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rotc • conunuED PRom i would join to pay for college, Ousey said now cadets are aware of what they are enrolling into. “Years ago kids would sign up for ROTC as a way to get their college paid for, but we have kids that we commissioned last year that are now in Iraq or Afghanistan,” Ousey said. “None of the cadets are under the impression that they are going to graduate, get their commission and not have to serve somewhere in a hostile place.” The criteria used by the Army ROTC to evaluate potential officers are called the Scholar Athlete Leader, Ousey said. “For scholarship were looking for a 2.5 GPA, scored well on their SAT/ACT,” Ousey said. “The academic qualities are about the same as the . university’s. Army is an outdoor sport, so obviously the kids that like to do things outdoors and participate in outdoor activities fit the athlete requirement. Physical fitness is the key to military readiness. And then leaders, young men and women who have already shown leadership qualities in school, , church or at work. They have already shown the ability to get people to do stuff that needs to get done.” The difference between I joining an Army ROTC program and enlisting in the Army is that enlisted soldiers are sergeants and privates of the Army, but the officers are the leaders, Ousey said. A cadet also graduates from college, is commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army and is considered the same as a cadet who comes out of West Point or other military academies. “It’s kind of apples and oranges, guys that the local recruiter went to high schools to try and sign up, those are enlisted soldiers irt the Army. Army ROTC strictly produces officers,” Ousey said. Cadet Staff Sergeant and third-year geology student Frank Caruccio agrees. “The leadership skills that I have learned in my ROTC class are phenomenal,” Caruccio said. Caruccio plans to stay in the military after graduation. “The major reason why I joined Army ROTC was because I realized that I really wanted to do my part for my country,” Caruccio said. “I plan on making the military my career when I graduate. I received a National Guard Scholarship this year that will pay for school and when I graduate will put me in the seat of an AH-64 apache helicopter. I would not have that opportunity if I was not in ROTC.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@giom.sc. edu SPRING BREAK Packages now available! BOOK EARLY for biggest savingsl!! H TRAVELCUTS 1-800-592-CUTS (2887) _See the world your way Call or book online! fKBBESSKd MOLSONl®* SKI SNOIIIBORRD PRRTV nnk LI .800.999.ski.9 I SKjTRAVELXONm Q,6/VhM AN HISTORIC RESIDENCE Efficiency $550 One Bedroom ' $610 Two Bedroom $645 Rent includes all utilities and cable TV. All rates quoted are based on a one year lease. (Flexible leases available) Located across from the University of South Carolina Horseshoe and the State Capital, Cornell Arms offers the premier location for downtown living. (803) 799-1442 1230 PENDLETON STREET COLUMBIA, SC 29201 Make Janua Register for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service online at www.sa.sc.edu/ocsp/mlk.htm Last day to register is December 10 CALLUS IF YOU SPILL ANYfUMM JUICE ON YOUR COMPUTER COMPUTER REPAIR • COMPUTER MAINTENANCE • DATA BACKUP PRIVACY PROTECTION • VIRUS REMOVAL • FLAT RATE PRICING GEEKSQUAD.COM 1 800 GEEK SQUAD GEEK SaUAO- PRECINCTS NOW IN ALL BEST BUY' STORES ^ CMfcHFUStMO »7M 2 “