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ARMY ROTC

LEARN LEADERSHIP FROM THE BEST LEADERS

The Army ROTC program is only as strong as its instructors. That's why we provide such highly qualified faculty and staff for Cadets. See the kind of varied and interesting experiences instructors have had that make them the best ROTC faculty and staff.

The Professor of Military Science, LTC Ross Nelson swears in Cadet Cassie Donahoe

The initial oath of allegiance starts the Cadet experience in ROTC. The Professor of Military Science and all the Cadre members at the Prairie Fire Battalion are dedicated to mentoring Cadets throughout their college experience. The Cadre strive to help the Cadets grow as individuals, students and leaders.

	LTC Ross Nelson Professor of Military Science Hometown • Ivanhoe, Minnesota Education • M.A., Procurement and Acquisition Management, Webster University (2010) • B.S., Electrical Engineering, United States Military Academy (1996) Duty Stations • Fort Rucker, Alabama • Fort Drum, New York • Fort Carson, Colorado • Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Deployments • Albania • Macedonia • Kosovo • Bosnia • Iraq • Kuwait
	CPT David Larson Assistant Professor of Military Science Hometown • Hartford, South Dakota Education • B.S., Business Administration, University of South Dakota (2002) Duty Stations • South Dakota Army National Guard Deployments • Afghanistan
	MSG Michael Balis Senior Military Instructor Hometown • French Camp, California Education • Associate Degree, Central Texas College Duty Stations • Fort Bragg, North Carolina • Vilseck, Germany • Fort Drum, New York • Camp Casey, Korea • Fort Sill, Oklahoma • Camp Redcloud, Korea • Fort Carson, Colorado Deployments • Operation Just Cause (Panama) • Desert Shield/Desert Storm • Operation Iraqi Freedom (3 tours)
	SFC Larry Pennington MSIII Instructor Hometown • Adamsville, Tennessee Education • B.S., Business Administration, Troy University (in progress) • A.S., Business Administration, Troy University (2006) Duty Stations • Fort Hood, Texas • Fort Stewart, Georgia • Fort Bragg, North Carolina • Fort Lewis, Washington Deployments • Bosnia • Kuwait • Afghanistan • Philippines • Thailand • Korea SFC Pennington is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
	Mr. Damian Donahoe Senior Military Science Instructor Hometown • Hawarden, Iowa Education • B.S., Chemistry, University of South Dakota (1989) • M.A., Education, University of South Dakota (2002) • M.A., Strategic Studies, United States Army War College (2010) Duty Stations • Current member of the Iowa Army National Guard Deployments • Qatar • Afghanistan
	Mr. Jeffry Rarick Senior Military Science Instructor Hometown • Vermillion, South Dakota Education • B.S., Journalism, Ohio University (1979) • J.D., Law, University of South Dakota (2003) Duty Stations • Various Stations throughout the Continental U.S. • Germany • Korea Deployments • Korea • Iraq
	Mr. Gregory Kerkman Human Resource Assistant Hometown • Raeville, Nebraska Education • Bachelors of Business Administration (B.B.A), University of South Dakota (In Progress) • Associates Degree (Business Management), Central Texas College (2010) Duty Stations • Nurnberg, Germany • Fort Carson, CO • Fort Bragg, NC Deployments • Europe • Caribbean • Sub-Saharan Africa • Southwest Asia
	Mr. Jerry Anderson Supply Technician Hometown • Wakonda, South Dakota Deployments • Iraq • Germany • Jamaica • Honduras • Alaska