Horizons Online Edition

Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Kirk Marvin Army ROTC

Media Credit: Kirk Marvin Army ROTVC

The week before starting college, new students are packing, saying goodbye to friends and worrying about books and class schedules. For the new freshman of Army ROTC they came to Embry-Riddle a week early to participate in Zero Week.

Zero Week introduces new cadets to the Army ROTC program. "The goal of Zero Week," said Major Joshua Brooks, "is to introduce a support structure, and it gives cadets a chance to bond with fellow classmates."
Forty new recruits participated in Zero Week along with the upper classman of Army ROTC. Zero Week started bright and early on Aug. 20, at 5:50 am with Physical Training. Cadets then headed over to the Spruance House for breakfast and in the afternoon took a trip down to Sedona for some fun at Slide Rock.

"I'm having a good time with the rest of the cadets," said freshman Barrett Zehner from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Zehner is also on the soccer team and is majoring in Global Security and Intelligence. "I joined Army ROTC because of the many opportunities if offers."

The second day of Zero Week was still jammed packed with PT and breakfast early in the morning. The cadets then went around campus going through in-processing before heading over to Watson Lake for rappelling.

Major Brooks, also new this semester to Embry-Riddle, explained that Army ROTC uses the crawl, walk, run method to teach cadets about rappelling. For the first step, "crawl," senior ROTC cadets teach a rope rappelling class with demonstrations and proper wear and use of the equipment.

The next step, "walk," allowed the cadets to try on all of the equipment which consisted of a harness, d-ring, carabineer, gloves and a helmet. After a complete equipment safety check cadets rappelled down a small slope to get a feel for the equipment and the proper techniques.
Before participating in the "run" portion of the training method, everyone took a break and enjoyed some hamburgers and hotdogs in the shade of one of the ramadas at Watson Lake.

Jonathon Campbell from Montpelier, OH, got a flier in the mail from Embry-Riddle and wanted to major in Aerospace Engineering. "I came out to Army ROTC for the teamwork experience and unit integrity."

Teamwork was necessary to prepare the equipment for rappelling down a _____ high cliff. Along with Army ROTC cadre, Bill Thompson from admission, and Joshua Schmidt the athletic trainer on campus and both members of the Back Country Unit here in Prescott, helped prepare the equipment for the cadets. Each cadet was checked again for safety then clipped on to the rope.

Using their prior knowledge from the small slope cadets slide down slow at first and then gained confidence as they continued down the cliff. Rappelling down the vertical cliff was more graceful for the advanced members as they would jump away from the cliff face and let their brake arm out to glide down.

For day three of Zero Week cadets were shown the trails of Granite Mountain and even participated in the Field Leadership Reaction Course here on campus. Zero Week was a great opportunity to introduce cadets not only to benefit of Army ROTC but what Embry-Riddle and the Prescott area had to offer.

"The army is in need of talented officers," said Major Brooks, "for operations in military intelligence and aviation. So Embry-Riddle's degree programs like Global Security Intelligence and Aeronautical Science go hand in hand with the Army's growing requirements." Scholarships have increased dramatically over the past few years and offer a full range of benefits.

Army scholarships cover tuition, room and board, books, and even include a monthly stipen. There are a variety of different types that can help the brand new freshman to the senior who is looking for a fast paced career.

Army ROTC gave out twenty-four four-year national scholarships to new freshmen coming in from high school this fall. Cadet Command can give out a selection of scholarships ranging from one to four years. Each scholarship offers ways to accelerate and even earn bonuses as you progress through the program

There are also three year scholarships available with the National Guard. Cadets not only attend ROTC events on campus but also participate in monthly drills with their National Guard unit on the weekends.

"There are a thousand and one ways I can get you in," said Captain MacGregor, "if you are willing to work hard."

For more information or to contact Army ROTC stop by the office in building 81 right next to the Activity Center or call and speak to someone directly at x3870.

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