Army ROTC prepares for grueling competition
Some of the United States Army’s potential officers are being trained right on campus at Utah State University.
Major Rand Curtis says these future leaders are the best he’s ever trained.
USU’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), established in April 2002, gives students a chance to learn what it takes to be an army officer, as well as the opportunity to display army tactics and skills in competition.
Curtis, an 18-year serviceman in the U.S. Army and a graduate of USU, said his cadets are in great shape and he plans to have a good showing at this year’s Ranger Challenge in Hunter Ligget, Cal.
“I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t win because we have great guys,” he said.
The Ranger Challenge is a competition for 22 ROTC teams from California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah where cadets are challenged physically in the various types of army training.
Participants compete in physical fitness, land navigation, rifle marksmanship, obstacle courses and a 10k road march. Curtis said USU’s competition team is currently strongest in the physical fitness area, but he hopes that by the time they go to California in November they will be trained enough to place at least third or fourth in every division.
There are currently 70 students enrolled in ROTC courses, but the competition team consists of only 12 members. All 12 are being trained, but only 10 will actually compete. Curtis said this is because injuries often occur during the competition and require a replacement cadet who is also well-trained.
The captain of the competition team is Brian Slade, who Curtis said was chosen based on performance in camps over the summer.
Curtis said students take ROTC courses as electives for other majors, and nearly every college on campus is represented in the corps.
The first two years of courses focus on the history, structure and organization of the army, with no commitment for future service with the US Army.
He said students in their junior year, called MS3s, are contracted to stay in the US Army, the Army Reserves or the National Guard and receive advanced leadership training. By the fourth year, cadets are in charge of the program and actually function as leaders.
“These guys are my peers. I’m training them to be what I am,” Curtis said.
Many cadets choose to continue their education by earning a master’s degree after graduation, he said, and for those contracted with the army, a delay of service is required to attend law or medical school. This year there are seven seniors who are staying at USU to earn a master’s, and four or five juniors who are planning on medical school.
Curtis said he has trained winning teams at BYU and UVSC over the last three years, and has a feel for what it’s going to take to win.
The team practiced on Thursday in the rope bridge division, which requires stringing a rope between two pulls and getting all cadets across. They worked on beating USU’s best time of two minutes 30 seconds. Curtis said the team will continue training about four times a week until the Ranger Challenge.
Members of the Army ROTC practice their rope bridge skills Thursday afternoon. (Photos by Angelie Christensen)