The benefits of military service
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) provides its contracted students with well-known benefits including full-ride scholarships, stipends and guaranteed employment after graduation.
Cadet Nathan Whitmore, a junior in military science, has benefited from the ROTC in ways he said surpass the monetary and vocational securities. He has lost 50 pounds since starting military science classes two years ago.
Whitmore said his participation in ROTC has changed his life.
“Starting off with the self-discipline I have developed, I have learned and developed a sense of honor and pride in what I do,” Whitmore said.
Whitmore said he entered the military sciences building with an idealist love for the army.
“I love my country,” he said. “I believe that America is still great.”
At the time, however, he did not meet the height-to-weight requirements to be contracted.
“It was discouraging,” Whitmore said. “Well, I’m just doing this for fun and I’ll take the class.”
As he stuck with the course, he started losing weight. Whitmore began at 240 pounds and currently weighs 190 pounds.
Judy Wright, ROTC human resource administrator, said military science students who do not join the ROTC program still benefit.
“As students, they will learn great leadership,” she said.
Retired Lieutenant Commander Gregory Stuart said contracted students receive the benefits of a full-ride scholarship, a monthly stipend of $250-500 a month, $2,850 for room and board expenses and $1,200 for books. To become contracted, students must have at least a 2.5 GPA and meet physical standards for the army.
These physical standards, as explained by both Whitmore and Stuart, are extensive. Students must be under a certain body fat percentage and height to weight ratio. A physical fitness test measures ability in push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run. The requirements vary for age and gender.
Whitmore said during his first semester of college he would sleep in and skip classes. Since he started the program, he now wakes up early every morning and exercises.
Whitmore said he started attending the thrice-weekly physical training (PT) class. The class is mandatory for contracted ROTC students, but is optional for those not contracted who take military science classes. He started taking military science classes two years ago, but did not contract until December 2010.
“It was intimidating, these people are yelling,” he said. He said he was afraid of not being where he was supposed to be.
“Once you understand, it becomes easy and is not intimidating anymore,” Whitmore said. He explained there is a common theme in the army.
“Know where you are supposed to be, be there, do what you are supposed to do,” he said.
The PT class meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Nielson Fieldhouse at 6 a.m. Whitmore said students start to gather outside the doors around 5:50 a.m. The workouts have some variation, but are “strict and rigid.”
With his daily workouts, Whitmore still made diet changes. “I ate less, slightly smaller portion sizes and skipped deserts,” he said.
But he also said the diet is not always easy.
“I like food, and eating less is hard. Over the holidays it was especially difficult, but it is worth it,” he said.
In December 2010, Whitmore met the requirement for the two-mile run. He finished in 16:35; the requirement for his age and gender is 16:36.
“Everyone is welcome to take ROTC classes. When he (Whitmore) first walked in, we were skeptical,” Stuart said. “But he never gave up, he kept coming back every week.”
Stuart said students join the ROTC for multiple motives.
“Some are very patriotic and want to serve their country, some need money for college, some want the opportunity to travel around the world and some want to be leaders,” he said.
Sgt. 1st Class Kim Baxter said, “Don’t do this if you are just looking to get your school paid for. Do this if you want to be a leader.”
Baxter said he returned from basic training at 17 years old with “better self-confidence, personal responsibility and the respect for others.”
Stuart said there are four things disappearing in the general work force that will remain constant in the military: paid-for education, secure income, employment benefits and early retirement.
“People want a rewarding career that pays well and has good benefits,” he said.
“This is the way to join the U.S. military if (students) have any desire to serve our country,” Wright said.
She said she has learned a lot about the army since she started working there in 2008.
Stuart said he understands why many are afraid of the military.
“Some people are naturally scared. They don’t understand how it works. There is a commitment.”
Baxter said that commitment is the main requirement to be involved in the ROTC.
Stuart explained there are many non-combat jobs available in the army and other military areas. He said military intelligence officers, logistics, engineers, human resource administrators and helicopter pilots are among the non-combat jobs available.
Whitmore said he now has the opportunity to teach others. As a military science third year student, he is learning leadership skills.
“You teach and give an example or give a practical exercise,” he said.
He said in the next couple weeks he will be leading lab classes in “squad attack” and “knock out a bunker” exercises.
Whitmore said he has to wait to find out what branch of the army he will be assigned to. He explained he will rank his top choices, and based on the needs of the army, he will be assigned to one of his choices. Whitmore said he hopes to go into armor.
“To me, they are the king of the battlefield.”
– natasha.bodily@aggiemail.usu.edu