ROTC enrollment skyrockets

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CMU’s ROTC program has increased its enrollment 40 percent, welcoming the
largest class of incoming cadets since the Vietnam War.

This year, the Chippewa Battalion welcomed 106 freshman into the program, upping the battalion’s total to 176 cadets.  

Military Science Chairman Lt. Col. David Manville said the increase is
because of the improvement in training as well as the exceptional recruiting
efforts from the staff.

“Students are getting a great education in the classroom and better quality
training in the labs,” Manville said. “Our effort to deliver this training
and our growth is a testament to these efforts.”

The increased enrollment is part of a plan the program has implemented to double its size in the next few years.

“Our goal was to double the size of our program by the fall of 2006. Our program is already ahead of schedule,” Manville said.

Manville said ROTC is America’s best leadership development program.

He said it delivers high quality education, training and leadership development
that is challenging, exciting, relevant and safe.

Many of the programs inside ROTC, including the Redleg Cannon Club, Queens
Guard and the Rifle Club, offer students the opportunity to experience the
military first hand.

Students may participate in hands-on training such as ruck marches, field
training exercises and land navigation courses throughout the year.

“The ROTC program is the premier leadership development program,” said
Dennis Louck, Casnovia senior. “A number of people will graduate from college,
but none are as ready for the real world as the ROTC cadets.”

Marlette freshman Quentin Bishop, one of the new ROTC recruits, said he looks forward to future challenges.

“It looked challenging, so I decided to give it a try,” he said. “I’m
looking forward to taking advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead,
it should be exciting.”

Manville said students involved in the ROTC program will not leave the program without learning some valuable life skills.

“Students quickly understand that the values, attributes, skills and actions
they develop within our program will be useful to them throughout their entire
lives,” he said.