The last three and a half years have been the most challenging and rewarding years of my life due in a large part to ROTC. The Fighting Sioux Battalion does a great job of taking people and developing them from individuals into leaders. During my first year as a freshman, I gained a basic understanding of the Army as an organization and as a structure, and I also started to learn standard Army skills and the fundamentals of teamwork. Once I entered my sophomore year I further refined the skills I had learned my freshman year, and I was introduced to the Army’s style of leadership. Then, during my junior year, I fully developed my skills as a leader through leadership positions in squad, platoon, and even company levels of the Fighting Sioux Battalion. Now, as a senior, I am more aware of what it will be like to be a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. As a senior, you are given a task and a purpose and expected to carry them out as a commissioned Army officer would.

            Although I do enjoy all of the fundamental training that each cadet receives, one of my favorite parts about being a cadet in the Fighting Sioux Battalion is the numerous opportunities for extra training. If you are motivated and enjoy constantly pushing yourself to be better, there are a great number of ways for individuals to reach higher than they ever have before. Some of the programs and extra training that I was fortunate enough to be involved with during my ROTC career are the Ranger Challenge 9-man competition for three years; the Sandhurst Competition in West Point, NY, for two years; Airborne School after my sophomore year, and a month long cultural language internship in Russia after my sophomore year. Not only are these programs a great way to receive extra training, but they also provide individuals with some of the most unique opportunities that few college students will ever experience. I cannot think of any other college organization that would pay for students to experience such things as the St. Petersburg skyline at sunset from the roof of St. Basil’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg Russia or to jump out of a C-130 at night.

            Above all else, the best part about being in Army ROTC and the Fighting Sioux Battalion is the people. College can be a challenging place for anyone, whether you are a valedictorian or a scholarship athlete. However, ROTC places you in an environment where everyone is motivated and has similar goals. This allows for a competitive environment in which cadets constantly push each other to be better physically, mentally, and academically. This allows for the development of better teambuilding and leadership skills, but even more importantly it allows for the development of even better friendships. I have met the majority of my best friends in ROTC and I plan on remaining in constant communication with them for the rest of my life. Overall, I can say that my decision to join Army ROTC is the best and most rewarding decision of my life. Army ROTC has prepared me to be an officer in the United States Army, and I look forward to serving my country and leading the best and the brightest soldiers our country has to offer.

My name is Cadet Benjamin Miller and I am currently a junior at the University of North Dakota as well as an MS3 cadet in the Fighting Sioux Army ROTC Battalion. Joining ROTC and becoming an officer in the Army was something I had always considered, but I never thought that I would actually be on the path to make it happen. I had originally enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 2007 as a Military Police Officer and I attended training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. My time as an enlisted soldier convinced me that I not only wanted to make the Army a career, but that I wanted to be to able lead soldiers and make a positive impact that would make things better for them.

          While looking for colleges in high school, my uncle told me about UND and their aviation program. He knew that becoming a helicopter pilot for the Army was a goal of mine and suggested I check it out. We visited campus, and I found out that UND commissions over 10% of the Army’s aviators each year. I immediately knew that this was the way I would reach my goal of becoming an Army officer, as well as a helicopter pilot.

           I came to UND in 2009 and felt welcomed from the start. I was very lost and confused as to how ROTC and college life worked, much less operated together, but having juniors and seniors as mentors helped me figure out how to balance college life and my ROTC commitments. Almost immediately you can develop a close-knit group of friends within ROTC, and they all will help you and challenge you to raise your standards higher and higher for the rest of your college career. You will learn how to work with your friends to identify problems, adapt, and to get the job done. The cadre here in the Fighting Sioux Battalion are always striving to work for the cadets. Their main goal is to help you succeed, first as a student, and then as a future Army officer.

           If you are looking to become a commissioned officer in the United States Army I would highly recommended coming to UND and just giving it a try. The experiences and the friendships you will gain from this program will help you to succeed no matter what your goals may be. 

My name is Chelsey Williams and my home town is Elko, MN.  I chose the University of North Dakota because of its reputation for having an excellent nursing program.  The summer before my freshmen year is when I decided to join the Army ROTC program.  Another nursing student in the program was helping me sign up for my classes and after talking to her about her experiences throughout the program, I was hooked.  Although this student may have helped push me in the right direction, my main reasoning for joining came from my deep pride in the United States and my desire to honor and serve.  During my first semester in the ROTC program I earned a four year nursing scholarship and contracted with the United States Army. Since then, ROTC has given me some outstanding experiences. 

            In my two years spent with the ROTC program, I got the opportunity to participate in a lot of unique training.  My freshmen year I served on the all female color guard and participated in both the 9-man Ranger Challenge and Buddy Challenge teams.  In high school I was by no means an amazing athlete that stood out above the rest, but by having physical training workouts three days a week and taking part in Ranger Challenge my physical fitness has increased to a level I have never been at before. It takes a certain mind set to go on 6-mile long-runs at 5:30 in the morning, trying to not fall out from the group, but I would never give up one second of my time in the program.  From the beginning of my freshmen year until now I have grown so much as a person, and I feel more confident than I have ever felt before. 

            In ROTC I have found a group of college students with the same passions and beliefs as myself.  Being part of the Army ROTC program is like being a part of a family.  The cadets and cadre do everything they can to help you grow as a leader and mature as an adult.  In the program each cadet has a mentor who is knowledgeable with the program, college life, and the world of academia who helps guide their mentee through each year and answers any questions you may have.  My mentor has helped me tremendously, especially through my first year when I was a freshman and nervous about entering the program.  I simply did not know what to expect coming into the program, but I was pleased to realize how welcoming the cadre and cadets were.  As a sophomore now I am more familiar with how things run, and I love every second of classes and training.  Not only have I met amazing people but I have gained leadership skills that will allow me to be successful in future endeavors. Through the program, I have improved myself both physically and mentally. I have learned a great deal about military doctrine and tactics.  But more important than any of these, I have made friends that will last the rest of my life.