ROTC
program returns to NEMCC campus
By
Emily Kelly, Staff Writer
Published
10/05/2009
Northeast
Mississippi Community College now offers Army Reserve Officer Training
Corps (ROTC) classes.
Army ROTC is a four-year
program designed to teach students military history as well as army
leadership skills.
“The main reason
we are excited about working with the Army ROTC is that they do
not require a cross-town agreement as the Air Force ROTC did,”
said Northeast Dean of Instruction Charlie Barnett. “The other
reasons are the amount of tuition scholarships, stipends and signing
bonuses (students receive from joining the program).”
Air Force ROTC has previously
been on the Northeast campus but according to Barnett, required
Northeast students to drive to Oxford on a regular basis -- one
or two times a week.
Students can complete
the first two years of the program at Northeast and then transfer
to Ole Miss or any other school that offers the four-year ROTC program.
Some of the other schools
in the Magnolia state that offer Army ROTC programs are Alcorn State
University, Belhaven College, Jackson State University, Millsaps
College, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi College,
Mississippi State University, Southern Mississippi, Tougaloo College
and William Carey University to go along with Ole Miss.
There is no obligation
for the first two years of the ROTC program. After sophomore year,
a student must sign a contract. Once students complete the four-year
program, cadets can choose between active duty in the Army or the
National Guard.
ROTC’s ultimate
goal is for a student to get a degree and after graduating, students
will become a Second Lieutenant in the military. Cadets may receive
a bachelor's degree in any major they so choose.
Physical training is
a very important part of ROTC program. ROTC students meet three
days a week for physical training at 6 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and
Friday and workout for about an hour on campus.
Freshmen entering the
program are required to take one class a week on Mondays and one
lab per week on Thursdays as well as participate in physical training
activities.
Returning sophomores
may take one class on Monday, one class on Wednesday and a lab on
Thursday. Sophomores are also required to take part in physical
training.
Some of the benefits
of ROTC are learning leadership skills, integrity, loyalty and duty
and earning scholarships.
For those interested in more information about Northeast’s
Army ROTC program, one may check the Northeast website at http://www2.nemcc.edu/Webmaster/ROTC/index.html
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