Advertisement

Preparing Today for the Military Tomorrow

HARVARD AND ROTC

"It's like taking a fifth class, and sometimes even more," says Air Force cadet Robert M. Alexander '86 of Quincy House. "It's a real time commitment."

"However I don't think it has really affected my academics, and if anything it has improved my social life because I've met a lot of new, interesting people," he says.

Other students find the ROTC obligation does not affect their opportunities to pursue other interests. "It's just another time commitment I have to schedule," says Navy midshipman Brooks L. Ensign '88, Kaardal's roommate. "I think ROTC enhances my Harvard experience: I'm involved in a lot of other things, intramural sports, political activities, model U.N., and I have a great social life."

Reaching Over Tutition Costs

Using a large media blitz, ROTC has become increasingly prominent and popular on the nation's campuses in the past decade. In exchange for enrollment in a college ROTC unit, passing grades, and at least three years of duty after graduation, the armed services will provide a student with military training, uniforms, books, a $100 per month stipend, and a commission in the service after graduation.

Advertisement

The ROTC program also grants merit scholarships that range from four years for incoming freshmen to one year for rising seniors. In exchange, the recipients sign a contract committing themselves to four years of active duty after graduation.

Army cadets have the choice to serve four years active duty, six years of reserve, or six years of National Guard. However, freshmen with four year scholarships, in any branch of the armed forces, have the option of quitting after their first year with no financial obligation, says Welch.

The scholarship, which can be a boon for families struggling to finance a college education, pays tuition (Harvard's tuition this year was $10,590), $350 towards textbooks, and all health and athletic fees, in addition to the standard ROTC contract, "all tax free," Welch says.

The ROTC instructor says that 12 out of the 18 Harvard Army cadets are on scholarship. In comparison, all 46 members of Navy ROTC and the 21 members of Air Force ROTC are receiving scholarships, according to Navy Lieutenant K. Callahan and both instructors of ROTC units at MIT.

"If I was at a less expensive school I would still be in ROTC, but since I go to Harvard, a scholarship is very important," says Kaardal '88, "I like the camaraderie and the espirit de corps that goes along with the Army."

Cadets and midshipmen agree that ROTC service gives them leadership experience, increases their self-confidence, and forces them to be moreorganized and responsible. Both ROTC commanders ofthe MIT Army and Navy batallions attend Harvard.

"Upperclassmen lead the midshipmen on drills,and in orientation week they had to make sure thattwenty men got everything they needed to live,"says a freshman in Navy ROTC who did not wish tobe named. "They make you really responsible; ifyou lose a pen, it's like 30 pushups."

"We send the cadets on field training exercisesto Fort Devens [in Ayer, Mass.] once a semesterwhere they learn about leadership and teamwork inland navigation, patrolling, and competitiveexercise," Welch says. "Seniors run the wholeorganization, they lead and command the cadetbatallions."

"Serving in Air Force ROTC is a combination ofwanting to serve my country and the scholarshipboth," says Alexander, whose father is a generalin the Air Force. "I also get a good job when Igraduate."

Wiese, who is not on scholarship, participatesin Army ROTC for patriotic reasons. "I view it asa duty to give the same things I have gotten to mykids, and to do that I have to be willing to standup for American interests as defined by thePresident and the American Congress," he says.

"But even with all the time problems that makeme want to quit, when I put on my uniform andofficer's cap, I feel so proud of myself and mycountry that I don't want to [quit] anymore," saysan anonymous Navy midshipman

Advertisement