By Chantelle Tuitele
Sergeant 1st Class Andrew Mayer is going on a mission that has little to do with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The non-commissioned officer in the BYU ROTC has been called to serve in a Special Forces unit in Stuttgart, Germany, joining other U.S. soldiers in fighting the war on terrorism.
'I''m happy for him,' said Capt. Noel Namauu, assistant professor of military science. 'He wants to go back.'
Before Mayer came to BYU a little over a year ago, he served America for six years in Germany, where he met his wife and had two children.
'When I found out I was going back, it felt right,' he said. 'I could tell that''s what I''m supposed to do.'
Namauu said Mayer, who is Catholic, has had a good outside influence on army ROTC cadets at BYU.
'Most students are not from Utah and will later find that they''re no longer surrounded by LDS members,' Namauu said. 'He brings in the perspective of other religions.'
Another assistant professor of military science, Sgt. Erik Verhoef, said Mayer has also brought a wealth of tactical knowledge to the BYU Army ROTC program.
'He knows how to fight,' Sergeant Verhoef said. 'The main focus of the ROTC is leadership, but another focus is knowing how to fight, which is why Uncle Sam pays us.'
Special Forces officers are required to do a tour as part of their service. Mayer came to BYU to fulfill that requirement as a drill sergeant in the ROTC.
'It was supposed to be a three-year tour with maybe a one-year extension,' he said. 'But they cut this tour short.'
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Army officials decided it was necessary to strengthen the special forces-a small branch of the Army with about 5,000 members total.
Mayer is one of 43 Sgt. 1st Class'' in Special Forces to be called back from their tour. He is only one of four throughout the nation to be taken out of an ROTC tour.
'It''ll be a good career move for him,' Verhoef said. 'It''ll be a loss for BYU, but it''s part of the Army way of life-the guy comes the guy goes.'
Feb. 19 will mark the day Mayer leaves Utah to accept his calling in the U.S. Army.
'Called to serve,' he said. 'That sounds kind of ''churchy.'''
Member of the Church or not, Mayer has all the values a soldier in the Army should have, said Verhoef.
'He''s loyal, he honors his duty to his country and job, he has respect for himself and others, he does selfless service, he has honor and integrity, and personal courage,' he said. 'And he''s a nice guy and confident soldier.'