The ROTC program started with only a few but is now thriving

The program started in 2005 with only five cadets but has vastly grown since then.

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In position, the cadets are reporting to the first sargent, who makes sure that everyone is accounted for. Patrick Martin | News Editor

Patrick Martin

Patrick Martin, News Editor

The Florida Atlantic Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program was formed in 2005 with just four cadets and the mission to teach students how to be leaders and become commissioned officers upon graduation.

Today, the program has more than 70 cadets in multiple jobs including cyber crime, aviation and military police.

Cadet 1st Sgt. Mariah Sontag, is MSIII. This was her first time doing the ropes course. She is in her three-week rotation of being the first sergent. Sontag is responsible for receiving the accountability report and helping the commander. Patrick Martin | News Editor
Cadet 1st Sgt. Mariah Sontag, is MSIII. This was her first time doing the ropes course. She is in her three-week rotation of being the first sergent. Sontag is responsible for receiving the accountability report and helping the commander. Patrick Martin | News Editor

The ROTC develops the next leaders of the U.S. Army while still in a college environment.




ROTC Rundown

A quick summary of what this program entails.

Cadets train in the T-11 building located on the outskirts of the Boca Raton campus. Maj. James Hillabrandt, the officer in charge of the program, thinks the location can be beneficial because the cadets can train in the open fields adjacent to the building. "Distance is nothing for us," said Hillabrandt regarding the building placement. Patrick Martin | News Editor
Cadets train in the T-11 building located on the outskirts of the Boca Raton campus. Maj. James Hillabrandt, the officer in charge of the program, thinks the location can be beneficial because the cadets can train in the open fields adjacent to the building. “Distance is nothing for us,” said Hillabrandt regarding the building placement. Patrick Martin | News Editor

Cadets who are in the ROTC basic course — the first two years in college when the ROTC classes serve as electives — do not have a commitment obligation.

However, cadets who are in the ROTC advanced course, or the last two years in college when the ROTC classes serve as electives and the cadet must take lab courses as well, do require a commitment to serve as a U.S. Army officer.

Cadets don’t always go overseas to fight: Army missions are always changing and the cadet isn’t guaranteed to deploy or not to deploy. It all depends on the unit and the branch.

Information provided by the U.S. Army. To find out more, visit the Army ROTC site.




The Owl Company is part of the Southern Strike Battalion originally formed at Florida International University, according to Capt. Michael Chezum, an instructor for the ROTC program.

FAU is one of just many schools in the Southern Strike Battalion. According to its website, FIU, FAU, Florida Memorial University, Barry University, the University of Miami, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Miami Dade College and Broward College are all in the battalion.

On campus they learn about improvised explosive devices, putting together operations orders and sexual harassment awareness, said Chezum. These classes are commonly referred to as “hip-pocket training.”

The classes will help the cadets when they conduct training at Snake Creek in Hollywood, Florida — where they perform both raids and key leader engagements. This training teaches cadets how to talk to leaders in the local community when they are deployed overseas.

Edwin Rivera, a freshman studying information systems, prepares to leap to a floating red ball on the power poles obstacle. The top of the pole is 15 feet off the ground. Patrick Martin | News Editor
Edwin Rivera, a freshman studying information systems, prepares to leap to a floating red ball on the power poles obstacle. The top of the pole is 15 feet off the ground. Patrick Martin | News Editor
Gabe bugallo, a junior criminology major, prepares to rappel down the wall after making it to the top. "Those little grips are so freaking small," he said referencing the rock wall. Patrick Martin | News Editor
Gabe Bugallo, a junior criminology major, prepares to rappel down the wall after making it to the top. “Those little grips are so freaking small,” he said referencing the rock wall. Patrick Martin | News Editor

The military science first-year cadets through the military science third-year cadets conduct ropes course training at FAU. [Usually, MSI through MSIII cadets are freshmen to juniors, according to Cadet Lt. Col. Skyler Philbin, a senior business major.]

On Dec. 4, 2015, FAU approved the inclusion of a military science minor.

“One of our primary motivations for creating a minor is to reward FAU cadets who work so hard to obtain a commission as an Army officer,” said Hillabrandt in a memorandum announcing the new minor.

The minor is open to all 3000-level students and they must make a commitment to ROTC upon selecting it.

Hillabrandt said, “In addition to the minor appearing on their transcript, completion of such a program would provide the student with credentials that can help secure employment or special assignments in the Army, state department or other government agencies.”

Patrick Martin is the news editor of the University Press. For tips regarding this or other articles he can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter.