by Hannah O’Brien

For one, it was part of a dream she’s worked toward since she was a kid. For the other, it was a desire to step outside her comfort zone and try something new.

Katie Potter ’18, a communication major with a leadership minor, aspired to serve in the United States Army for years. Brooke Wilson ’18, also a communication major with a leadership minor, needed an elective to fulfill a leadership course requirement and decided to forego the typical classroom setting in order to try an ROTC course, which included a class in military science, labs on military tactics and early morning PT sessions.

Whether it was 5-mile runs before dawn, swimming fully clothed in the Fox River or marching over the bridge during sunrise, the two students (whose friendship began two years ago) did it together – Potter as an ROTC cadet, and Wilson as a civilian student.

On joining the ROTC/enrolling in the ROTC leadership course

Potter: I always felt this sort of patriotic calling to be a part of something that was bigger than just me, just Katie Potter. Ever since I was little, the national anthem has been my favorite song. I get chills every time I listen to it. So, I always knew that something in me wanted to serve.

Wilson: I added a [leadership] minor, so I actually had to take a course. I had been friends with Katie, and she said, “you know, other people have done it in the past, it’s not that bad. You should give it a try.” … I was petrified all summer [beforehand]. … [My friends] all laughed and said I wasn’t going to make it, but I did. 

On life as a cadet:

Potter: I’m a cadet first and I’m a student second. My sophomore year of ROTC is when I raised my right hand, I took the oath, and I contracted into the ROTC program. Ever since then, it’s been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. … I was granted the opportunity to go to Cabo Verde in Africa with the Army, I did a cultural/language-understanding program with them with civilians and did humanitarian aid there. … [ROTC] has led me to a lot of cool places, and I’ve met some really cool people.

Wilson: Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, we did a 6 a.m. PT; this includes group ability runs that went anywhere from 3 to 5 miles, depending on how much time. And then we had a class and lab every week … learning how to survive in the military – we went through different practices of how to be a leader, and how to apply your leadership concepts. We would do practical exercises, like we blew up a bridge, and just tried to focus on tactical drills. It doesn’t really apply to me or what I want to do after I graduate, but it was really interesting and gave me an understanding of what the Army actually is, and it gave me a good appreciation 
of what people [in the military] do.

On life as a student:

Potter: It gets frustrating, because a lot of students can stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning, doing their papers. But when you have to get up at 5 to get ready for PT, it cuts a few hours off your sleep schedule. But it’s worth it. I remember as a freshman, putting on the uniform for the first time, and just being, like, “Wow, this is so cool. I can’t believe I’m a part of this team and this family.”  

Wilson: Being a college senior, there’s definitely things that I’d rather be doing at night. I’d rather be going out to hang out with my friends, but I’d be like, “Sorry, guys. I’ve got to be up at 5 in the morning.” It’s really just about prioritizing your life, and [the ROTC course] really made me think there’s way more to life than experiencing nightlife. I think my first sunrise with ROTC was like the coolest thing in my life. We were running along the Fox River Trail; I was dying, I hated it. Everyone was encouraging me. I looked over and the sun was rising up against the river. I felt – I’m not actually enlisting, but I felt like I was there for a bigger purpose, to actually learn something and take something out of it. Prioritizing that, realizing that moments like that are why you want to experience things and get involved and try things while you’re in college, is major.