'We Do Hard Things' Developing Agile and Able Officers

(top) Utah State University ROTC cadets participate in Field

Training Exercise (FTX) and work through infantry tactics twice a year during a two-day event at Camp Williams. This helps them develop confidence in their leadership and basic fundamentals

of tactical operations. (above) Aviation lab introduces cadets to aviation assets such as Utah National Guard Black Hawks. (left)

The Zodiac lab helps cadets key in on teamwork. Although they are just big rafts, the need to row as a team helps upper classmen hone their leadership skills through clear communication and build the trust and confidence of those that they will lead.

(center) Another plus, the program has its own ice cream flavor

created just for them: the mixture of raspberries, Oreo-style cookies, toffee pieces and chocolate is a palate pleaser. “ROTC” is on sale at the Aggie Creamery.

'WE DO HARD THINGS'

USU'S ARMY ROTC PROGRAM DEVELOPS AGILE AND ABLE OFFICERS

by Loren R. Webb

for valor magazine

Simply put, the purpose of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program in the Department of Military Science (MS) at Utah State University is developing practical training programs for future military officers and providing students an education in military science.

Currently, under the direction of Capt. Dusty Butler, department chair and assistant professor, the four-year is designed to commission future second lieutenants into the US Army and to develop agile military leaders.

To become an officer, an Army cadet has the option of choosing one of three commissioning routes: the ROTC program, officer candidate school, or direct commissioning through the national military academies. Those who choose the ROTC program are expected to complete four years of military training in addition to their chosen major of study. Upon graduation, cadets receive a minor in military science.

“The experiences they learn through this program teaches cadets how to adapt and adjust to change,” Butler said. He also noted that the ROTC program does not train cadets to focus on a specific enemy, but teaches them a mindset.

The curriculum breaks down like this: Freshmen or first-year cadets (MS1), receive an introduction to the military lifestyle including customs, traditions and structure, building on the seven Army Core Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. Sophomores (MS2) learn advanced team and squad-based tactics, and a fundamental understanding of how orders are given and received. During the junior year (MS3), emphasis is placed on advanced individual methodology where cadets learn to lead a squad or platoon. It includes classroom instruction and weekly “labs” where cadets are “put through their paces.”

Senior year (MS4) stresses leadership in a complex world, focusing on the decision-making process, military style. An example of that would be conducted at a brigade level where cadets figure out field training exercises through war games. Senior cadets strategize, produce plans and brief the cadre or military instructors on how they will carry out their objectives.

Physical conditioning is a major requirement in the program and military life in general—and cadets are expected to participate. The department has scheduled training at least three times a week and cadets are expected to participate. They perform specific exercises that meet the new Army Combat Fitness Test that enhances a soldier’s readiness on the battlefield. Many students maintain a personal fitness regiment through individual activities or team sports, such as running, weightlifting, intramurals or university-level team sports.

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES

The Department of Military Science averages an enrollment of 70 to 80 students per semester. Butler said cadets use the ROTC program as a stepping stone on their path to a military career; but why they join varies—some join to get a leg up on military training, others to acquire a specific skill set, and others because it’s family tradition. Nearly 60% of the ROTC cadets are members of the Utah National Guard.

At the end of the four-year ROTC program, graduates go on to Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) for advanced training in their individual skill set, such as infantry and armor, signal corps, military intelligence, logistics, aviation, medical, military police, engineering or the judge advocate general’s corps.

USU’s program is in the top 20% of ROTC programs in the

United States, according to Butler. From the senior class of 2019,

USU had five out of seven commissioned candidates, graduating in the top 10% of the roughly 6,000 ROTC graduates LEARN MORE nationwide. ABOUT ROTC PROGRAMS Commissioned candidates USU Dept. of Military Science militaryscience.usu.edu who graduate as “distinguished military graduates” receive US Army Cadet Command cadetcommand.army.mil extra points according to (More about ROTC scholarships) an order merit system that USU AF Cadet website includes their total grade point aerospace.usu.edu average, physical fitness test Hill Air Force Base results, and for participating hill.af.mil in such things as intramural athletic competition or holding down a part-time job. These graduates are “pretty much guaranteed” the BOLC they want.

Butler said it is rewarding to watch cadets develop from an 18-year-old fresh out of high school to becoming a leader and watch their maturity progress. “By the time they graduate, they realize they are part of a larger organization than themselves.”

RICH MILITARY HERITAGE

The Military Science Department at USU was organized in 1892, four years after the school was established. Although it started small, the number of students grew from 200 in 1900 to more than 2,200 in 1950. The program was so successful and gained such prominence that USU became known as the “West Point of the West.” At the time, USU was commissioning more officers into the military than any school in the nation except West Point itself, according to Shawn Alan Harris, author of “West Point of the West: A History of the Department of Military Science at Utah State University.”

Cadets who enrolled in and graduated from the military science program served in the Spanish American War (1898). In fact, soldiers from the Utah National Guard earned the moniker “Utah Light Artillery” during the Philippine insurrection. Cadets fought alongside “Black Jack” Pershing as he unsuccessfully chased Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in the desert southwest (1916). Students who trained and drilled on USU’s Quad also fought in the trenches of World War I (1918-1920) and in the skies and battlefields of World War II (1941-1945). They also saw service during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and have fought in various conflicts in the Middle East.

