There are a group of individuals on campus who are a part of a long standing tradition at this university. They often wake the rooster up in the morning and burn the midnight oil at night. They are college students like us while at the same time wearing the uniform proudly. Some do it to pay for college, others because they are carrying on a family tradition, but they all have one thing in common: an unmatched sense of purpose, duty and direction that many of us only dream of one day achieving.
The men and women of the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps deserve our respect and our admiration. They are aspiring future officers in our country's Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Hardworking and committed, they will be leading our nation's finest individuals during times of war and during times of peace. Some are already active-duty members coming to college to earn their degree, some went to high school with us and some may even be in our classes. They come from all parts of the country to study here and will all go around the world when they leave. They will command our nation's nuclear submarines, warships, infantry and jets.
A day in the life of an ROTC student is not always an easy one. Days often start as early as 5 in the morning and go late into the night. In addition to having to study and get good grades, they face the added challenges of keeping themselves morally, mentally and physically ready at all times. This means taking care of their bodies, going to class even if it's not required and making sure they never mislay their integrity for any reason whatsoever. They fulfill their duties both as a student and as an officer in training, and do so exceptionally.
We should never forget the impact these, our fellow students, have on the campus and the experiences they bring to it. During the school year they run blood drives, run in charity events, staff parking lots for football games and contribute to the community through volunteering both on the campus and in the city.
Not only do they serve our campus, but they also participate in many student organizations. They are members of the band, fraternities, sororities and other clubs many of us are involved in. They are some of the most passionate Badger fans on campus. Midshipman second class Carolyn Sienko of the Naval ROTC for example, marches in the band, regularly attends Badger sporting events, is an active member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, has organized a blood drive and loves to go swing dancing when she has the time.
At the same time that they are regular students here, many spend their summers training in all parts of the country and all parts of the world. They travel on ship to Australia, do field training in Alaska and go to Officer Candidate School in Virginia. They have flown planes, driven nuclear-powered submarines and fired every single type of weapon Rambo has in his closet. Some have had the opportunity to help with relief efforts around the worlds in places like Haiti and Africa. They all have a tremendous amount to offer our community, and we should both learn from and appreciate the experiences they bring to our university.
Some will become nuclear engineers, others will be doctors, but whatever they do after graduation, all will be serving our country both here in the United State and overseas. These individuals will be the ones who will be leading our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines into combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. It's important we take the time to get to know these people and thank them for what they are doing. The standards they hold themselves to are truly both impressive and admirable.
So next time you see one of your fellow students walking in uniform, remember they are giving up their time and their energy for a greater purpose. The challenges they face and the experiences they offer set them apart from any other student on campus. It is important we recognize these individuals as being important members of our student community and laudable members of society.
Matt Payne is a sophomore intending to major in Chinese and economics. We welcome all feedback. Please send all responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
