ROTC Cadet Carries On Grandfathers’ Legacy

We all see that building. You know, the one with the big letters that say ROTC on the front.

But do we really know what happens inside, or what ROTC even stands for?

For those of you who don’t, it means Reserve Officer Training Corps and its purpose is to train and builds self-confidence in the men and women who have and will protect our country.

Drew Myers, known as Brad to his friends is in his third year of the ROTC program at the University of Tampa.

Myers researched ways to join the military and found the ROTC Program on goarmy.com.

After browsing through schools, scholarships and applications Myers found a liking in the ROTC program UT offered and decided to apply.

“I like to think that I have matured a little faster than most kids who are not in the program,” said Myers. “I am training to be a leader and if I haven’t changed by the time I graduate then I haven’t done my job to be an effective leader in the U.S. Army.”

With both of his grandfathers in the Navy, Myers feels he was destined to hold a spot in the program.

One grandfather was a fighter pilot and the other worked on submarines.
Myers is currently a MSIII (Military Science) right now and will not hold a leadership position until next year when he will be a MSIV.

While in the ROTC Program, participants are free to pick their majors but they are required to take classes corresponding to ROTC.

The classes depend on what year a person is in the program but everyone participates in a lab which usually takes place on Tuesday afternoons in Plant Park.

The ROTC classes depend on what year in school a person is. For example, a freshman will take Military Science Leadership 101 and move on to more advanced courses each year.

“The great thing about ROTC is that you can choose your major and get a degree in which ever area you choose.” Myers chose Sports Management for his major.

Myers had a tough freshman year, not knowing what he got himself into. But his nerves calmed and as he stuck with it he began to love ROTC.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Myers.
PT, or physical training, formation starts at 5:45 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday’s. But with Myers’ sleeping skills he is able to fall back asleep after PT.

“What we do depends on the days because some days we could run five miles and other days we may not run and just do muscle failure,” said Myers.

ROTC members run in places like Bayshore, through downtown and around campus.

A typical day starts off with stretching as a battalion before everyone separates into different groups depending on their running ability.
After a run all the groups stretch and fallout for food and hygiene.

Some other drills that ROTC members partake in are different battle drills in Plant Park preparing them for the field and LDAC (Leadership Development Assessment Course) which occurs in the summer before a student’s senior year, which takes place in Ft. Louis in Washington State.
If a person does not pass the 26-day course then they will not become a Commissioned Officer.

“We practice our drills because each semester we have a JFTX training weekend where we go into the field to be evaluated on what we know,” said Myers.

After a long workout the food is eagerly welcomed by the recruits. They are not put on diets and can eat whatever they please, but while in the field that’s a different story.

M.R.E’s (meals ready to eat) are consumed when they get to the field.

They are high calorie meals to give the energy needed for a long period of time, since there is limited time to eat.

“I like them,” said Myers. “It just depends on what you get.”

Some meals consist of spaghetti and meatballs, chili and beans and tortellini.

“Without our superiors’ support we wouldn’t be going into the Army because there would be no one to lead the way and teach us what we need to know effectively in order to become Second Lt’s in the U.S. Army,” said Myers.

Myers is glad that he is guaranteed a job when he graduates and will have no debt to pay back.

“I have learned so much from this program in the three years that I have been in it and it has been the most rewarding experience,” said Myers.

His father’s side of the family is very supportive of him, while his mother’s side was hesitant at first but is now supportive and understands the commitment Myers has made.

“I have learned how to be a great leader. I have learned what it takes to succeed in life and that you can’t just take what you have for granted. I have learned that nothing in life is free and that you have to earn the respect of others around you and that you cannot just assume that you are going to be liked and respected,” said Myers.

Once Myers graduates he is going to proudly become a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army.

Michelle Magner can be reached at mmagner@ut.edu.

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