Enlisting for education

They are the next potential enlistees in the army, the next
potential leaders of U.S. soldiers and the next potential
recipients of up to $80,000. And on Thursday, candidates for ROTC
scholarships had 30 minutes to prove they were worthy.

It was a short time to convince the panel of five members that
they deserved the scholarship funds that would help cover their a
significant chunk college costs for the next two to four years of
their education.

“They want to see strong leadership potential, a good work
ethic, and they want us to be strong academically,” said
William McCarthy, a second-year history student at UCLA applying
for a two-year scholarship.

The students who applied are either already involved with ROTC
or are interested in pursuing a future with the military, and the
scholarships serve as added benefits and compensation for the time
they will dedicate, though most say not getting one won’t
change their decision to be involved with ROTC.

“I would say that the majority of the students, though
some will apply for the money, most will do ROTC no matter
what,” said Peter Komorowski, who is applying to UCLA as a
graduate student and is applying for a two-year scholarship.
“I want to make sure we have better officers … and I look
to stay in the Reserves and maybe pursue a military career
regardless of whether I get the scholarship or not.”

Each of the eight student applicants was allotted a time slot to
be interviewed for the Army ROTC scholarships, and each is either
currently participating in ROTC in college, or is applying for the
scholarship while simultaneously applying to school.

The scholarships offered are for two or four years of financial
support which include up to $20,000 for tuition and other mandatory
fees, and are offered to students not only at UCLA, but also at
other schools in the area such as Pepperdine University, Loyola
Marymount University and Cal State Northridge. The equivalent
amount of money may be applied to housing expenses.

Most of the students were applying for two-year scholarships as
they were already enrolled in school.

Chase Hinkle, an undergraduate applicant to UCLA who is applying
for a four-year scholarship, recently completed Army Basic Training
and is looking to attend college and pursue ROTC.

“I only applied to UCLA,” Hinkle said. “I plan
to go active if I don’t get the ROTC scholarship or get into
UCLA; at least I would have to look at any money I would receive
because there is the whole money issue.”

The money, for Hinkle, is not the only reason why he would
participate in UCLA ROTC, though it would allow him to fund his
education. He said he also wants to join ROTC to become an officer,
which he said he will do regardless of whether or not he is
selected both by UCLA and for a scholarship.

“I wanted to join out of a sense of duty … and it was
largely of my own accord,” Hinkle added. “The funding,
for the most part, would be helpful to be able to go without piling
up debts, but I really want to be an officer.”

McCarthy also said that with or without the offered
scholarships, he would continue to participate in ROTC.

“I have always wanted to be an army officer,”
McCarthy said. “The money helps, but I would have done it
even if I don’t get a scholarship now.”

McCarthy added that the ROTC program doesn’t take just any
student who comes in expressing interest, because the students must
be there not only for the money but because they are qualified and
want to serve in the army.

Major Michael Berry, the admissions and recruiting officer at
UCLA, said it is important in the recruiting office to make sure
students are joining ROTC for the right reasons.

“People can sit there and tell me falsehoods, and I have
to take them at their word,” Berry said. “I have to
make sure to ask them the right questions.”

Even if they do not win the scholarship, most students who
originally express an interest in ROTC and are accepted to UCLA
participate in the program for at least their first year.

“They test the water because they at least had interest in
the beginning,” he said. “They have to want to do this
and for the right reasons.”

In order to qualify for the scholarship, the students are
evaluated on a variety of levels. The funds are awarded based on a
point system with points given for extracurricular involvement,
academic achievement, an interview with an officer and the
selection board scores.

The board itself consists of five members ““ Lt. Col. Shawn
Buck, Master Sgt. Jason Detty, Maj. Ariel Axelrod, senior cadet
Rosa Ramirez and a civilian, Berky Nelson.

Nelson, who is the director of the Center of Student
Programming, said each board member asked questions about a
specific area such as leadership or community involvement, but they
each evaluated the student in every area.

“After we hear the responses, we total up what we think
and then total up the composite score,” Nelson said.
“It is very enlightening … because you get an understanding
of the level of competence that students in the military program
bring forward.”

There are many opportunities for ROTC students to receive
scholarships, and about 45 percent of the 60 to 80 current UCLA
ROTC students are on some kind of scholarship. Scholarships offered
range from two to four years in length at up to $20,000 a year.
Also, one-time scholarships for $5,000 are offered each
quarter.

“Many people who go into the military will sacrifice an
income where they could generate more easily as civilians that they
could going into the military,” Nelson said. “If people
are deferring a higher income or, in the case of military, are
willing to put their lives on the line on behalf of the country,
you should be willing to provide them with some kind of
reward.”