ROTC gives students opportunity
Jeffrey Elkus
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Opinion
While it often seems as if students have no say in global events, the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Cincinnati is an opportunity that can result in students making a real difference.
Amidst the disagreement between President George W. Bush and the United States Congress on the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the ROTC allows students to assist the military already serving overseas in the area under
criticism.
With the opportunity ROTC presents to do more than watch global events unfold on TV, more students should take a second look at the program. The ROTC program seeks to give its students a quality education combined with an opportunity to serve their country upon successful completion of the ROTC program.
Lieutenant Colonel John Bautch, scholarship and enrollment officer at UC ROTC, said students who are curious about the Army are likely candidates.
"Prospective students express an interest in wanting to be in the Army and are also trying to figure out a way to satisfy that interest at the same time they are getting their financial needs met," Bautch said.
Recruitment of cadets is tough in the competitive environment taking shape today, and Bautch said a lot of times recruitment actually takes place out of high school or during welcome week.
"We have to remain competitive because the marketplace and other scholarship-generating organizations are providing money to a lot of talented students," Bautch said.
But the ROTC program is differnet than other scholarship competitions.
Setting themselves apart from other potential scholarships students have access to, the Army changed its policy two years ago to eliminate the previous restriction of money spent on fees and tuition, which was $20,000 per year. This change couldn't have come sooner; it simply means even more money for UC students in need.
Specifically, there is no dollar amount placed on the scholarship given to a student. A book stipend of $900 dollars a year and monthly living money ranging from $300 to $500, depending if you are a freshman or a senior, is provided for cadets while in the program, according to Bautch.
Amidst the disagreement between President George W. Bush and the United States Congress on the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the ROTC allows students to assist the military already serving overseas in the area under
criticism.
With the opportunity ROTC presents to do more than watch global events unfold on TV, more students should take a second look at the program. The ROTC program seeks to give its students a quality education combined with an opportunity to serve their country upon successful completion of the ROTC program.
Lieutenant Colonel John Bautch, scholarship and enrollment officer at UC ROTC, said students who are curious about the Army are likely candidates.
"Prospective students express an interest in wanting to be in the Army and are also trying to figure out a way to satisfy that interest at the same time they are getting their financial needs met," Bautch said.
Recruitment of cadets is tough in the competitive environment taking shape today, and Bautch said a lot of times recruitment actually takes place out of high school or during welcome week.
"We have to remain competitive because the marketplace and other scholarship-generating organizations are providing money to a lot of talented students," Bautch said.
But the ROTC program is differnet than other scholarship competitions.
Setting themselves apart from other potential scholarships students have access to, the Army changed its policy two years ago to eliminate the previous restriction of money spent on fees and tuition, which was $20,000 per year. This change couldn't have come sooner; it simply means even more money for UC students in need.
Specifically, there is no dollar amount placed on the scholarship given to a student. A book stipend of $900 dollars a year and monthly living money ranging from $300 to $500, depending if you are a freshman or a senior, is provided for cadets while in the program, according to Bautch.
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