In August, the Army ROTC held its freshman orientation. Unlike in the past, this year’s orientation included both scholarship recipients and students not receiving scholarships.
Scholarship and Enrollment Officer Capt. William Conger said the orientation changed so the two groups would no longer be separated but instead have the opportunity to foster relationships.
Biochemistry sophomore Julia Malozovsky said being in ROTC is different from regular classes that just require studying because of the energy required. ROTC has a different atmosphere and is mentally challenging, but she said it has allowed her to have a deeper appreciation for things.
Every other morning, she wakes up at 5 a.m. for physical training, with formation beginning at 5:45 a.m.
“I underestimated the amount of energy [ROTC] would take away,” she said.
Although she usually begins the day with a lot of energy, she said she’s often tired during the second half of the day.
She said every day is a new class experience for her, and she is learning more about the Army.
Malozovsky said she has been able to get to know other students because of the smaller classes.
She said because she is a sophomore and this is her first semester in the ROTC, she has been able to compare school with and without it. Malozovsky said although her first two semesters of college were easier because all she did was study biology and chemistry, ROTC has been an enjoyable and new experience.
The freshmen had to complete two minutes of pushups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile run as part of the orientation. Senior cadets encouraged and graded each of the freshmen as they completed each portion of the test.
“This is not boot camp,” Conger said.
Malozovsky said she was afraid the older cadets would yell at the freshmen.
“I thought they were going to single me out,” she said.
Malozovsky’s family is from Russia, where women are not usually considered fit for the army, so she said she did not originally tell them about joining the ROTC.
“They didn’t believe me the first few times I told them,” she said. “Then finally, they found one of my ROTC forms, and it was just total chaos.”
Malozovsky said she’s already taken her physical training test for the semester, which involves the same exercises she took at the beginning of the year. Students have to complete as many pushups and sit-ups as they can in two minutes for each. They also have to run two miles in a given time period; Malozovsky said girls had to complete it in 19 minutes.
Running was the hardest part of the physical fitness test for Malozovsky. She said running is not her strength, especially in cold weather.
“I still hate running,” she said.
‘I underestimated the amount of energy [ROTC] would take away.’
