Hi guys! The name's Tulio (yes, like the guy from Rio) Huggins, and I am navigating my first year at Dartmouth! I am from the beautiful state of Pennsylvania, where I have lived for the past couple of years. I hope to study either Government or History, but I'm open to other majors as well. In my free time, I love to hang out with friends at Christian Union, paint, and take pictures! Feel free to ask any questions you might have about Dartmouth. I hope that you all have a blessed day!
Waking up at 6 in the morning has been a culture shock. I'm usually the only one up on my floor, and Dartmouth's campus is pretty empty at this time, so biking across the Green in front of Baker Library is usually peaceful.
Is this some sort of weird class that meets at super-early hours in the morning? Is it some sport that requires crazy time commitments?
No and no. What I'm describing is ROTC or Reserve Officers Training Corps.
ROTC is a program created to commission Second Lieutenant Officers into the US Army to serve all over the world. Through Physical Training (PT), Military Lab, and Military Science classes, the Dartmouth ROTC program trains cadets for leadership in every aspect of life.
I have been doing ROTC since the start of the term, so I thought it would be nice to bring you along on my week as an ROTC cadet! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!
Monday: I wake up at 6 and get on my bike to head out to Leverone Field House, which is where we do PT. Our workout starts at 7, but I like to get their early, especially since it gives me time to do my devotionals. Today's workout was a circuit that included pull-ups, pushups, situps, air squats, and a run. I was worn out by the end!
Tuesday: Tuesdays are the days we do Military Labs, which are times where we work on military skills such as land navigation. Today was a 6-mile ruck, which is pretty much a fast walk with a big backpack on. It was a mental battle, but I am proud that I was able to persevere through that challenge!
After our six mile ruck, we were all happy to take our backpacks off!
Wednesday: Wednesday was another PT day, but afterward was our Military Science class, which is when cadets learn more about what the Army is and its various aspects. Today, we learned about the different ranks of the military. It was an insightful lesson that made me understand more about how each part of the military works together to achieve a common goal.
After our military science class, I was able to get a picture of some of my fellow '23s in ROTC.
Thursday: Off day! I slept in, but I tried to do my homework early so I could go to sleep early for Friday!
Friday: For PT today, we went to Alumni Gym and did some weights. It was a nice change of scenery, and it was a good opportunity to make use of the great facilities at Dartmouth!
All and all, ROTC has been a great opportunity for creating better time management and pushing myself to new limits. I am thankful for the time I have had with Dartmouth ROTC, and I am looking forward to the upcoming terms with the group!
I was attracted by the opportunity to engage with first-year residents and shape their Dartmouth experiences, in addition to working with other UGAs and staff who shared my interest in helping others.
We so very wish you could step onto Dartmouth's campus yourself to witness the beauty of our winters live, but COVID-19 has made visiting campuses extremely difficult. I would love to share some of my favorite photos from this past snowy week!
With lots of things (understandably) still closed on campus, it's nice to know that study spaces are beginning to open up again in a safe and responsible way.
In previous winters, I was able to skate on Occom Pond, usually at events with my Living Learning Community, and I'm glad to see that we're still able to take part in such winter festivities even with COVID-19 restrictions.
After our six mile ruck, we were all happy to take our backpacks off!
After our military science class, I was able to get a picture of some of my fellow '23s in ROTC.
