Cadet Testimonials HOYA Battalion cadets speak about their experiences in Army ROTC and their decisions to become Army officers.

Cadet Ogburn- My childhood was in Cairo, Egypt, chasing brown dogs between tall trash piles. When I was 11, my family moved to Saigon, Vietnam where I chased the heat and sweat on rice paddies. We moved to Korea when I was 15, where I liked to say I chased girls, but, really, I was too nervous to. I grew up without a hometown. I dictated life and life was simple, and for a while, it was all right. But when I moved to Washington, DC a year and a half ago to attend GWU, I was bored and without a city to come back to. While here, however, I received an Army ROTC scholarship from the Hoya Battalion, where they now chase me with regulations and standards—following close behind by testing my every ability. Everyday a challenge arises. I think that if I wasn’t in ROTC life would be much easier; where I could be the one chasing instead of being pushed to my limits. People argue that the Battalion provides job security, a monthly stipend, a scholarship, worldly experience, and future opportunities, and while that’s true, I argue it provides something more important to me: a place to come back to, a hometown I never had, friends I know I’ll have forever. So, when I’m running the fourth mile at six in the morning, or laying prone in the frozen leaves at Fort AP Hill, I smile, because there is no other place I’d rather be. Cadet Polsky- Participating in the ROTC program has been one of the most rewarding parts of my college experience thus far.  ROTC is a significant time commitment, and requires more effort than a club or sports team.  On the other hand, the rewards are equally tremendous.  Some of my best friends at college are fellow cadets, and involvement with the Battalion has allowed me to meet students from all backgrounds and from all over the country.  The sense of camaraderie within the program is very real and is probably the biggest advantage of ROTC.  The Battalion is very supportive, and the individual platoons are like families.  If a cadet has problems with anything, either ROTC-related or not, there is virtually always a cadet or cadre member who can help. The leadership and management techniques taught in the Military Science classes are valuable.  I have learned a lot about interacting with and leading my fellow cadets, and I know that I will continue to use these leadership tools for years to come, both in the Army and afterwards.  In my opinion, the real value of the ROTC program is not in the military-specific training we receive on our weekend field exercises, but rather in the more general leadership experience that we can later apply to jobs inside or outside the military. Cadet Staggenborg-   What is army ROTC? It’s waking up before five in the morning to get somewhere you probably don’t want to go; be that PT or a field exercise. It’s going out no matter what the weather; rain or shine, cold or hot. It’s pushing your mind and body to their limits… and then going a little bit farther. It’s always being motivated and enthusiastic, especially when you just want to sit down and quit. It can be painful, exhausting and frustrating; at times you just want to throw down you gear and leave. But you don’t because that’s not what it’s about. It’s about honor and integrity, loyalty and duty, selfless service, respect, and courage. It’s about being a leader and a member of something greater then yourself. Ultimately, it’s about becoming an officer in the United States Army. A place that must be earned, it’s never given. A position of honor; where nothing but the best of the best will be expected of you. With that said, you will have to wake up early in the morning and you will stand around in the rain or cold quite a bit. But it’s not all that bad. All the time you’ll be with other cadets who will guide, help and challenge you to do better. You’ll also get opportunities to go to specialty school like Airborne or Air Assault and there are opportunities for internships and summer jobs. The best part is that you pay nothing; as a matter of fact, the government pays you! All you have to do is wake up and give it your all. So in short, Army ROTC is hard, challenging and stressful and it’s not for everyone. But the ultimate reward is to have the honor of earning a commission as an officer in the world’s greatest military. Hooah! Cadet Krizan-   Life as a cadet is both challenging and rewarding. It can be physically taxing but it is also mentally taxing, learning how to balance the Army with academic success. ROTC gives you the opportunity to do two great things at once, serve your country and find yourself in a job you’ll love. There are so many different skills needed in the Army that it has something for everyone. The schedule allows you time to be both a cadet and a student, a valuable experience if you are attending school in the nation’s capitol. ROTC also gives you the opportunity to see DC differently like from a helicopter tour provided by the Maryland National guard. You will have PT early in the morning but it gets you up and energized for the rest of the day. The weekend training is fun too as it allows you to get out of the city and train in a variety of environments. What I like most is the challenging mental component. Leading a squad exercise forces you to multi-task, keeping track of many different things at once while still being mindful of a goal. I also like the sense of a team that develops between you and the other cadets when you are working for that common mission. My experience in ROTC has been great and I would recommend it for anyone who wants a physical and mental challenge. Cadet Gasser on Army Nursing-   If you have chosen nursing, you have chosen a very demanding profession. Succeeding in this profession requires leadership and critical thinking, always. ROTC is about building that sense of confidence, expanding on your professional skills, and turning you into the leader and manager that you have the potential to be. As an ROTC nursing student, you will be able to combine your normal college nursing experience with invaluable nurse school and summer training experience. You will develop your professional skills while you learn meaningful things about yourself and what you can accomplish. Upon completion of the 4 year nursing program and assuming all requirements are met, you will receive a commission as an officer in the Army Nurse Corps and join an ellite group of nursing professionals who not only have more opportunities in their career, but who are also given more responsibility in their jobs than their civilian counterparts. You will not find anywhere else the kind of direct, hands on experience that Army ROTC offers. An officer is a leader. The Army provides nursing students with unique training to develop the skills that will help you take command. Getting ahead in the Army Nurse Corps is no mystery. You will receive unlimited amounts of opportunities for advancement in one of the most respected and educated professional environments there is. Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP): NSTP is a three week paid, elective clinical experience offered at any Army Medical Center in the United States or Overseas. You attend NSTP either before or after advanced camp and usually between your Junior and Senior year. You receive the ultimate hands on experience directly shadowing a preceptor for their normal work schedule. It is a great opportunity to advance your skills, clinical and professional, in the environment you will soon be fully immersed in.