Staying strong
Although national numbers indicate the Army is losing thousands of potential recruits because of overseas worries this year, Utah State University’s ROTC program can boast a fairly consistent track record of students electing to be cadets.
The ROTC program has about 37 cadets, which may be a lower number by a couple of students from last year, Capt. Jeff Dula, the ROTC’s recruiting director, said. However, Dula says he is optimistic about the program attracting potential cadets because of the benefits ROTC offers for students.
“Next year there is going to be just as many kids looking for ways to pay for school just as there was the year before,” he said.
It’s just getting the word out to students about the program that is difficult. ROTC relies on word of mouth from current cadets to tell friends and fellow students about the program and demonstrations such as the Black Hawks landing on the HPER field last week to spark interest and give out promotional items, like mini footballs with ROTC logos and pencils.
“We try to put the image out there and let the kids know who we are and know there is scholarship money [available],” Dula said, who returned last spring from a 14-month stint in Iraq.
However, as the war continues in Iraq and national number of recruits declines, Dula says he can’t ignore the implications this may have on potential ROTC cadets. Students realize the extra risks that come with joining any branch of the military while a war is going on and this may be a deterrent, Dula said. Yet, what most students don’t realize is while cadets are in ROTC, they are exempt from being called to serve.
At the most, ROTC cadets are used for national emergencies. With the devastating impacts of Hurricane Katrina, there was talk about sending USU ROTC cadets to help, Dula said, but they were never called upon.
“The Army isn’t going to yank them out of school unless they absolutely have to,” he said. “They understand the priority is getting officers, not yanking them out of school to go down to national emergencies.”
ROTC is a four-year program unless students come in with previous military experience – then their time might be less, Dula said. For the first year, students are obligation free, he said, meaning although they are enrolled in ROTC courses, they are not a part of the Army.
When cadets complete the program, they are commissioned as second lieutenant officers in the Army, the National Guard or the Reserves. However, until students contract with the Army, they have no obligations.
Jeff Brenchley, a senior majoring in finance economics, has been in the National Guard for eight years and agrees with Dula that most people lack an understanding about what it means to join the military. Brenchley joined because his father and two older brothers had served in the military, but more importantly, it was a way to get his schooling paid for.
“Some people don’t comprehend what benefits there are,” he said, adding, “people think it’s a lot tougher than it really is.”
Brenchley, who has already served a year of active duty in 2002 at the Tooele chemical depot, said he understands the risks of joining the military, but serving his country overrides his nervousness.
“It’s a great possibility that I would get activated – I don’t really comprehend what it would be like. Why should I need to dodge the bullet while others are [fighting]?” he said.
Nationally numbers are falling. According to an article published in August in the Deseret Morning News, the Army is about 7,000 soldiers below its goal of 80,000 and the Army National Guard is down nearly 11,000.
These numbers aren’t surprising to Dula, who has been apart of the Army National Guard for the last 25 years. Why be a “weekend warrior” if you know you will be called to serve full time? Dula said. Most people who join the military at this time understand the likelihood of serving active duty, and rather than joining the National Guard, they are electing to serve in other ways, such as the Air Force, he said.
“There is a war and they’re still joining,” Dula said. “You’ve got to hand it to them – that’s really, really good.”
Kal Larsen, a senior majoring in business finance, has been an ROTC cadet for two years and said he joined in order to become a second lieutenant.
“I’ll make more money and I’m be in command rather than taking orders,” he said, adding, “plus they pay a lot more for college.”
Larsen said the low numbers in ROTC programs aren’t something unique to this division of the military, but agrees with Dula that all branches are suffering from fewer people electing to join.
As far as the USU program goes, Larsen said he believes most students don’t understand the benefits ROTC offers.
As long as the war continues, ROTC will face additional recruiting obstacles beyond a lack of understanding about the program and stereotypes that may go along with being a part of the military.
-kcashton@cc.usu.edu