Free Press photos by John Cross
Minnesota State University ROTC cadets stand at attention prior to a recent field exercise.
Minnesota State University ROTC cadet Caitlin Christopherson took up a defensive position during a recent ROTC field exercise near Gage Towers on the MSU campus.
Lt. Tom Cooper presents Cadet Battalion Commander Bill Bowser with a plaque nationally recognizing the Minnesota State University ROTC program as one of the most improved programs, prior to a recent field exercise on the MSU campus.
By paying attention to the details, Minnesota State University's ROTC program has become one of the nation's "most improved."
The program, which has been at MSU since 1981, has drastically improved the number of officers it produces. It also has shown big increases in other areas, such as retention and the number of elite students it produces.
"We don't have a recent history of success," said Tom Cooper, military science professor at MSU. "This is the first time that we've won this award or any of this kind."
The biggest factor in earning the award, he said, is the number of students who ultimately become officers in the U.S. Army.
In 2007, MSU's ROTC commissioned three officers. In 2008, it did 10. This year, it'll do 15. The estimate for 2010 is 18.
"We feel we've definitely turned this program around," Cooper said.
Getting that number up, he said, involved doing a lot of little things.
One change made recently involved the ROTC cadets at Gustavus Adolphus College, which fall under the direction of MSU's program.
Cooper noticed Gustavus was having a hard time competing with St. John's University in Collegeville because St. John's offered ROTC students free room and board.
"We approached Gustavus and said, 'Hey, we're at a disadvantage here,'" Cooper said. "And that was changed."
Some other changes included granting in-state tuition rates to out-of-state cadets, not charging for credits beyond 18 in a semester, and getting access to classrooms where recruiters can speak to students about ROTC.
"Our ideal thing is to look every student in the eye and tell them what it's all about," Cooper said.
One of those students is Caitlin Christopherson, a sophomore nursing student from Savage.
Christopherson said she learned about ROTC while in a learning community for nursing students (learning communities collect students with similar interests and pair them on the same floor of a residence hall).
"So far I think it's definitely been very beneficial for me," she said. "It's been both challenging and very rewarding at the same time. It's definitely been a positive choice for me in college."
Christopherson said it's also been challenging as it has added more work to her already-busy load.
But she'll take it.
"You're learning Army values, you're learning more things about the army than any civilian would," she said. "I enjoy it a lot. It's really helped shape me through college."
The award includes a reward of $2,500, for which Cooper already has plans.
"Right now we're leaning toward a flat screen TV and DVD player for the cadet lounge," Cooper said. "And we're thinking of throwing some kind of party for them to celebrate."
The ROTC has 112 cadets. Of those, 55 have committed to serving in the military, which means they've committed to eight years of service.
There are 273 ROTC programs in the United States. Minnesota State was one of three schools in the western region and one of nine schools in the nation to receive the Most Improved Battalion award.
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