Students in ROTC at American University struggle for support

American University student Alex de Silva does not feel support for being in ROTC due to living on a liberal campus. (Photo by Alexandra Sharat)

By Alexandra Sharat

American University

WASHINGTON – American University students that are a part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. program feel a lack of support studying at the liberal university.

American holds the largest platoon in the area. They are proud of their equal training of genders and rigorous schedule. However, American will not allow ROTC to be an official club on campus. This action is due to the fact the administration does not want to support violence. In turn, ROTC members at American do not feel supported.

A sophomore at American, Carla Alcover, has been a part of ROTC for almost two years now. Her whole family was in the Army, which inspired her dreams. The only problem was she knew getting an education first was important. That is why she joined ROTC.

Each branch of ROTC has an intense training schedule. The branches are broken up into Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

“ROTC takes up most of the day. You wake up at 4:30 a.m. and train until you know everything you would need to know out on the field,” Alcover said.

The training consists of running for miles, core exercises and cadet training.

Alcover said, “There are times in the morning where you wake up and you’re like, ‘what am I doing?’ When you first sign those documents in the summer, you realize these are eight years of your life I’m signing away.”

The difficulty of training and the feeling of a lack of support from her campus has not stopped Alcover.

“It is hard being at a liberal school. It’s your right to not like it but it is hard when a lot of people look down on us,” she said.

Despite this, Alcover is still enlisted for the full ROTC training program.

“We all believe in what we are doing and are proud to train,” said Alcover.

In ROTC, they have each other for support.

Alcover said, “We are all going through the same type of experience and are always open to each other about our experiences. Being able to talk with my fellow students and ROTC members allows me to feel support and have it.”

Alex de Silva, a student at American, was in the middle of applying to the Naval Academy when her father suggested ROTC. She was hesitant in making the commitment to training before getting an education which made ROTC the perfect fit for her.

She is adamant on making sure she has a balance of having a social life and training. “ROTC is a room of strong personalities that are balancing two lives. It is important to train hard but also make time outside of the ROTC world,” de Silva said.

Even though ROTC is not allowed at American to be an official club, de Silva does not feel held back.

“Even though the campus does not want to support what we do, we do not let it bother us,” de Silva said. “We are all in it together and will continue to do what we do.”

The two older brothers of American student, Caroline Hernandez, are the ones that inspired her to join ROTC. They did the same program as her and she wanted to serve and train as they did. Hernandez is proud to be in ROTC but has difficulties being a part of a liberal campus.

She said, “I do not feel support being on a liberal campus. I feel judged constantly.”

Hernandez added that ROTC is not all about the military. “I have learned leadership and comradery during my training,” she said. “It is more than just knowing how to shoot a gun, it is about listening and leading others.”

Alexis Little, a freshman in American’s ROTC program, is optimistic about her new campus home.

“The university really tries their best to accommodate us and we’ve made great strides in building a relationship with the university,” Little said.

Little knows that there are still improvements to be made with how American treats its ROTC students but feels content in how ROTC has been run.

“At this point in time, I feel as though students and faculty have accepted that we’re students just like everyone else and we’re trying to make a difference in the world. We are just like any other student at American University,” said Little.

Joshua DeSouza, a junior at American, does not support anything involved with the military. He does not judge his friends in ROTC but still does not support the military.

“If anything, our military is too big,” said DeSouza. “I understand the point of ROTC, but I feel like we do not need more soldiers.”

DeSouza wishes there was more focus on peace strategizing.

Cameron Carr, an American sophomore, disagrees with DeSouza. She has no issue with having a ROTC presence at American.

She said, “I believe that ROTC should be allowed to have a space on campus. I think that they should be regulated just as much as any other campus club or organization and that all information given to the students is readily available.”

Luke Boyett, an Auburn University student, has not experienced a lack of support for ROTC at his school.

Boyett said, “Our university really supports ROTC. It's been a program here for decades.”

A member of ROTC at The University of Vermont, Vince Van Patten, feels bad for American ROTC members who do not feel support.

“UVM is super, super supportive,” said Van Patten. “All the professors are very helpful and understanding. I don’t know what I would do if I did not have support.”

UVM is also known as a liberal campus but Van Patten does not feel a lack of support.

“Some of the most liberal people I know, will still support and ask questions,” Van Patten said.

To those who do not support ROTC at American, Van Patten said, “The reality is the military in the USA is probably one of the most liberal institutions. Your work is completely based on merits of a soldier.”