By Laura hoksbergen

Features Editor

While some of us are still trying to figure out what we are going to do next semester, Cadet Steve Ottolini, United States Army, has it all planned out.

Ottolini is part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, which offers four year scholarships to people who commit to four years of active duty after they graduate.

``I felt it was the right thing to do,'' Ottolini says. ``It was my duty to serve and honor those who had served before me. Not that I mind having my schooling paid for.''

Those who are in the program spend their Thursdays over at Western Michigan University, where the program is based, taking a four hour class.

The first part of the class is a lab, where the students learn hands-on activities such as first aid techniques, or squad movements. The other two hours are spent taking notes on a lecture, with topics like ``basic leadership'' or ``outdoor survival.''

The class is not limited to ROTC members; civilians are also welcome.

``Anyone who wants to can take the class without any obligation,'' Ottolini says. ``That way they can see what the army is about. Really, the only reason not to do it is the distance to Western.''

``It's a good way to get experience in leadership,'' says Jason Lore, another member of the ROTC. ``Companies want people who can be motivated or who are motivators, and the opportunity to lead people can be invaluable.''

Lore is not necessarily participating to go into active duty.

``I am trying to get a good scholarship and then get some good work experience,'' he says. ``I'm not sure about active duty, though... I eventually want to go into law enforcement.''

Military Science 240, one of the classes for the military science minor gave the students another opportunity to serve. Instead of writing a paper, the students were encouraged to participate in a service project at Mel Trotter Ministries.

On October 27, seven or eight students took advantage of the offer.

``Mel Trotter was changing location so we helped them move,'' Lore says. ``There was definitely a lot of work done.''

``I thought it was an appropriate thing to do. And it was rewarding and a good time,'' says Ottolini. ``Hopefully we made a difference.''

ROTC is not all work and no play, however.

``We have military balls where we get to wear our dress uniforms,'' Ottolini says. ``We do have fun too.''

Obviously, the army has been affected by the events of September 11. That mobilization is also trailing down into the ROTC and its members.

``We were asked not to wear our uniforms except in class and to keep low profile,'' Ottolini says. ``We were also issued statements about how to respond in case the press questioned us.''

There has also been a rise in security measures for the students. Their IDs are checked at the doors and they are asked to make sure the army knows where they can be reached at any time.

``The army is totally different from what it was five weeks ago,'' Lore says. ``And the commitment is only going to go up before it goes down. A war on terrorism is a huge front, and they are going to need people who know what they are doing.''

Ottolini could not agree more.

``They need medics... all kinds of people,'' he says. ``Not only because of September 11, though. The army always needs quality moral people.''

In case of an all-out war, however, Ottolini is confident that he will be allowed to graduate.

``I've signed papers that don't allow them to take me out of school,'' he says. ``I'm more use to the army if I've been properly educated. For now, I'm not going anywhere.''

Both Lore and Ottolini are enthusiastic about their program.