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William Payne

English 101-11

Madeline Kinkel

11/3/19

The University of Alabama has an outstanding Army ROTC program. Originally it was known

as the corps of cadets. It was founded in 1860 and the cadets were originally housed in Clark

Hall, which is now the HQ for the College of Arts and Sciences. The first time Alabama cadets

fought for their nation was in the Civil War when Union soldiers attempted to take a bridge and

burn the campus to the ground (UA ROTC). The Army program at UA has produced a great

number of officers for the United States Army, ever since its’ foundation. The ROTC program

has had a big impact on the lives of students.

I know this from talking with cadets and my own personal experience. From my own

experience, I know it has made me a more disciplined person in my life. I have a strict schedule

and having ROTC in my day helps me keep my schedule orientated. I wake up at 5. Then

starting at 6 AM we all form up for Physical Training, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This

goes until 7 o’clock when we are all released for class for the day. On the subject of Physical

Training, it has really gotten me into shape. Which was one of the reasons I joined ROTC.

Mainly though I wanted to be an officer in the Army and I thought that this would be the best

path for me. I come from a long line of service men and I wanted to be the first officer in almost

90 years.

I have less of a unique experience that others in the matter of PT. Another freshman,

Danny McCarthy is on the University of Alabama Ranger Challenge team. The Ranger
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Challenge team competes in competitions ranging from the regional all the way up to a national

competition held at West Point in New York. These competitions involve large numbers of

obstacle courses, runs, and shooting exercises while still having a very high heart rate. I do

know that last one from experience, accurate shooting is not easy if you aren’t calm. Anywho,

McCarthy says, that “ Our PT is very different from the Normal Cadets. Most of our workouts

are oriented towards events or obstacles at the competitions.” (Danny McCarthy) Another

difference between the Ranger Challenge cadets and the normal battalion is that Ranger

Challenge has PT five days a week, and Friday is normally a ruck march. A ruck march is

basically a march for a distance and time, with their rucks, or military backpacks that can range

anywhere from 4-10 miles. I also asked Danny how else he thought that this first year of ROTC

had affected him. “The tight schedule, early mornings, and classes during the week has really

taught me good time management skills.”(Danny McCarthy. Danny is also an engineering major

which as most students know is already hard enough on its own.

Going back to the discipline ROTC gives cadets, Danny told me “sometimes I only get 2

or 3 hours of sleep a night but I always make sure I finish all of my work and get up for

PT.”(Danny McCarthy) Not many students have that kind of discipline, to run on virtually no

sleep, go to a punishing workout, then go back to the dorm and go to all of their classes. It takes

a lot out of a person, but that kind of work ethic is what the University of Alabama Army ROTC

program instills in cadets. The Majority of Cadets would tell anyone who asks that the program

is great and it prepares all those who participate and commission into the Army for a great

career.

After reading this, a person might wonder how they would get involved with an ROTC

program. For some, they just get a hold of any schools scholarship director, and then just start
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participating. For most however, myself included, we applied for an ROTC scholarship. Which

is a long application process of essays, interviews, PT tests and medical examinations. Not

everyone can get an ROTC scholarship. They have to show they are dedicated, physically fit,

and in good health. They also have to be smart and have natural leadership tendencies and

ability. My application process took about 8 months to complete. I started in December of 2018

and had my results back in late June on 2019. Now the Army will pay for my tuition sophomore

through senior year. It was an extensive process but definitely worth it.

One final thing to touch on is the camaraderie that ROTC produces in cadets. Personally

the other cadets in my year, are the first people I would call if I wanted to hangout or needed

help with something. In fact, my roommates will all be cadets, guys I met a mere two months

ago. Many of the seniors, or MS4s in the ROTC program are best friends. The greatest thing

that brings people together in the program is a common set of goals. Everyone is there to serve

their country, and commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. The ROTC

program at Alabama is a truly great program. It produces great Americans, who graduate from

an outstanding University, and go to an amazing family. Steeped in history, and having

produced a great number of officers, The Alabama Crimson Tide Battalion is one of the best in

the nation. That is why everyone who is in Alabama ROTC loves it. We all go through the suck

and embrace it. Lots of days, no one wants to get up, but the resolve of cadets is really

impressive, because even when it is freezing, and raining, everyone shows up, because that is

what the program instills in us. That is what we aim to instill in our future soldiers. It is a big

ROLL TIDE.
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Works Cited

“History.” Army ROTC, armyrotc.ua.edu/ua-army-rotc-history/.

McCarthy, Daniel. 29 Oct. 2019.