Wednesday, November 04, 2009
ROTC cadets complete Airborne School
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Betty Vawter Senior Editor, News & Information Services 812/480-1873 Airborne School is a rigorous course designed for highly motivated and qualified cadets. Major Nathaniel Skelly, commanding officer of the USI ROTC program, said only a limited number of slots are allocated to university programs. The cadets chosen to attend topped the Order of Merit List (OML) for the USI program. OML criteria include leadership, grade-point average, and physical fitness. Participants in Airborne School complete ground and tower training during the first two weeks and perform five jumps during the final week. Cadets jump from a C130 aircraft at an altitude of 1,250 feet. David Clayton, a senior in engineering, is from Evansville. He plans to graduate in spring 2011 and will seek civilian employment in engineering. One of his most memorable experiences at the school was his final jump on the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. Clayton said, "We parachuted into our graduation ceremony, which included a remembrance ceremony for September 11. We had a moment of silence and a time to reflect on the role of the military in protecting the nation." Brandon Hopf, a native of Jasper, Indiana, is majoring in sociology and criminal justice. He has completed an internship with the USI Office of Security and plans a career in law enforcement. Hopf was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, William Hopf, who also attended Airborne School. The elder Hopf is originally from Jasper but now lives in Florida. As he watched others exit the plane before him, Brandon Hopf said he concentrated on doing everything just as he had been taught in the training. The landing requires a special technique. "You have to make sure your feet and knees are together. If you don't, the impact could injure you," he said. Phillips, a resident of New Harmony, Indiana, is a senior majoring in history. Prior to enrolling at USI, he was deployed twice to Iraq while on active duty with the U.S. Army. He plans to return to active duty following graduation in May. Describing himself as a thrill seeker, Phillips said he wanted to attend the school to help himself overcome a fear of heights. He contrasted the moment of the jump with the subsequent fall: "I still don't remember going out the first time. It is a huge thrill, especially when the doors first open. Once your canopy opens and you are away from the aircraft, it's really quiet." All three cadets also attended the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) during the summer at Fort Lewis, Washington. The month-long course for cadets following their junior year of college includes training and evaluation. After all LDAC sessions for summer 2009, Phillips was ranked among the top two percent of more than 4,800 participants from ROTC programs throughout the country. Now in its ninth year, the USI Reserve Officers' Training Corps enrolls 60 cadets. |
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