ROTC freshmen have chance to connect before school year, training begins

Although new IU ROTC cadets just settled into Bloomington and their dorms, each is keenly aware of the physical and educational training just around the corner.

So before the work begins, 13 ROTC scholarship recipients — as well as 32 non-scholarship recipients — relaxed with family and seasoned cadets Thursday at an orientation barbecue outside the program’s headquarters.

“I’m excited about the camaraderie of being around everybody and the experience that it’s going to give me,” said freshman Craig Kitchin while eating a freshly-grilled burger with his parents.

The Shelbyville, Ind., native and Wright Quad resident is one of the new cadets who was awarded an ROTC Scholarship, which provides tuition, book allowance and a living stipend for his four years of college. High school students interested in ROTC apply for the scholarship online and choose up to 10 schools in which they are interested in attending.

“These students demonstrated good leadership capacities,” said LTC Ralph Vargas, scholarship and enrollment officer and recruiting operations officer. “At ROTC we call it SAL. Scholars, athletes, leaders.”

“SAL,” Vargas said, is like a tripod. “Without one leg, you’re on the ground.”
Vargas also said this year’s scholarship recipients have an average SAT score of 1320 and a 3.7 GPA.

But after being initially awarded, in order to stay a recipient and begin training, the students must meet more than just educational standards in the form of a physical fitness and medical test. The physical test will include push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run. The physical fitness test isn’t the end, either. Scholarship winners are required to attend 5 a.m. workouts three days a week during the school year.

“I’m worried about it, yeah, but I’ll be fine,” Kitchin said.

CDT Nicholas Schatko, a senior and second-year cadet, said it is rare for cadets to fail the tests.

“They understand before applying for the scholarship that they will be part of the Army,” Schatko said. “I personally knew joining what it would mean physically.”

And this year, freshmen are not the only newcomers to IU’s ROTC program. LTC Michael Ogden, professor of military science, returned from active duty in July and will help run the program for three years. Ogden, born and raised in Indiana, said he is glad to be back and impressed by the young cadets.

“The graduation rate is well over 90 percent. The GPA is over 3.0,” Odgen said. “I look at the quality and professionalism. These are bright young men. It’s just obvious when you interact with them.”