By Jessica Mallard
April 28, 2006 will be a heralded day of celebration and change for BYU''s ROTC program, with Air Force cadets raising their right hands to take the commissioning oath to become second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force, while the Army cadets will become commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.
The season is also one of change: Col. Lawrence Kingsley is leaving, Maj. John Armitstead is retiring and Maj. Mark Nugen is accepting an assignment in Iraq.
'I will be stuck over there for a solid year,' Nugen said. 'I am sad I am done here at BYU because the cadets have a special place in my heart.'
To become an Air Force cadet at BYU is demanding and requires dedication and commitment. Cadets are required to not only pass their BYU classes but also take between 18 to 20 credits of ROTC classes as well.
The BYU Air Force ROTC is the fourth-largest detachment in the country and has the No. 1 grade point average, Capt. Christopher Walker said.
The detachment of the Air Force ROTC is structured as if the cadets are on active duty; they learn to organize and delegate tasks to make a wing function properly, Walker said.
'It gives you an idea of the kind of caliber of detachments we have,' Walker said. 'I think that is what sets them apart from other students - the leadership abilities they have developed.'
Maj. Dan Austin, an executive officer of the BYU Army ROTC, brags similarly of the Army cadets'' abilities.
'They are arguably some of the best performers in the Army and we like to think it is not because of us as faculty, but it is the quality of students,' Austin said. 'The Army tries to teach a lot of values: integrity, loyalty, service, selflessness and respect. Here at BYU the students already understand this so we can focus on leadership dimensions.'
Austin said he has enjoyed seeing the cadets organize and execute the plans they have developed. Every Thursday the cadets have a block of instruction where the seniors drill and evaluate the underclassman.
'All of this they do with very little direction from the faculty, and it is rewarding to see their progression,' Austin said.
But not all of the ROTC''s activities are serious. While the Army cadets'' military ball was April 14, the Air Force ROTC hosted theirs April 8. Amid the pomp and circumstance, was also the traditional 'grog bowl,' as part of the dining out.
Cadets have gotten 'grogged' for doing something dumb like losing a wedding ring or walking into the women''s bathroom, Nugen said. When the cadet gets 'grogged' they must chug a big glass full of the mess, then turn it upside down on the top of their head.
And the grog bowl is nothing but nasty. A typical grog drink could have cayenne pepper, cottage cheese, a fizzy drink of some sort, yogurt, lemonade, granola and gummy bears, Nugen said.
'There have been some pretty unique things in the grog bowl,' he said. 'A couple times it has been pretty close to unbearable because it smelt so bad.'
Aside from the foibles of the military ball, this season is a rite of passage as cadets graduate into U.S. forces.
'It is a long journey, and it is quite a moving moment,' Nugen said. 'They are stepping into a new part of their lives and we are excited for them.'