The Reserve Officer Training Corp at Winston-Salem State has been increasing its enrollment as the U.S. economy continues to falter.
“The ROTC program creates stability at an uncertain time,” said Capt. Kevin Larrabee, the assistant professor of Military Science and recruiting and retention officer at Wake Forest University and WSSU.
The No Fear Battalion is the name of the ROTC program amongst WSSU, Wake Forest and Salem College.
According to The New York Times, last month the unemployment rate in the U.S. rose to 7.6 percent with nearly 600,000 jobs lost.
The New York Times reports the unemployment rate has not been this high in 16 years.
For many, a position in the military or government and the stability in these fields can hold a deal-breaker.
This same “deal-breaker” mentality can be applied to the security that the ROTC can provide students.
With completion of the ROTC program graduates are guaranteed a military job with a starting position as 2nd Lt. paying $37,000 with health and dental insurance.
“I think that people see safety in jobs with stability at this time, and military and teaching programs bring comfort,” said Rontray Beatty, a senior finance major.
ROTC cadets will be paid monthly and awarded money to cover expenses for items such as textbooks, room and board and full tuition.
Capt. Larrabee says that at WSSU, there are 24 cadets in the program; this accounts for 35 percent of the joint [WSSU, WFU, and Salem College] program. The majority of cadets, 60 percent, are from Wake Forest; and the remaining 5 percent are from Salem College.
More than 60 percent of the current ROTC program at WSSU has enrolled within the past two years. Fifteen of the 24 cadets are composed of freshmen and sophomores.
“The ROTC is a strong program that is growing in size and morale,” said Cadet Major and Executive Officer Matt Young.
The commitment to the ROTC program extends past college; those in the program must serve as active or reserve guard after graduation with their tenure dependent upon scholarships.
If eligible, students can receive a full scholarship along with $600 for textbooks per semester. Once students contract with ROTC, they can receive a monthly spending allowance while in school, as long as they qualify.
There is the reality of war, and the possibility that after completion of the ROTC program that those enrolled may have to tour.
It is required that cadets in the program continue training for six months to a year before possible deployment after successful graduation.
Capt. Larrabe has toured Iraq twice.
Depending on military base rotations, one may tour,” he said. “It is a sacrifice.”