Jaguar Battalion: SU ROTC

Southern University Army ROTC is more than a program for students that want to commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army after they graduate. It is an elective, an extracurricular activity, and a scholarship opportunity all in one. ROTC has a military science lecture course and a leadership lab for each level in the program. They teach leadership skills, land navigation, map reading, and basic skills that a soldier would need during combat. With such extensive resources, ROTC is extremely active on campus. Cadets are on the field during football games, participating as the motivational push-up team and firing the cannon when Southern scores. They do physical training, or Physical Training, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00 am. They host various events on campus, and they even do community service around Baton Rouge.
Carlon Richardson, a sophomore civil engineering major and MS2 in the program, speaks very highly of the ROTC, “I think ROTC is an unbelievable program to be in. You’re around people who push you to be better and it is a sense of structure. We do not mess around, we get things done, and we lead by example. I’ve learned a lot of new things from the cadre and I am also set to commission as a second lieutenant. This is like a second family.” 
There are often certain misconceptions about the program, such as it is an automatic military obligation. Sergeant First Class Adams, a military science instructor, clarified, saying  “Some people think all we do is run for PT and wake up early.” Richardson agreed saying, “People think that it is easy, and that they don’t have to put in work, but expect to get paid. That is not the case at all.” The requirements of joining this program are pretty clear. It is necessary to “enroll in the military science and leadership laboratory classes, and to be a student at Southern University,” according to SFC Adams. There are also many opportunities to become a leader in this battalion. “There’s moving up in ranks, being in charge of PT, and being a class leader which means putting out information to cadets and gaining knowledge of directing. Your responsibility increases as your roles increase,” said SFC Adams.
Dantrey Johnson is a graduate mechanical engineering major that completed all four years in ROTC. He now works for the program. “I’m a graduate recruiter for the Jaguar battalion. I got this job through Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, and I love helping students find jobs in the military,” Johnson said. He also spoke about the unique characteristics of Southern University’s ROTC program and further clarified some common misconceptions. “We are more closely connected and cadre knows us by face and by name. There is a military obligation if you complete the program, yes. The first two years are open to everyone.” Johnson finished by introducing some of the scholarship opportunities that are offered by the program. “Yes, there are scholarships, three different ones. There is a national four year scholarship which you must apply for in high school, the 3/2 scholarship which requires a 19 on the ACT, a 1000 on the SAT, or a 110 GT score on the ASVAB, or the GFRD for those in the National Guard or Army Reserves.”
To learn more about ROTC, visit the Southern University ROTC building which is located right across from Mayberry dining hall.