In the middle of his weekend long ROTC field training camp at Morgan State University, freshman Cadet Stephen Dunay returned to Hopkins in order to study for his chemistry test.
Dunay has learned many important time-management skills from his participation in the Hopkins ROTC program.
ROTC, or the Reserves' Officers Training Corps, provides students with the tactical training they need in order to gain a better understanding of leadership, management and teamwork; skills which they can apply to both their academic and future careers.
The strength and reputation of the Johns Hopkins ROTC program draws forty cadets not only from Hopkins but also Towson University, MICA, Villa Julie and the University of Baltimore.
During a regular week, the cadets in ROTC spend three hours in physical training. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 6 a.m., cadets meet to participate in running, push-up and sit-up drills, or ruck marches.
On Thursdays, cadets are expected to wear uniforms to a special ROTC-oriented class with weekly reading assignments. On Friday afternoons, the ROTC recruits gather at the Johns Hopkins ROTC battalion. Alternating Fridays include open days where the cadets may participate in fun games such as basketball.
The physical fitness built during these training hours is tested once a month. Cadets are expected to do a certain number of push-ups and sit-ups, in addition to finishing a two-mile run for the test. The expectations during these tests change over time and there are different expectations for men and women.
During training sessions, cadets are taught a lot of "life skills"- tactical response activities that can be applied to both the Army and subsequent future careers.
This summer, Dunay and his fellow cadets solidified their commitment to the Army with their participation in field training exercises. Field training occurs for a week before the beginning of fall semester. The training is an extensive process that involves many aspects before the training is considered complete.
First, they endure a PCI, or pre-combat instruction, during which their bags were inspected to ensure that they had packed what they would need in a field of combat; "nothing else and nothing more."
The weather prevented the cadets from experiencing the "hands on" work in an actual field-instead they were introduced to the Army in the battalion.
That night, Master Sergeant Eversmann showed the cadets the blockbuster Black Hawk Down. In the film, actor Josh Harnett plays Eversmann, who lead a group of troops in Somalia during the Battle of Mogadishu. At night, the cadets performed their "guard duty" - one hour shifts of watching over the troop, an event that would take place in the field.
On Saturday morning, the Hopkins ROTC troop traveled to Morgan State University.
There, the Hopkins cadets joined the Morgan State MS3s to participate in tactical drills for the day. At the end of the Saturday training, Dunay left to focus on his Hopkins studies.
"You definitely learn how to manage your time," said Dunay. "The Army always puts academics first."
The cadets also practiced basic rifle marksmanship, learning to shoot targets at distances ranging from 25 to 300 meters. After the shooting range, the cadets spent five hours cleaning their weapons; a time in which they were allowed to relax and eat pizza.
The amount of time that cadets spend together creates a tight knit group of friends.
"I like the camaraderie in ROTC," said Dunay. "Everyone looks out for each other."