“The training they received prior to becoming officers and enlisted men helped prepare them to fight and win the nation’s wars,” Harris stated. “And Aggies who served in peace and war have and are helping to preserve liberty throughout the world in unique and important ways.”

USU continued the military training traditions begun in 1892 until the program was terminated in 1997. The US Army overhauled its ROTC program at that time in conjunction with other major cutbacks in the military. In the spring of 2001, the Department of Military Science was reopened as a detachment of Weber State University’s ROTC, according to Harris.

MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP

Among those who have benefited from the military science program is Cadet Dawn Dimick from Las Vegas, Nevada, who graduated during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic with a double major in international studies and religious studies. “I’ve been passionate about theology and its intersection with culture for a long time,” said Dimick, who is pursuing a career as a chaplain.

Dimick enlisted in the Army Reserves following high school. She completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and

THE WEST POINT OF THE WEST

circa 1910

10-member Military Cadet Corps Rifle Team posing in dress uniforms.

1919

Utah Gov. Simon Bamberger addressing the 145th Field Artillery on the Quad prior to leaving for the battlefields of Europe, Feb. 17, 1919.

1932

Military Ball attendees dance under an array of draped 48-star American flags.

1942

Army and Navy personnel in front of the Chemistry Building (Widstoe Hall) during graduation commission.

did her job training in cargo transport at Fort Eustas, Virginia, before coming to USU in 2014. After a year in the military science program, she went on a mission to Russia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon her return, she re-enrolled and joined the 890th Inland Cargo Transfer Company based in Logan.

Dimick found the mentorship and leadership taught in the MS program most helpful, along with teaching students how to think critically and make smart decisions. “The cadre cares about your long-term development and want to help you succeed,” she said.

Dimick wants to help people and believes with chaplaincy and interfaith work she believes that there is a strong need for spiritual care. During her senior year, she was in discussions with the The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-day Saints to become a chaplain but was told the Church did not endorse female chaplains because of a preference for males who hold the religion’s priesthood. After applying for a social work job, she learned the Church was willing to endorse female chaplains on a case-by-case basis as long as they were married. But because she is divorced, she no longer qualified to apply through the Church. However, she does have a non-profit ecclesiastical endorsement that states she has the potential to become a chaplain.

Her next step is graduate school seeking a master’s in divinity at the Chicago Theological Seminary; afterward she hopes to be a chaplain. She continues to talk with representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-day Saints and eventually hopes she can obtain their endorsement.

Cadet Mary Sand of Arvada, Colorado, is a junior majoring in aviation maintenance management and minoring in military science. When she first came to USU, she looked for a military and aviation program. She is hoping to get an active duty Blackhawk helicopter assignment upon graduation. She wants to focus on flight, and eventually transfer to being a maintenance test pilot.

Sand likes how the leadership of the military science program helped answer her questions on the various career routes to becoming a pilot. Sand advises anyone looking into the program to do the research before joining “and make sure going into the military is something you really want to do, because it is a big commitment,” she said.

While Sand is the only female in her MS class, she said the guys have been really supportive. Balancing a military and civilian lifestyle has certainly had its challenges, but she has also learned from her experiences.

“I feel like I have really learned how to be vocal, and how to step out of my comfort zone,” Sand said. “The cadre has been willing to listen and encourage us to ask questions.”

Hailing from Brigham City, Cadet Damon Bodily always thought the Army was a cool career field. Certainly, it helped that his grandfather, Sidney Bodily, served in the Army for 34 years, including a stint in the Vietnam War. His father, Scott Bodily, also served in the Army. Bodily is majoring in economics and minoring in Russian and military science.

“The program has helped me develop leadership skills that I can use to work with other people in positive ways,” he said.

As a freshman Bodily was able to bond with a group of likeminded students, even if each knew they were eventually taking different routes of military service. “ROTC gave us a place with a positive environment and where we found friends.”

On graduation, Bodily said he wants a commissioned activeduty assignment in the Army where he can serve in military intelligence. He believes there are many opportunities for Russia and the United States to work together cooperatively. “We could find ways to work with them to improve international relations.”

Bodily’s personal mantra is “We do hard things” and building on that, he said when something is stressful, he knows with his military training, he can do hard things.

A native of St. George, Loren R. Webb has been a reporter in community journalism and a teacher of history and English in southern Utah and Nevada. An avid historian, he and his wife look forward to retiring so they can chase stories throughout the West.

1940s

Men posing with a small airplane. USAC provided aviation training to navy and marine trainees in radar technology as well as Army Air Corps, 318th aircrew.

1950s

ROTC Sponsor Corps were formed of a desire to be part of pomp and circumstance of military drills.

1960s

ROTC members training to use a piece of military artillery.

1960s

ROTC cadet being commissioned by a young woman, probably his wife.

circa 1970-1995

Allen Parker at the ROTC rifle range.