The great thing about people coming through an ROTC program here at JMU or anyplace else is that they learn they can do a lot of things they never thought they were capable of. You know, since High School, I always wanted to be in the army but I also wanted to go to college with a bunch of my buddies and ROTC was a way I first heard about from a counselor in High School he told me about it. I applied for a scholarship and got a four-year scholarship. They decided to pay for books, tuition and they were giving me five hundred dollars a month. You just have to apply usually in senior year of high school, you have to be interviewed, and you have to take a physical fitness test and if they like you they offer you a scholarship.

I joined because of the educational benefit and for financial stability. I wanted to graduate with a degree and ROTC was able to help me get my degree and pay my tuition. And I discovered you can get all the benefits, through the Army and not have to do the stringent West Point or Academy-oriented base curriculum and lifestyle.