Preparing freedom's guardians
Duke Battalion cadets participate in past Veterans Day observance
"For those
who have passed
For those to
come…
Reach for
excellence"
Those words
printed on a simply designed sign above the JMU Army ROTC Alumni corridor to
the offices of James Madison University's Military Science Department sum up
the Army ROTC way of life, according to Lt. Col. Robert Pettit and Maj. Craig
Gibson.
"We have
high standards here," said Pettit, head and professor of military science.
"We demand excellence from our cadets and MSCI department staff."
And the JMU Army
ROTC unit gets excellence from its cadets, both collectively and individually.
The Duke Battalion is a four-time winner of the Douglas A. MacArthur Best Army
ROTC Battalion Award, earning the honor in 2010, 2004, 1998 and 1992.
In its 38-year
history – the battalion was established in 1974 in an agreement with the
University of Virginia and became a host program in 1979 – the unit has developed
the skills necessary for individual accomplishments at high levels. As a cadet,
now 2nd Lt. Miriam Daoud was named Virginia's Nursing Student of the Year. Read
more about Daoud at http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/general/news/general11905.shtml.
Cadet Daniel
Kator graduated as the No. 1 cadet out of 500 in the 13th Regiment at the
Leadership Development Assessment Course, held at Fort Lewis, Wash., in July
2012. Cadet Zachary Knowles was the first JMU sophomore cadet to graduate from
the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, also in July
2012.
On Nov. 17, more
JMU students are on track to make their mark as members of the Duke Battalion
and future military officers. Pettit will administer the contracting oath to 11
new cadets at halftime of the JMU-Old Dominion University football game.
Designated as
Military Appreciation Day, the Nov. 17 observance will feature representatives
of the U.S. Army literally dropping into Bridgeforth Stadium. Members of the U.S.
Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team, the Black
Daggers, will deliver the football for the 7 p.m. game, which will be broadcast
on the NBC Sports Network.
Looking forward
to Nov. 17, Pettit and Gibson see JMU's newest contracting cadets as indicative
of young men and women choosing military leadership training. "U.S. Army Cadet
Command is focused on the quality of the lieutenants that are commissioning,"
Gibson said. "The quality of the cadets – across the nation – is rising. We're
seeing that the quality of students that are coming into ROTC are the cream of
the crop out of high schools – top athletes, top academics, leaders in school
clubs and organizations."
"This is my
fourth fall here," Pettit said, "and this is the best group of
prospects, potential cadets I've ever seen since I've been here. They want to
serve the nation, they want to be Army officers."
A total of 165
cadets, including some who have not yet contracted, make up the JMU unit.
Fifty-nine of the cadets are first-year students or MS1s.
"JMU plays
a big role in our recruitment," Pettit said. "We have a wonderful
relationship with the JMU Admissions department. We can't say enough about
Roger Burke, who works hand-in-hand with Major Gibson, our recruiting operations
officer. We start with a foundation of excellent students."
With that solid
base, the faculty and upper-level cadets work to build the academic, physical
and leadership abilities of each cadet. Pettit points to multiple reasons JMU
is so successful in developing outstanding military officers. "It starts
with the quality of student. It starts with a university that supports the
military science department and Army ROTC. A professional staff, our cadre
members, excellent academic professors and really our overall commitment to
excellence. I just think every day we are doing the best that we can to educate
and teach."
No matter what
career JMU's outstanding cadets choose immediately after graduation and beyond,
their leaders at the university believe they are well qualified to succeed. "In
connection with JMU, we are helping to prepare them for more than just a job,
it's a profession with a subculture of values and ethics," Gibson said. "You
have to subscribe to that and that this is a way of life. It's more than a
paycheck. When students understand this, it becomes about something bigger than
themselves."
"Our
mission is to educate and teach these cadets leadership skills and put them in
positions to plan and lead other cadets and organizations," Pettit said.
"At the end of the day, when it's time to walk across the stage and not
only get their diploma but raise their right hand, take an oath to support and
defend the Constitution and go lead America's most prized possessions –
American soldiers – we take a lot of pride in ensuring that every one of those
new officers is the quality that our nation deserves."
Related links:
James Madison
University Duke Battalion
http://www.jmu.edu/rotc/
Operation Purple
Pride
http://www.jmu.edu/bethechange/operation-purple-pride.shtml
# # #
Nov. 9, 2012
