2008 Woodie Awards
ROTC returns to Salisbury campus; re-establishes univ. partnership
Andrew Marchetta
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: News
After 10 years of inactivity, the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Salisbury University in Maryland is making a comeback with the help of the University of Delaware.
Jim Adkins, secretary of Veteran Affairs for the state of Maryland, said he was at Salisbury for the initial formation of its ROTC program in the '70s as an instructor. Many students from this time period are now colonels in the military, he said.
"I think it's a great opportunity for the Salisbury students to pursue an ROTC commission," Adkins said.
Even for those not going into military service, their time in the ROTC program gave them some insight on how military forces work in this nation, he said.
Adkins said the University of Delaware and Salisbury have had a long partnership. ROTC programs were cut across the nation in the '90s as many universities reduced their budgets.
The beginning of the ROTC program at Salisbury represents a small part of the expansion of ROTC programs across the nation, he said.
Salisbury junior Ryan Holmes said he appreciates the ROTC program's return to his university.
Holmes said before the arrival of the ROTC program, he needed to attend physical training sessions at 5 a.m.
He said the days when he had exams in his physical training session were especially difficult for him. Those days involved waking up at 2:30 a.m. and leaving at 3 a.m. to drive to Delaware State University. At DSU, Holmes said he would exercise. After physical training, he would drive back to Salisbury to take classes. He would then drive back to DSU for more ROTC sessions and return to Salisbury later that day.
"I [had] to live on Red Bull for those days," Holmes said.
Interest in ROTC activities increased after Salisbury students saw him and others wearing uniforms around campus, he said. At least five or six students were interested in actively participating in an ROTC program at Salisbury.
Holmes said they had to have 12 people show interest in order to be eligible to receive an instructor.
Jim Adkins, secretary of Veteran Affairs for the state of Maryland, said he was at Salisbury for the initial formation of its ROTC program in the '70s as an instructor. Many students from this time period are now colonels in the military, he said.
"I think it's a great opportunity for the Salisbury students to pursue an ROTC commission," Adkins said.
Even for those not going into military service, their time in the ROTC program gave them some insight on how military forces work in this nation, he said.
Adkins said the University of Delaware and Salisbury have had a long partnership. ROTC programs were cut across the nation in the '90s as many universities reduced their budgets.
The beginning of the ROTC program at Salisbury represents a small part of the expansion of ROTC programs across the nation, he said.
Salisbury junior Ryan Holmes said he appreciates the ROTC program's return to his university.
Holmes said before the arrival of the ROTC program, he needed to attend physical training sessions at 5 a.m.
He said the days when he had exams in his physical training session were especially difficult for him. Those days involved waking up at 2:30 a.m. and leaving at 3 a.m. to drive to Delaware State University. At DSU, Holmes said he would exercise. After physical training, he would drive back to Salisbury to take classes. He would then drive back to DSU for more ROTC sessions and return to Salisbury later that day.
"I [had] to live on Red Bull for those days," Holmes said.
Interest in ROTC activities increased after Salisbury students saw him and others wearing uniforms around campus, he said. At least five or six students were interested in actively participating in an ROTC program at Salisbury.
Holmes said they had to have 12 people show interest in order to be eligible to receive an instructor.
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