Four years ago, Dave Bergeron enrolled in the ROTC knowing that he might one day fight and lay down his life. Now the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have left the senior wondering about his future once he graduates.
“If a conflict occurs, it has to be a worthy cause. And, yes, I think this is a worthy cause,” he said.
Bergeron is enrolled in the ROTC as part of a generation that hasn’t been confronted with the conflicts of past generations. ROTC representatives say it is still too soon to tell if the attacks will spark a sense of patriotism on campus and increase enrollment in the ROTC. But they also said the ROTC is prepared to respond to students’ questions and concerns.
“More people have enrolled Wednesday and Thursday, but that is not necessarily because of a greater sense of patriotism,” military science professor John Sneed said.
Sneed added that the terrorist attacks have not led to any increases in recruitment efforts, and cadets involved in the scholarship program do not have to worry about deployment.
For now, cadets should focus on academics, Major Mark Chappelle said. Chappelle works at the University ROTC office.
“The cadets’ first and foremost duty is to finish their education,” he said.
But Cadet Command Spokes-man Paul Kotakis said ROTC students without scholarships who are members of the Simultaneous Membership Program could potentially fight if their particular unit was mobilized.
Although enrollment numbers fluctuate yearly, in the past six years cadet numbers have decreased. In 1994, 35,520 cadets enrolled nationwide, Kotakis said. Four years later, 29,277 students enrolled, and in 2000, enrollment dropped to 28,470 cadets.
Kotakis said it is difficult to speculate where these numbers will go in response to the terrorist attacks.
“Enrollment is influenced by many factors … but these events are causing people to take a second look at what service people can be to their country,” he said.
The department of military science is expecting students to ask a lot of questions once school starts, Sneed said. He added that professors have been asked to address the concerns of incoming students enrolled in the program.
Sneed also met with the ROTC’s senior class and spent a few minutes discussing their leadership position regarding incoming cadets.