ROTC Cadets at the Top of the Class
Four Dauntless Battalion ROTC cadets who are Widener University undergraduates were recently recognized by peers from around the country for their leadership skills under difficult training conditions.
Ten cadets traveled to the ROTC Advanced Camp in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where they spent 31 days in platoon-sized groups. That meant they were combined into groups made up of roughly 40 cadets drawn from different ROTC outfits around the United States.
The camp is a training event designed to assess a cadet鈥檚 ability to demonstrate proficiency in basic officer leadership tasks. The experience included 20 consecutive days where the groups were outdoors in the elements without shelter, being mentally and physically tested. It is the most significant training and evaluation event in the ROTC experience and is required of all cadets before they can be commissioned as military officers.
At the conclusion of the camp, each cadet was asked to vote on which of their peers exhibited the highest levels of leadership. Widener undergraduates Robert Dietrich, Eric Guzy, Joel Murphy and Justin O鈥橞rien all placed in the top 15 percent 鈥 or roughly top five cadets 鈥 from their platoons.
Murphy said the cadets worked 20-hour days and had only three showers during the outdoor experience. The circumstances were meant to induce stress, as cadets who are able to remain composed and disciplined stand out as leaders. Murphy said he learned leaders have to be honest with their teams.
鈥淵ou need to make very sure that you make clear what your incompetencies and skills are, because when you get out there between the hammer and the anvil, your true colors will show and your capabilities become very apparent. This is true no matter the mission or task,鈥 he said.
鈥淭he Dauntless Battalion contingent had an outstanding performance at the Advanced Camp,鈥 said Lt. Col. Justin Shaffer. 鈥淭hey made strong, positive impressions with their peers. It is rewarding to see them recognized for exhibiting outstanding leadership. Quality leadership is something all of our cadets strive to demonstrate each day.鈥
Widener is proud of all the cadets who completed ROTC Advanced Camp this July. They include:
Peter Berlet, mechanical engineering
Robert Dietrich, civil engineering
Eric Guzy, political science and international relations
Cordell Hamilton-Conley, biomedical engineering
Brittney Hickman, biology
Payden Howard, criminal justice
Timothy Kinnard, civil engineering
Joel Murphy, mechanical engineering
Alyssa Niedzwiedz, nursing
Justin O鈥橞rien, sociology
