Tulio Huggins
A Week in the Life of an ROTC Cadet
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!
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!
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