Scholarships spark UNT Army corps enrollment

by Allison Klingsick of North Texas Daily

12 out of 30 cadets enrolled in the program are on full scholarships that the Army awards students.

After just one semester on the UNT campus, the Army Reserves Officers' Training Corps increased its enrollment from three cadets to 30.

Major Herman Troy of the UNT department of military science said this expansion is mainly because of the full scholarships that the Army awards students.

"This semester, we have 12 cadets on 100 percent full scholarship," Troy said.

According to the ROTC Web site, the requirements for the scholarship include a 2.5 grade-point average, being medically cleared, in good physical condition and of good moral character.

The Army ROTC serves as a leadership program through the College of Arts and Sciences that trains commissioned officers to enter the Army Reserves upon graduation.

The opportunity for learning leadership skills drew in many of the freshmen and other new recruits.

Cadet Cody Robson, a business administration freshman, said the best part is the leadership that he has already begun to learn.

Cadet John Dansby, a political science sophomore, said another reason for the large growth may just be having presence on campus.

"Just being visible on campus in our uniforms makes the program grow," Dansby said.

With such a boost in enrollment, ROTC members said they feel a great response as new members of the UNT family.

"This campus has welcomed us with open arms," Troy said.

Such growth of the program has also brought several changes, including a move of offices from the General Academic Building to Wooten Hall.

"The growth has allowed us to hire more faculty," Troy said. "This will allow us to have a much more robust curriculum of courses."

A main adjustment this semester will include dealing with the different types of cadets enrolled. This includes 15 new freshmen, three cross-enrolled from Texas Woman's University, seven who serve in the National Guard or the Army Reserves and five who returned to school after serving at least four years of active duty in the military.

Even with a large number of students new to both the ROTC and college, many students said they feel the transition has been smooth so far.

"It's different," Robson said. "But I will take all the learning experiences that I can."

With just two weeks under their belts, Dansby said the cadets still gaze forward to the future.

"I am definitely looking toward a commission as an officer in the Army Reserves," Dansby said.

Following such a tremendous enhancement, Troy said he feels there is still room to continue growing.

"We are forecasting similar growth for at least the next two to three semesters," Troy said.