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American Morning

Interest ROTC Programs on the Rise

Aired December 03, 2001 - 07:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back at just about 12 minutes before the hour. Interest in ROTC programs is on the rise. It wasn't always that way. In the late '60s and the early '70s those who enrolled were seen as possibly geeks or military nerds. But the events of September 11th seemed to have changed all of that. CNN's Jeff Flock is standing by at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb as ROTC cadets go through their paces. Maybe by the end of this, you're going to get down on the ground and do 15 pushups for us this morning Jeff, take it away.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't know if I'm ready for that yet Paula, but waking up early was just plenty enough for me. I tell you that there is a different attitude on campus around here in Dekalb as you point out. You see these folks behind me - these guys are happy to get up early in the morning and I tell you it didn't always used to be that way. And with John Adkins the captain training officer here, you're seeing more interest in this. I know you don't have any hard numbers because September 11th happened after the enrollment deadline, but you really see more interest.

JOHN ADKINS: Yes sir, it'll be hard to tell if the enrollment actually increases until next semester. However walking on campus, a lot more students come up and ask us about ROTC. There's more of an interest in ROTC. They're hearing it on the news.

FLOCK: Now as we look up close and personal at these guys here early in the morning, what possesses somebody to go through this? Obviously we've all been to college and we didn't all have to go through this. What possesses someone?

ADKINS: Well I think most of these students realize that the hallmark of ROTC is worldclass leadership training. They get this training at no other class on campus. It provides scholarship opportunities, team building, a lot of attributes that they wouldn't get in a normal class.

FLOCK: Now I want to talk to some of these guys. Now come along with me if you can captain, and just - give us a real quick run through in terms of what ROTC is. What do I do, if I enroll in this program, what do I get out of it?

ADKINS: What you get out of it is it's one class you take every semester much like any other class on campus. But they're going to learn things like troop leading procedures, team building, teamwork.

FLOCK: Now I'm get - some of - sometimes I'm getting a scholarship here and if so, what's my commitment to the military?

ADKINS: If they're on a federal scholarship, their commitment is four years of active duty. If they're not on scholarship, it's three years active duty, or they can apply for a guaranteed reserve forces duty, in which is a six-year reserve or guard (INAUDIBLE).

FLOCK: Got you - now point me to one of these guys. Can I interrupt one of these guys here (INAUDIBLE) - point somebody out. This poor guy here - OK. Man's got sweat on his brow this morning. It's like going to the health club only you're getting something for this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh we don't pay for this one. This workout is free.

FLOCK: What possessed you to get in the ROTC program?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just when I was coming out of high school, I wanted a challenge. Some (INAUDIBLE) lobby to start some leadership on campus, perhaps get involved in some extra curricular activities more than the average student and found home for ourselves (INAUDIBLE) ROTC here.

FLOCK: Did your attitude change at all after September 11th? What was your reaction to that in terms of what you had already committed to do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was pretty firm in my decision prior to September 11th, so all I did was strengthen my resolve to get out there, to continue to do what I was (INAUDIBLE) do to be a leader on this campus and in the community.

FLOCK: Are you - are you - do you have any trepidation at all about graduation, winding up in the military, winding up in places like Afghanistan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I asked for the infantry. I want to go out there. I live for the privilege of commanding troops. I believe it's the greatest honor an American could have, and I look forward to getting out there and serving my country.

FLOCK: And real quickly, before we get away. Attitudes toward you on campus - have they changed at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know I really wished they would have, but unfortunately Veterans Day was just a few weeks ago, and we had no more than a dozen people show out on campus for that ceremony. You know there's a renewed sense of patriotism on campus for sure. People are flowing (ph) the American flag proudly and wearing it. But in general attitudes really haven't changed. We've always been accepted for what we do (INAUDIBLE).

FLOCK: Appreciate it, I'm going to let you get back to it. Thanks very much. Appreciate your time. Captain, thank you . Appreciate the tour of ROTC this more here in an average ROTC setting here on the campus of Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. That's it Paula. Back to you.

ZAHN: Oh Jeff, we'll let you go back so you can do your pushups in private. You don't have to do them on camera for us this morning.

FLOCK: Thank you.

ZAHN: Delighted to hear some of those attitudes are changing. Their commitment deserves positive attention I think.

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