Army ROTC brings adventure and discipline
Most students at Utah State University will never go to class in combat boots and Army fatigues, but for those who are joining the return of the Army ROTC program, it will be a weekly occurrence.
In 1997, during the Army downsizing, the USU ROTC program was singled out as the program in Utah failing to commission enough officers to justify its existence. The program closed its doors to cadets and a long history that began in 1888. At the pinnacle of the program at USU, 2,200 cadets were enrolled. This earned the school the nickname of “the West Point of the West.”
“Utah State had a fantastic program, but they lost it,” said Maj. Rand Curtis, commander of the USU ROTC.
According to his own research, there are around six general officers who are commissioned at USU still in active duty with the Army.
The program was brought back to the university due to the efforts of Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, commanding officer of the Utah National Guard, and Col. Grant White, who commands the U.S. Army Reserve in the Logan area.
Curtis said both have expressed concern over the lack of officers in their respective areas of the military and saw the ROTC program as a way to help alleviate some of the pressure to fill those positions.
Curtis graduated from USU in 1984 and commissioned as an officer through the ROTC. From there, he has spent 15 of the past 17 years in the Army.
His first assignment took him to Fort Lee, Va. It was there he settled into the Army as a career path. He has traveled to 23 different countries and 28 states.
Several years ago, he decided to take a break from the Army – a break that lasted a few months.
“I started to miss army life,” Curtis said.
While stationed at Fort Brag, N.C., Curtis was involved in Just Cause in Panama, Desert Storm and worked with Special Operation with Country Assistance.
Curtis worked in Honduras for seven months. While there, he served as a civil affairs officer. He acted as a liaison between the government of that country and the military. Curtis explained when the United States military sends a unit into Honduras, they must provide some form of humanitarian aid. His job was to coordinate the efforts between the two groups.
“To feel like you were making a difference in that country was one of the greatest things I’ve done,” Curtis said.
He pointed out that the military does more humanitarian efforts than most people know about.
“Army personnel are doing phenomenal things all over the world every day. You just don’t hear about them much,” Curtis said.
He is now listed as an Active Guard and Reserve guardsman.
“That means I don’t have to leave the state,” Curtis said.
Curtis is excited to develop the program at USU. His goal is to find and train as many quality students interested in commissioning as possible.
“We can give them a good job and a great experience for a few years,” he said.
Even though he may commission several officers, he does not expect them all to make the Army their career path, though he does see it as a good one if some choose to follow it.
This year, he expects as many as 60 to 75 students to join the ranks of the ROTC. Of those, 95 percent will be Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) students. Curtis said these students are contracted to both the ROTC and the Reserves or to the National Guard.
One such student is Cadet Miranda Gahn. She joined the Army Reserve three years ago.
“I always wanted to join the ROTC, but it wasn’t available,” Gahn said.
She got involved as a way to finance her college education. Gahn said boot camp was not as bad as some say.
“You are a little homesick and it is not the most friendly environment, but I really enjoyed it,” she said.
One of her goals with the military is to commission and then work on becoming a reservist MP.
“I think from my stand point right now the Army will always be a part of my life,” Gahn said. “My ultimate goal is to make it to the FBI and I’m hoping my experience will help me get there.”
She is positive about the whole experience. Gahn said sexual harassment is not a real hindrance in her experiences. Strict guidelines have provided for a lack of tolerance toward harassment.
“I have not found it to be a problem or a barrier in keeping me from promotion or payments,” Gahn said.
This summer, Gahn went to jump school to earn her wings. There she focused on physical training and then five different parachute jumps to certify. She said her favorite was the night jump.
The Reserves and the ROTC make it possible for cadets to take part in these courses, though many will never have to use the skills they learn Gahn said.
“Women will never jump into combat; will never be Rangers, but it’s good to have the experience,” she said.
“The military is a good vehicle for people who don’t have the means to get where they want to be,” Gahn said.
She is glad to have the program back at the university and is looking forward to developing it again.
“Even though there will be bumps in the road, we have a good team and we will have it smoothed out by next year … I’m really excited about it,” Gahn said.
Curtis is also excited about the potential at USU. Cadets are given the chance to develop leadership skills and learn values that can help in everyday life Curtis said.
Some of the events that he has planned include helicopter flights, river rafting and rappelling. These activities are designed to teach as well as to have fun he said.
Curtis said the difference between the ROTC and regular Army recruits is the quality required for a commissioned officer. USU has a history of strong leaders he said.
“They (cadets) get a world-class experience while they are in the Army,” Curtis said.