The Frontline
Published by the Army ROTC Ram Battalion Cadets
 

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps

By Cadet John Faris

Every week, Army, Air Force, Marine and Navy cadets attending universities across the Country dawn their neatly pressed uniform in preparation for the day’s events. Do you ever wonder what that person does on a typical day?

My name is Cadet John Faris. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I currently am a junior in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) at Colorado State University (CSU). I joined the military in order to make a difference in society and potentially affect the life of a fellow soldier.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, of each week, cadets stumble out of bed, at 5:30AM or 0530 and make my way to our scheduled training site. Typically, at the Jack Christianson Track or Student Recreation Center, we conduct an hour’s worth of physical training or “PT.” Here we conduct cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and muscular endurance workouts, through a variety of push-up, sit-up, and running exercises. This training is done in preparation for the Army Physical Fitness Test. This test measures your level of fitness from a push-up event, sit-up event and timed two-mile run. When we are finished, it is off to a full day of classes mixed in with our peers of the CSU community.

Within the classroom at the Military Science Building, my fellow AROTC cadets and I learn basic soldiering skills such as land navigation, map reading, and field craft. Although those skills are important, our prime focus is on leadership development. Using academic and field exercises, cadets continuously develop leadership skills needed in our future leadership roles in the Army. These exercises emphasize strict planning guidelines, professional working relationships, and individual development as a soldier in the United States Army.

The Importance of Physical Training

 By Cadet Dustin Mackie

In today’s Army, physical fitness could be the most important indicator of excellent soldiers and should not be overlooked when evaluating soldiers. The high degree of physical fitness allows soldiers to perform their military tasks regardless of their military occupational specialty (MOS).

During the Korean War, the Army discovered how physically unfit soldiers can hinder combat operations. On several occasions, US troops struggled to complete missions due to poor fitness amongst the general soldier population.

Since that time, the Army has conducted standardized physical training (PT).  As cadets, we conduct PT as any other soldier would. Whether it is a track workout or a foot march, three times a week ROTC cadets gather to train at 6AM in the morning or 0600.

In my opinion, our PT program is not only important because it builds a foundation of fitness, but it provides another venue to develop as future officers. Soldiers look to officers to set an example in all aspects of the military and PT is no exception. The ability to perform above average on runs, marches, and push-ups will help officers earn the respect of their troops.

Cannon Crew

By Cadet Sarah Abbey

Imagine for a moment, the Ram football team is twenty yards away from the end zone. The CSU fans are standing, cheering, screaming, and taunting the opposing team. The ball is hiked to Caleb Hanie. He hands it to Gartell Johnson, who dodges a defender from the opposing team and sprints into the end zone. He throws the football down as the fans scream and cheer. Then half a second later, the fans feel and hear the boom of the cannon. The fans scream even louder.

This is the reward at the end of the day for the CSU AROTC Cannon Crew. After each point scored by the Rams, the cannon is fired. The cannon crew puts in a considerable amount of effort for each football game to ensure that motivation is in place as it has been since 1954. In addition to firing the cannon, the cannon crew answers questions from fans and show children how the cannon works.

Two hours prior to game time, the cannon crew arrives at the stadium with the equipment essential for the game. The crew begins by setting up the boundaries, tent, and equipment.  Next, the cannon crew cleans the cannon to ensure it is ready to be fired without malfunctions during the game. Under watchful guidance of the senior and junior cadets in charge, everything is setup to standard.

Each game a guest cannoneer is selected to work on the cannon crew with the cadets. They are presented with a sweatshirt with the inscription “ROTC Guest Cannoneer” upon it. As questions are asked and formalities exchanged, the cadet crew demonstrates how to fire the cannon. As time quickly passes, it is all too soon time for our test fire.

When signaled, a cadet pulls the lanyard back, releases it, and the cannon is fired. Some fans are startled momentarily and others are simply alerted fans that the game is about to start. The crew jumps down from the cannon and releases the expended round.

Soon the National Anthem starts to play and the Cannon Crew and Push-up crewmembers line up to render respects to their Country. The selected cadet readies to pull the lanyard. As the marching band reaches the chorus, “the bombs bursting in air,” the lanyard is released. BOOM!

The cannon continues to fire, for the entrance of the CSU football team, kickoff, and of course for all the points made by the CSU Rams. At the end of the day, win or lose, the cannon crew goes home smelling of cordite and proud to be a member of the CSU AROTC Cannon Crew.