Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ROT4 By CRIS RitUTON Gamecock Staff Writer The current Air Force ROTC enrollment at USC is still a far cry from the booming numbers of the mid-60;s, but the number of cadets is on the increase, officials said -this week. Col. Lee Mott, commander of USC's AFROTC detachment and professor of Aerospace Studies, believes enrollment is recovering from the anti-ROTC feelings which pervaded the late 60's period. "Then, it (ROTC) was the thing not to do," said Mott. About 160 students are enrolled in AFROTC at the present time, as opposed to a low of 125 in 1972, when the full effect of anti-Viet Nam sentiments became apparent. The enrollment was as high as 857 in 1964. Mott said the purpose of AFROTC's place on the university campus is simply "to attract college graduates to the Air Force." He acknowledged belief that officers are a necessity for today and wondered at the im plications of the previous enrollment problems. "Officers must be a social representation of a civilian society. When there are no officers coming from ROTC they must come from the academies-which can not supply enough-or be brought up from the ranks." Regarding the idea that ROTC should be taken off university campuses, Mott questioned, "Wouldn't it be less free if ROTC were not offered to those who wanted it?" Mott is originally from Louisiana, educated at Louisiana State, but has lived in many parts of the country. He is com paratively new at USC, having been with the AFROTC for a year PO) 805 HUGER 253-681 W NES S BAC Lie fra Be uj0 Lam ro Medoc 'After the hulla-ba now. Ideas AFROTC may bring to mn. in the way of staunch military training, are not wholly true. "We are very much geared to specialization. The program is like a laboratory," said Mott. He said the program changes are more a matter of emphasis than direction. Main emphasis is placed on communication skills, management and leadership. The first two years of ROTC training are still comprised of a General Military Course which explains the Air Forces's role in national security and the development of air power. But there are usually no more than six hours of drill per semester, and by the junior and senior years students may drop drill for a new program to meet the requirements of leadership and management. Lt. Col. Dick Fernald and Major Bob Hankins pioneered a leadership program in community service. Designed to teach leadership to high school and middle school students through various projects, the AFROTC students themselves thereby learn how to lead. The rewards are two fold, they said, the student gains experience while aiding the community. In projects last year, a hang glider was built, radios were constructed, and model rocketry experiments were con Q V E.L.L'S L i W-PN.E MA 424M.AitLWOOD 256-607 iT BEER. P O C LLEE3 11ch s L onad K eus ..Enrollment re illo of the late '60s, it wa ducted. Mott has seen several major changes come over the AFROTC department. All AFROTC graduates can still look forward to a steady job after college-four to five years of active duty in the Air Force. But now if they want to continue in school for a masters degree, college graduates may rmramrn. mme r U O rr (7,'8m ORETm D covering from s the popular thing to cr delay their obligation for five years. Last spring, the first female graduated from the AFROTC program and more are enrolled this semester. A ground school course for a private pilot's license is now available to all University students. Mott maintains that more people EMMMMMOMMMMMU Whatcha doing How'd you like to AND a free ti< USC-Duke Come to RH 317 for the OF CL) CANTON 6400 GARI CEDAR TERRA( O (opposite FAMOUS IN: TEI CHINESE & AM] ROMANTIC ATM < SPARKLING WIN FLOWER & MUSI OPEN 7 DAYS A WE drivingyc late '60s iticize the ROTC.' 'ot. Lee Mott must look at AFROTC in an ob jective light. "After the hulla balloo of the late-60's, it was the popular thing to criticize the ROTC," he said. "Most people think of the Air Force only as the military and not further. But the fact is that the Air Force offers the same jobs as civilians do; often with superior conditions," Mott added. mummmmmmumme. Saturday night? earn some money eket to the game? at 5 p.m. today details *nmumpumm.umna ASS RESTAURANT )ERS FERRY ROAD I SHOPPING CENTER to V.A. Hospital) 776-9199 776-9898 fRICAN FOOD OSPHERF WITH E, MIXED DRINKS, C. REASCNABLE PRICE. ~EK. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Rideth bus instea1d. SCE&G