By: Emily LaForme
Michigan State University’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Spartan Battalion), welcomed a surprise guest during their battalion run on the morning of October 19.
Col. Lance Oskey, Brigade Commander at United States Army Cadet Command (ROTC), visited the Spartan Battalion Cadets where he joined in on morning physical training and a battalion run.
Cadet Thaddaeus Meyer, native of Ashland, Wisconsin, and Michigan State University sophomore, welcomed the opportunity to connect with Oskey.
“We had a battalion run and practiced cadences while doing so,” said Meyer. “I first met Col. Oskey yesterday, and I got to know him a little bit more then, and today he ran with us. It was a good experience to have someone as important as him come visit our battalion.”
Cadences are different songs and chants that help keep the battalion motivated during challenges.
Cadet Emily Nightingale, native of Holland, Michigan, and Michigan State University freshman, is new to running with the battalion as a group effort.
“It’s extremely motivating. The battalion run isn’t like anything that I’ve ever done before, and you have this will to keep going not only for the person in front of you, but the person behind you, and everyone in the battalion keeps motivating you to keep moving,” said Nightingale. “You don’t just run for yourself, you’re running for everyone else.”
While visiting, Oskey spoke with the Cadets and led the Cadets in a special physical fitness challenge after the run.
“I think it gives us more insight on different training options and ideas from someone who is experienced, and also I think it also motivates the battalion to train harder and better,” said Meyer. “It was a challenge for all of us to see who was willing to push themselves after all of that.”
Cadet Lane Martin, native of Beverly Hills, Michigan, and Michigan State University sophomore, was motivated by the opportunity to hear from an experience professional within Cadet Command.
“I was really motivated by it and impressed by how eloquently he spoke, because I had never met him before. I really appreciate when people come from higher up and come to speak with us, it means a lot to see a different role model,” said Martin.
Oskey also encouraged the Cadets to remember that the ROTC program is a team effort, not an individual effort.
“It’s definitely about the overall group of people, he talked about how it’s not an individual thing, and that it’s the job of a leader to bring up everyone underneath them and make sure that everyone is performing at the highest level that they can,” said Martin.
ROTC Cadets train yearlong on college campuses all across the country, preparing for summer training and their next steps toward becoming future Army Officers
