OCTOBER 2006 :: ON CAMPUS

A Soldier's Story
On Campus With Josh Van Buskirk, ROTC Cadet

By CAITLIN J. NORIS
Special to The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition

Some college students carry around a copy of their class schedule. Others stuff their wallets with pictures of friends from home. A few actually listen to their parents and keep their health insurance card handy.

Josh Van Buskirk carries around a miniature copy of the U.S. Constitution.

"I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution," explains Josh, a fifth-year senior at Cornell University who is part of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps. "I figured if I was possibly going to die for the Constitution, I should know what's in there."

[LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW]

In ROTC programs, college students train for military careers while earning a traditional degree. ROTC cadets take classes in military history, strive to achieve optimal physical fitness and carry out mock field missions with their squads. Upon graduation from Army ROTC, cadets are promoted to second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, and are obligated to serve a total of eight years in active duty or the reserves.

Many students find it difficult to understand why someone would "give up" the typical college experience for a military program, especially during this turbulent time.

"I never wanted to join the army growing up," Josh admits. However, the deteriorating situation in Iraq and dwindling Army recruitment numbers inspired him to join ROTC. Josh says that he thought it would be "hypocritical" for an athletic person like himself to support the war against terrorism in principle, but not be willing to fight.

Many people, says Josh, simply aren't willing to "throw away a high-paying job and risk their lives" to support a cause.

$500 a Month

Not all ROTC cadets look at the program that way. Some are attracted to ROTC by high-energy commercials describing opportunities to travel the world. Others are lured in by the promise of a decent post-graduation job or the availability of college scholarships. Fourth-year ROTC cadets can earn as much as $500 a month for living expenses.

Just like other college students, ROTC cadets find time to hold part-time jobs or internships, hang out with friends and participate in extracurricular activities. Josh is a defensive lineman on the Cornell sprint football team. He also used to edit and write for the Cornell Review, a conservative on-campus paper, until he got too busy with ROTC, football and academics.

"I probably don't have as high of a GPA as I otherwise would," says Josh. "There are a lot of people who spend all their time in the library, but I'd rather be doing something."

Cadets are busiest during their junior year, during which they devote 10 to 20 hours a week to ROTC. Junior year culminates in the Leader Development and Assessment Course, better known to cadets as Operation Warrior Forge. During this four-week summer program, cadets are graded on how well they handle a variety of leadership positions, including simulations of stressful combat emergencies. They also learn tactical skills and undergo weapons training.

Cadets are also encouraged to complete internships. Josh describes his internship at Fort Sill in Oklahoma as a powerful learning experience. He worked with the battery commander to shape up a group of freshly enlisted Army privates who were undergoing basic training. Josh used his ROTC training to teach the recruits basic marksmanship skills and assist with drills. "It was amazing to see them progress," he says.

Although people frequently approach Josh when he's in uniform and thank him for his service, some aren't so friendly. Josh says that a fellow cadet was "spit on in uniform" by a man who clearly didn't agree with U.S. foreign policy. Cornell students once threw snowballs at his squad when they were marching on-campus. Other ROTC events are occasionally protested by antiwar demonstrators.

Even some college administrators have a problem with the ROTC program. Since the height of the Vietnam War, ROTC has been banned from many Ivy League schools, including Harvard. Today, some colleges bar ROTC because they consider the military's controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding homosexuals discriminatory. Students at colleges without ROTC programs on campus have the option of commuting to a neighboring school for training. For example, cadets at Yale train with University of Connecticut students, but it's an inconvenient 60-mile drive away.

Go There and Do It

In Josh's opinion, whatever sacrifices ROTC requires are certainly worth it. In fact, he credits his experiences in ROTC with making him a stronger person, both physically and mentally. "I consider the military a continuation of my education," he says. "I've learned a lot about leadership and a lot about management."

After graduation, Josh will undergo several more months of officer training. Then, he could be stationed for active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, or a number of other locations.

Although his future is uncertain, Josh insists the possibility of going to war doesn't worry him.

"It's just like everything else," he says. "You go there, and you do it."

Wherever he goes, he's bolstered by the confidence, courage and skills he has gained through ROTC. And, of course, he'll bring the pocket-size Constitution to remind him why he's there.