Campus ROTC program among nation's best

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, IU is fulfilling a patriotic duty. Founded in 1917 in accordance with the National Defense Act of 1916, the US Reserve Officers' Training Corps program operates out of the military science building, 814 E. Third. St., and always welcomes prospective volunteering students. \nIU began offering classes in military instruction in 1840, and civilian faculty often instructed students in drill and tactics during the Civil War. \nThe IU ROTC has been recognized as a "Distinguished College" by the U.S. War Department since 1920 for maintaining one of the top 20 units in the country. And from 1922 until 1942, freshmen and sophomores even were able to receive military credit for participating in the University's marching band, according to the IU ROTC's Web site. \nIn 1942, the campus community offered female students the opportunity of joining the Women's Auxiliary Corps, the first of any American university. Also, the IU ROTC was one of the first such programs in the country to formally accept women in 1972.\nCurrently, students are offered the possibility of enlisting in the Army or Air Force while earning a college degree. Sophomore Rob Devitt, an Army ROTC cadet, has earned college credit for classes such as leadership and land navigation. \n"I've always been interested in the military and I want to be an officer in the Marines," he said. "In the ROTC you can just take classes or contract in."\nSix people graduated from the Army ROTC both in 2001 and 2002. Data for the Air Force ROTC was unavailable at press time.\nThe average length of service for Army and Air Force ROTC cadets varies upon graduation, depending on the specific contract stipulations signed by each cadet. Cadets wear the government-issued uniforms once a week -- Army on Thursdays and Air Force on Fridays.\nSenior Steve Freeman joined the Air Force ROTC to fly millions of dollars worth of aircraft machinery before he pursues a law degree.\n"I think, like most people here, it's a family thing. A lot of my relatives are pilots so I've always wanted to be a pilot," he said. "There are a lot of great benefits to joining the ROTC. Your full-tuition and book expenses are paid, and you receive a monthly allowance."\nSenior John Ippoliti looks forward to the job security of a military career, considering the U.S.'s deep involvement in foreign affairs. \n"I'm doing this because I really like it, and I really want to serve my country. I'm looking forward to not having the worry of job hunting when I graduate," the Air Force ROTC cadet said. "The military has a job to do: defend and protect a nation. When we are called to war, we are called to do a job." \nJoining the ROTC seems relatively less complicated than receiving a discharge for not fulfilling your contractual obligations. If a cadet gets expelled from the University for misconduct, the Army and Air Force reserve the right to immediately enlist him or her into active duty. Ippoliti believes his passion for military service outweighs any drawbacks.\n"It's like anything else in life, if you love what you do you make it work," he said. "Our job is to be students. It's great to do work for the ROTC, but academics are priority No. 1."\nDevitt encouraged students to stop by the IU ROTC office to research the many opportunities military service can provide.\n"It's OK, come in and be honest. Give it a shot and try something new," he said. "If you don't like it later on, there is no shame. People are made for different purposes." \n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu