Scott BresslerThe five of them were fervently conversing over trays of sloppily assorted foods when I made my way over to their oval table in Center Court. My friend who set up this meal, sophomore Sam Dickhut, introduced me to the other four: Brian Jones, Cory Madigan, Ben Hurst and Joe Izraelevitz. They eat there together every Thursday night after their ROTC training. That night, they were discussing the CWST (Combat Water Survival Training) that they had just returned from. Dickhut had to miss because of a test, so the others were filling him in on the details. Jones explained to me that the purpose of this type of training was to ‘break’ the soldiers of their fears of water and heights. Simple, right? If you call swimming around in full army fatigues while holding a (plastic) riffle over your head, then jumping blindfolded off the high dive simple. But really, I was getting the wrong impression already.
It seems no one really knew what the ROTC program entailed, going into it, but they were all content with how things turned out. ROTC differed from what they thought it would be.
“It was more low-key than I thought,” said Izraelevitz.
Added Jones, “Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect.”
They assured me that all of the training was doable; it’s just a matter of personal commitment.
“We have a great time,” said Jones, with everyone else nodding in agreement. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be doing it.”
Due to the amount of advertising that is done for the army and for ROTC, one might get the impression that they force people to enlist. This is not the case.
“Everyone who’s here wants to be here,” stressed Hurst.
The volunteer aspect is important because these people need to be working together as a team. To do the job correctly, the soldier has to want to be there. All participants in the program are aware that they made a conscious decision to be involved.
The boys were adamant about clearing up misconceptions about the program.
“We don’t have guns in our closets,” assured Dickhut.
As far as the time commitment goes, ROTC takes a total of about seven hours a week, which is about equivalent to time spent taking one academic class and studying for it. The program does not restrict what a student studies in school. Participants can be any major and are encouraged to pursue further education. While in college, ROTC students receive scholarships, the amount of which can vary. Izraelevitz, who joined the program as a junior, decided not to take the scholarship. He’s a patriot, the others joke.
Once a student graduates and begins service, “[There is a] lot of stuff other than infantry,” says Dickhut. Program participants do not have to do basic training during their military service. People in the service get to choose which branch they would like to be a part of (be it infantry, navy or otherwise), and have a degree of flexibility as to where they will be stationed. Their location depends on what kinds of jobs are needed in which places. The required eight active years of service can even be served in the reserves. All ROTC participants are guaranteed reserve time.
After the required service time is up, ROTC students have a variety of skills to boast, which opens up many career options.
“ROTC is the best leadership training you can get, and everyone wants leaders,” said Jones, with regard to careers in business.
When the students graduate at 22 and enter the army, they are responsible for the lives of a dozen men and millions of dollars worth of equipment. Plus, a career in the military is always guaranteed. Madigan wants to go to medical school then serve as a doctor in the army and some of the others expressed similar interest in military careers.
When people discover that Dickhut, Madigan, Hurst, Jones and Izraelevitz are in ROTC, they do what I did: they ask a million questions. It doesn’t bother them though.
“[People] should be encouraged to come talk to us,” urged Hurst.
These men have a strong sense of duty and purpose. They are aware of the dangers of entering the military at this point in time, yet such things are irrelevant. Being part of the program is “not a political mindset,” said Jones. “When you put on that uniform, none of that matters and you do what you’re told to do.”
I walked away from that dinner table feeling completely enlightened. I don’t know if I’ve ever spoken to a group of people before so filled with purpose, dedication and honor. My sense of what it means to be a patriot was revitalized and I was proud that these are American men.