Every year, there are students at Colleges and Universities around the nation that choose to enroll in Reserve Officer Training and study to become college graduates, and also to earn commissions in the Army or Army Reserves.
Part of daily ROTC life is a run or exercises if you are on scholarship, and it?s just another part of the routine that contributes to becoming an Army Officer. But as students study and prepare, many stop to think about what it means to be pursuing a military commission and service to their country.
For many, it is the assistance of having college paid for and being able to put away a little something for the future by earning retirement credit on military service. For others, it?s the excitement of being a part of something bigger than themselves. Yet others are part of a family tradition; sometimes ROTC grads are third or fourth generation potential Officers in the Army.
No matter the reason, ROTC gives students an opportunity in a risk-free setting to learn about the Army, and if they like what they see, they can apply to have their college paid for.
At Syracuse University, Senior Michael Barum is a Civil Engineering major student who is nearing graduation. He will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Engineers in the Army for a term of at least 4 years, and more if he chooses.
?I think I would like a long career in the Army, but with the training the Army will give me, there will be a lot of really good options in the civilian world, so I honestly don?t know how long I will serve,? said Barnum.
?There are outstanding benefits I will have in the Army that would be hard to beat in civilian employment,? he remarked.
hello sir, i seen this webpage and im currently going into 11th grade, i want to be in rotc or the reserves but i dont know all the in’s and outs. can you give me a little advice or experience stories, i know its not easy but i just dont know how tough i am so i would really like for you to respond back to me with a little bit of intell of this and that, thanks, – Dom