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The ROTC Experience
Making a difference in the lives of students
Name: Sara RielagCity and State: Cincinnati, OH
My name is Sara Rielag, and I am a brand new 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. I received my commission through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Cincinnati while attending college at Xavier University.
When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I really wanted to do in college much less as a career. I went to XU with the attitude that I will just try everything and stick with what I like.
I didn't know very much about ROTC or even the military before I entered the program. As I spent more and more time enrolled in ROTC, I found the cadets to be a close group of people who went out of their way, more than once, to help me out. I found them to be the most upstanding group of individuals I have ever met.
While you are in ROTC, you are not just called upon to learn how to march; as a cadet, you are given opportunities to get involved in the community with service, fundraising, and Color Guard events. Sure, we do the fun things such as playing war games in the field, having fun competitions with the Army ROTC cadets, and enjoying a combat dining-in, but those are just some of the perks.
As an individual, I have learned how to be an effective leader, how to put service before self, and the importance of integrity as we are held to a higher standard then our other classmates. I've been given the opportunity to grow into a leader, as I was second in command for a rotation and responsible for 80 cadets. I was also given the opportunity to plan many events such as Freshman Orientation and Military Ball.
This whole experience was a challenge because it called for many early mornings after staying up to study; it required discipline, but it instilled in me the tools to be a good officer. I am now on my way to Fairchild AFB, Washington, where I will be an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, but I am confident now to take on that challenge because of what ROTC has taught me.
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