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news
ROTC
prepares for fall recruitment
By Kristen Force
On-line Forty-Niner
The ROTC at Cal
State Long Beach hopes to spark student interest in the program
after facing a decline in membership since the mid 90s as
a result of staff and funding cutbacks.
Members of the
ROTC are working to increase awareness of the organization
around campus through information booths, ads and banners
at the University Bookstore, according to H.B. Schleuning,
assistant professor of military science.
"We're not
that well-known," Schleuning said. "So we are working
to reestablish ourselves and to get more visibility by students."
The program currently
has 45 cadets and Schleuning expects recruitment to increase
by one-third next fall. This estimate is based on the recent
interest expressed by students.
In the past two
years, membership has doubled but is still about 100 members
shy of the highest participation record set in the early 90s.
Although there
was a small surge of patriotism after the events of Sept.
11, there was not a significant increase in signups, according
to Schleuning.
"Part of the
problem over the past few years is the state of the economy,"
Schleuning said. "It's just been too good and people
have not needed a way to stand out from others who are also
looking for a job."
The ROTC, funded
by the U.S. Department of the Army, is a preparatory program
for students interested in joining the military after college.
Junior ROTC is
offered at many high schools across the nation, but Schleuning
said that only about 10 to 15 percent of current members were
involved in the program before college.
Any student is
eligible to participate and freshmen and sophomores can be
involved as much or as little as they choose. Once a student
reaches his or her junior year, that person must make a decision
about committing to the program.
To earn a commission
in the Army, an ROTC member must devote four semesters to
the training program, Schleuning said.
The ROTC provides
opportunities for weapons instruction, situational training
exercises and traveling to other locations for field training
exercises.
"We provide
color guards to organizations both on and off campus,"
Schleuning said. "Just about any event or group that
needs a color guard calls us."
The ROTC performed
at the Long Beach Grand Prix over the past weekend.
Although recruitment
continues year-round, the spring is a busy time because potential
students are making decisions about what school to attend
next fall and what activities they will be interested in participating.
Since the Army
is not drawing in a sufficient number of people now, the ROTC
programs in colleges may receive better funding if they can
attract more people.
One of the benefits
of higher membership is the opportunity to travel more frequently
and to more distant locations.
Larger enrollment
would also provide additional personnel for the program, which
currently has two full-time staff members.
Schleuning considers
the ROTC to be advantageous for all students, even those uninterested
in joining the Army after graduation.
"Studies show
that students involved in a program like this end up earning
more money than a student with the same education who lacks
this type of experience," Schleuning said. "The
leadership and management skills obtained are very valuable
and prove profitable in the job market.
Students interested
in learning more about the ROTC can attend an information
night from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the College of Business
Administration Building.
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