For this blog, I decided to ask some of my fellow cadets about their choice of joining Army ROTC, in which they explained their reasoning, beliefs, and/or motives. Every cadet has a different story, as cliche as it sounds. We come from very different lifestyles, families, and places. However, we all ended up choosing to be cadets and to be a part of something greater than ourselves.
The first cadet that shared the details behind her decision and her experience thus far, is Cadet Kyra Malone. Cadet Malone is a freshman (Military Science Level 1) from Macungie, PA with an intended major of Kinesiology.
When asked about why she chose to do Army ROTC, she said:
“When I was a kid, I used to love playing games pretending to be in the military with my friends. Also, I’ve always been a part of a team playing soccer from when I was 5 years old until I graduated high school. Once I found out about Army ROTC, I realized that it would be the perfect opportunity for me because the Army is one big team and I’ve always wanted to be in the military. Additionally, Army ROTC allows me to challenge myself and advance both personally and professionally while serving my country.”
The second cadet is Cadet Madeline Delly, also a freshman (Military Science Level 1) from Buffalo, NY with an intended major of Environmental Resource Management.
Cadet Delly had to say:
“The reason I chose to partake in ROTC is because of all the opportunity the program offers. Being a part of the United States Army has always been a dream of mine as well as attending my dream school Penn State. I also strive to better myself every single day and I believe that the Army values can make me the best possible version of myself. I’ve always wanted to be a part of something great and Army ROTC has allowed me to continue to set and achieve goals in my life I would have never thought were possible.”
The final cadet is Cadet Peter Wright, a freshman (Military Science Level 1) from outside Philadelphia, PA with an intended major of Political Science.
Cadet Wright had to say:
“I’m doing ROTC because for as long as I can remember the only thing I ever wanted to do was be a soldier. As I got older I learned about ROTC and felt that the best thing I could do to repay my country for everything it’s given me was to join the Army as an officer.”
Each of these cadets came from different towns, had vastly different majors, and different traits, yet each one had a desire to later serve their country. Despite the differences, these cadets as well as other cadets not only come to college to further their education but join the ROTC program to be future leaders of the US Army.