University Business - March 2008 - (Page 51) Purdue students in the school’s Air Force ROTC program do their physical training with the encouragement of comrades. are a far cry from the widespread disapproval, demonstrations, and kicks in,” agrees Nebraska’s Cisney. Northeastern freshman Dan McSweeney, who considered ap- sit-ins of the 1960s. “In the aftermath of the Vietnam War and plying to West Point at first, considers himself a case in point. “It Desert Storm in 1991, the public started to see soldiers in a differcertainly helps [that] I’m going to get tuition over my college career, ent way and separated them from political aims,” says McClellan. Cisney notes that her newly minted officers are recognized at followed by an expenses-paid job,” he says, “But I always tell people Nebraka’s graduation ceremonies and usually receive standing ovathat this is something I might have done anyway.” While the Air Force provides full scholarships to only 5 percent tions. “The community has been supportive too,” adds Silver of the of its cadets and caps tuition contributions for the next 20 percent at ROTC experience for Purdue’s cadets. “If they wear their uniforms, $15,000 annually, this has not stopped undergraduates from joining they’ll get benefits like half-price in some local restaurants.” “Over time the pendulum has swung back and forth,” observes Purdue’s Air Force ROTC, notes commanding officer Col. Michael Silver. “We offer more bells and whistles,” says Silver, a former F-16 Purdue’s Robinson. “Students now represent a more conservative fighter pilot, citing the allure of military jets and space satellites. “We point of view, and they’re very much committed to their country. It’s an interesting phenomenon.” attract students who want to mess with those things.” Still, Northeastern Army cadets Deery and McSweeney face a It also helps that career pathways available in the Air Force match up with Purdue’s aviation, aerospace, and engineering strengths. “We tend to get very fine students beThe patriotic rush to join has given way to a more cause many want to study the disciplines connected sober assessment of the ongoing war in Iraq. with the ROTC program,” says Thomas Robinson, who oversees ROTC for all military branches as Purdue’s vice president of student affairs. For those like McSweeney who are already committed to or community not completely used to a military presence. “When I leaning toward military service, the longstanding combination of first entered, everyone was kind of shocked,” recalls Deery. Mcacademic and military subjects is an additional draw. “I like the Sweeney says of the one day per week that uniforms are required, balance of school and ROTC because I’ll be living the Army when “When I walk by in uniform on Thursday, some older people come I graduate,” adds Nadine Deery, who gets in her practice on the up to shake my hand and say, ‘Thank you,’ but I get looks from M-16 rifle, M-249 machine gun, and M-203 grenade launcher others as if they hadn’t seen a uniform before.” during weekend and summer field training trips. Gauthier at WPI says that gaining acceptance took some doing. He recalls having to change people’s minds when he ran ROTC at other universities during the early 1990s. “They had a false imChanges in Attitude Today’s ROTC also has benefited from attitudes on campus that pression of what we do, that we’re mainly Army recruiters and universitybusiness.com March 2008 | 51 http://universitybusiness.com
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