The Reserve Officer Training Corp may be viewed as a male dominated field; however, women have a substantial role in the program at Winston-Salem State.
Thirty percent of the ROTC program at WSSU is female according to Capt. Kevin Larrabee, assistant professor of military science and recruiting and retention officer.
This number more than doubles that of the actual U.S. Army. According to army.com, women comprise 14 percent of the active army.
WSSU, Wake Forest University and Salem College have a joint ROTC program called the “No Fear Battalion.”
The large percentage of women in ROTC at WSSU is similar at WFU.
Maj. Ash Worboys, assistant professor of military science, said that the ROTC program at WFU is approximately 30 percent female.
Salem College, a liberal arts school for women, is the third component of the “No Fear Battalion.”
The ROTC program enrolls male and female cadets and holds all to the same standard. Men and women in the program train, work and take classes together.
The physical training between genders is nearly identical with the exception of push-ups and weight lifting.
“Most of the women really hold their own,” said Cadet Joseph Houser from Syracuse, N.Y.
Houser is currently in his first semester as a member of ROTC.
Both genders are held to the same standards in the ROTC program, which means there is no disparity in pay.
“The federal pay for the cadets is identical [for men and women],” said Worboys.
Cadets in the ROTC program are paid a minimum of $300 a month and upon graduation become second lieutenants with a salary of $37,000.
With the exception of infantry and armory [the two positions that require combat on the battlefield], females in the ROTC can train for any position.
“The women can even be trained in airfield defense,” said Cadet Maj. and Executive Officer Matt Young.
Though women can not train for infantry and armory, all cadets take the same military science courses.
“ROTC provides the military training and Winston-Salem State provides the nursing training,” Worboys said.
Cadets enrolled in nursing take the same courses as those enrolled in the general nursing program at WSSU; however, those in ROTC must also take the military science as a minor.
Fourteen percent of women in the active Army serve in almost all Army occupations.
In fact the current Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command is Ann E. Dunwoody.
Maj. Kerri Ann Clapper will be the first female ROTC instructor at WSSU. She is expected to start in July.
“We have women in every aspect of leadership in our ROTC program,” Maj. Worboys said.