University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1987 9 KU Army ROTC cadets train for goals By GEORGE D. NORTON Special to the Kansan The student stands at a 50-foot wooden tower. Ropes run from the anchor points over the side of the tower. An instructor guides the student to the edge and shows him how to safely thread the rope through the snap-link in his Swiss seat, a type of saddle made from three feet of rope. The instructor speaks encourag- ingly to the first-time rappeller. Nervously, he inches to the edge and swings out. With all his courage, he leans back into the emptiness and falls in measured bounds to the bottom of the tower. The student knows that once he steps out into the 50 feet of space below him, the rope and his courage are the only things that will hold him safely. Rappelling is one of the more popular facets of the training required of the cadets in the Jayhawk Battalion, Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps. "I went appalling for the first time last April, and it was the most fun I've had," Pat Brungardt, Leavenworth sophomore, said recently. "It was sheer terror for me to look down from a height of 50 feet with only a double fold of rope to keep me from falling. "When I made it down, I let out a squeeze. I knew I was ready to do a jump." Other activities include a canoe trip to the Big Pine River in southwest Missouri, a rappelling trip to Fort Riley and land-navigation exercises. Nine KU Army ROTC cadets will be chosen to compete with other state university ROTC teams to represent Kansas at the national level for the Ranger challenge, a rigorous training course. "These activities give the cadets the opportunity to broaden the dimensions of their college education," Maj. Richard Lipsey Jr., the executive officer for the Army ROTC cadre, said. "We are able to teach them skills that are not available elsewhere." Tommy Hardy, St. Louis junior, said, "It has helped me to build self- discipline and to focus on a specific mission. I was never forced to really work hard for a set goal before I joined Army ROTC. "Good grades were easy for me and I was able to meet the academic challenges." "Last year, I was forced to really apply myself to meet the physical training standards required in the corps. It was not easy. I was forced to reach to make it." Academics for the 137 men and 28 women in the corps are equally important as the ROTC program. "The first order of business for our cadets is to make good grades in their chosen field of study," said Lt. M. Porter, master, professor of military science. "Without the grades, a student has no chance of receiving a commission." The upperclassmen are required to lead the class in tasks, like rappelling or the canoe trip. It is up to them, under the guidance of instructors, to figure out how they'll accomplish that task, Laster said. Laster said that all training in the Army ROTC is directed toward teaching the students one thing: leadership. They must decide how they'll get the class to where they are going and how they'll train once they get there. They also have to perform administrative tasks, such as making eating and sleeping arrangements, while they are at the training site. "By training this way, we prepare the cadets for the types of responsibilities they'll face as commissioned officers when they'll be called on to Many students are able to receive their education and training through the scholarship benefits that ROTC offers. "in similar tasks for the soldiers in their platoons." Laster said. "KU's Army ROTC program has the highest number of scholarship students in our region. We have 66 scholarship students enrolled right now," said Maj. Danny Reinke, recruiting officer for Army ROTC. 'I was never forced to really work hard for a set goal before I joined Army ROTC.' Tommy Hardin St. Louis junior "We are able to offer two., three, and four-year scholarships to deserving students. A four-year Army ROTC scholarship will pay a cadet $10,704 in allowances, fees and tuition." The Kansas Army National Guard also has two excellent scholarship programs for Kansas residents who want to serve in the Guard, Reinke said. The Simultaneous Membership Program allows students to be in both the Guard and ROTC. One alternative includes a four-year scholarship with pay and allowances totaling slightly more than $22,000. The other is similar and totals slightly more than $18,000 in educational benefits, he said. To qualify for maximum benefits, Kansas residents must enlist in the Guard as a senior in high school, attend monthly drills and training in the summer. Once in college, they must carry 12 credit hours each semester and be in the Army ROTC program. "If they enter the program in this way, then they are able to receive three monthly checks totaling $380." Reinke said. "This includes money for school, drill pay and GI bill benefits." This is not the only way to get into this program, but it is the way a resident can reap the greatest amount of benefit. To earn $22,000 in benefits, residents must compete for one of 10 scholarships offered each academic year, Reinke said. Army ROTC scholarship students have a service obligation of up to eight years of service, while Guard scholarships have a four-year obligation. Both obligations can be satisfied by serving in the active Army, the Reserve or the National Guard. "I considered the four-year Army ROTC scholarship because of the money it offered." Brungardt said. "It allows me the opportunity to get an education, see how the Army works and allows me to keep my options open after graduation." Brundard said he was considering a military career but was not sure. "I have made more friends here in ROTC than I have in my other classes. All the trips, drills and daily interaction have done a lot to help me," Brungardt said. "The upperclassmen and the cadre helped me to make a major adjustment from high school to college. Without their help the transition could have been more difficult than it was." Hardin said, "The scholarship options alone are something worth talking to someone about. If they're at all interested, their time could be well spent." Philip Karnaze, right, Columbus junior, receives last-minute instructions from Capt. Billy Hoh, an Army instructor at Fort Riley, before he rappels to the ground. Brig. Gen. Myrna Williamson, commander of the Third ROTC Region, Fort Riley, recently watched the maneuver. 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