ROTC Programs

Cadet Ryan Cho: My name is Ryan Cho. I am in the Army National Guard, and my rank is cadet. I currently attend Columbia University in the city of New York. My major is political science, with a focus in American politics.

I actually always wanted to serve in the Military, but for my family, definitely, and for myself, education was a priority. I actually didn’t know about the National Guard until I entered college. I didn’t know about that Reserve option. And that allowed me to both attend college and serve in a branch of Service in the Military, and serve the country.

The Army National Guard understands that a lot of the new people that enter are going to be younger and are actually attending school because that’s one of the benefits of being in the Army National Guard. So I actually enlisted under what’s called the Split Option program. The Split Option program allows you to attend Basic Training during the summer, and then attend AIT, which is Advanced Individual Training, the next summer as well. And so you’re able to split that training up so that you’re not missing school time, but you’re also able to start your service.

So, in ROTC, we have, kind of, three different types of trainings. One is physical training, of course. Then part of our training is devoted to military science classes. That’s where we’re learning tactics and how to apply different principles of military strategy. And then in lab, we’re taking what we’re learning and applying that in a practical setting. So we’ll actually be leading Soldiers, doing simulations and drills, in order to make sure that we understand those principles that we’re learning in class.

Time management is really important, and that’s one of the things that they stress in the training for becoming an Army officer. And at the end of the day, if you, you know, do that time management, not only am I able to participate in all of these different activities, but I’m also, you know, able to have a social life, go out with my friends.

Hurricane Irene was actually my first activation. So that, I mean, was basically why I joined the Army National Guard, not only because I wanted to serve my country, but also the state. And so being able to be activated and participate in a mission that was, you know, helping my neighbors, and my fellow classmates in New York City, was just an amazing and grateful experience.

I think the Military is a great option for people looking to serve, not only because you’re able to contribute back to, you know, your country and state, but you’re also able to develop yourself personally and get, you know, education, military training and a lot of personal development out of it as well.

Brian Corey Abrams: My name is Brian Abrams. I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I attend Chicago State University. I’m also part of the ROTC program there, and I’m in the Reserve as well. Once I learned all the opportunities and the different paths I can take, my life has changed dramatically. With the education that I’m getting now and with the graduating, becoming second lieutenant — looking back, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be here, to be honest with you. I am a busy guy. Along with being in the ROTC and being a full-time student and working on the weekends doing security — so I stay busy.

Speaker 1: He’s a delight to have around. My two oldest grandsons, he’s like a father role. They look up to Corey. He’s a positive example.

Speaker 2: I look up to him, because he wants us to grow up and be successful, just like him. He wants to know how are grades is. He don’t like no Cs or Fs on our report card.

Speaker 3: Yeah, like the…

Speaker 2: So he wants us to — because you want to…

Speaker 3: Get all As, straight down.

Brian Corey Abrams: I hope that I inspire them, you know, to become whatever they want to become. You know, I always tell them, “You can do whatever you want to do in life, you know, become president or a lawyer, a doctor. You know, you just have to work hard.” By me being able to spend time with them — and they see me put on my uniform, I go to work, I go to school — I think their dream becomes a little closer, you know, once they see me doing what I’m doing. I think my grandparents will say I’m a determined individual. I believe they’ll say I work hard. And I think they’ll say I’m a, I’m a man. I’m ready for chapter two in my life, whether they send me to Italy or Spain or within the States. It’s exciting, because I’ve lived in Chicago for the majority of my life and I’m ready to see the world.