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| Enemy Prisoner of War Class |
| Junior ROTC Cadets (MSIII's) watch as Senior Cadets (MSIV's) demonstrate Enemy Prisoner of War Searches. |
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Students First, Cadets Second, Successful Always
Interested in finding out what other Cadets think of the University of Portland
ROTC Battalion? Here's where you can learn about the ROTC experience from
motivated students just like you.
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Cameron Sparks
Army ROTC Cadet
As a college freshman, the learning curve is quite steep. You have to learn to find your way around campus as well as learn the customs of the Army. It was a difficult day on the first Sunday on campus when the Army issues all of your gear. Between the rucksack and heavy duffel bag full of new equipment, I was completely frightened and almost ready to quit then and there. However, there is a great support network among the Army ROTC group: the squad leaders, peer mentors, and your Cadre. The ROTC family will even find you a tutor for your weaker subjects if you need it; you just have to ask. This also applies to the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). If you don’t pass the APFT, you aren’t thrown out—everyone will work with you so that you will pass the next one. After all, the Warrior Ethos says to “never leave a fallen comrade” – and right away you are considered a comrade. Truth be told, I was scared initially. Now that I am more comfortable and confident, I know that Army ROTC will be a great thing for me and the rest of my life.
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Daniel McIntosh
Army ROTC Cadet
As a Cadet, Airborne school was an amazing experience. It taught me patience, humility, and confidence. I learned patience as we sat in a hanger for hours waiting for a plane that never seemed to come. Humility came through listening to every Sergeant Airborne tell us how things were done. Confidence was built during jump week after making five successful jumps from a C-17 at 1200 feet. Going to Airborne is also a great opportunity for a Cadet to gain hands-on knowledge about the Army and the Soldiers that s/he will soon be leading.
Jumping out of the airplane is something I will never forget. When the jumpmaster opened the door, the sight of the ground 1200 feet below made the reality of this whole experience finally sink in. The intensely violent prop blast that came upon leaving the airplane was something that I had never felt before. I guess the ground missed me during my brief flight in the air because it pulled me back so hard that when I hit the ground I was almost certain I had injured something. But as I lay on the ground and watched my canopy gently floating down, covering my body I knew I had fallen through the sky and lived.
I was AIRBORNE.
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