellowship. Every Tuesday, cadets involved meet with Colonel Thomas Noreen in order to discuss and learn about the Bible. In February, cadets in OCF attended a retreat where they met many different other ROTC cadets in OCF. They also fellowshipped, sang many songs, and were involved with many fun activities. An event that a cadet must participate in is staff ride, which is where cadets go on a trip to a historical military site and learn the fundamentals behind the war and techniques used as well as principles. This year cadets went to Gettysburg, PA, and learned of the heroes and battle that took place. Every cadet is required to participate in a staff ride during their junior or senior year.
The cadet fund is a fund that pays for the military ball, food for activities,
commissioning, etc. To earn money for these events cadets have fund-raisers.
For example, every fall we rent stadium seats at the football games. This
brings in a decent profit for the fund. We also had a turkey shoot where
any person can come in and shoot at our range for a prize. We also had a
few car washes in order to increase the fund. An event that lets everyone
know that ROTC is on campus is organization day. This year we had a special
forces group to display some weapons, food, recruiting table at the student
center, and simulated grenade throws. This event is very important because
it is during the drop/add period and ROTC hopes to recruit a few more individuals
in any of their various classes.
The final event of a cadets ROTC career is the military ball where many
awards are given to the top cadets. It also gives cadets a chance to dress
up in their class A uniform and a chance to dine-out. The event that will
change a cadets future forever is the commissioning ceremony. This ceremony
is very prestigious in that many guests from all around attend to celebrate
the commissioning of their daughter, son, relative, friend, etc. Many tears
are shed and many lives are changed. The cadets status is no longer cadet,
it is 2LT, United States Army. The new 2LT looks back on all that has been
endured and feels a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing that she or
he will lead many people in the right direction.
Graphics from WEB Explosion 2000