Jennifer Orent, (center) a graduate of Ferris State University’s Hospitality Management
program from Rockford, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States
Army on Monday, May 3, at a ceremony on campus in Big Rapids. Thirty Reserve Officer
Training Corps members on the Ferris campus are expected back for the 2021-22 academic
year, with more than a dozen new commitments to the program, one of five Mid-Michigan
colleges and universities ROTC’s Chippewa Battalion.The U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Ferris State University is looking ahead to a promising and active 2021-22 academic year off a period of necessary change because of COVID-19.
Randy Wright brings 29 years of military background to his role as a Human Resources Administrator with Ferris’ extension of the Chippewa Battalion, a gathering of five ROTC programs with headquarters at Central Michigan University. Wright said Jennifer Orent, of Rockford, and Michael Alderman, of Westland, completed their degrees and received commissions as Second Lieutenants in May. Orent graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management while Alderman takes his Associate in Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology to his assignment with the U.S. Army.
“Thirty ROTC cadets will return to campus in the fall, there are 16 new commitments to our program as of early June, and that number is likely to grow,” Wright said. “While we have our cadets in physical training sessions three days a week, 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., we are also proud of their academic accomplishments, which included posting the highest GPA for any program in the Chippewa Battalion for the Fall and Spring semesters.”
Wright noted the required lecture sections and laboratory exercises, where Ferris’ cadets learn military tactics to acclimate them to the demands that may arise in service to their country.
“We trained for the Ranger Challenge, which brings together all ROTC programs across the state, but COVID-19 restrictions meant we could not participate during the last academic year,” Wright said. “We look forward to resuming that activity this November.”
Michael Alderman, (center) a graduate of Ferris State University’s Mechanical Engineering
Technology program from Westland, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United
States Army on Monday, May 3, at a ceremony on campus in Big Rapids. Thirty Reserve
Officer Training Corps members on the Ferris campus are expected back for the 2021-22
academic year, with more than a dozen new commitments to the program, one of five
Mid-Michigan colleges and universities ROTC’s Chippewa Battalion.For summer training, ROTC cadets who have completed their junior years will gather in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
“That will present them over five weeks of physical challenges and other skill developments, which are crucial to our cadets’ advancement toward military service,” Wright said. “They will be trained in rappelling, building strength and endurance on an obstacle course, while learning proper techniques in first aid, weapons use, and the handling of explosives.”
Wright said the Ferris ROTC program enjoyed its centennial celebration in 2019 and went on to a year of the ambitious pursuit of community service, as cadets are required to volunteer five times each semester. Intrepid efforts by program participants allowed that commitment to continue in 2020-21.
“We shoveled driveways, helped other students during move-in days, and had cadets read to kindergarteners at an elementary school in Baldwin,” Wright said. “Outreach is a constant for us at all levels so that we can promote our academic excellence and the value of the ROTC program.”
Vaughn said the Army is also affording the Ferris ROTC program and the Chippewa Battalion the chance to market its opportunities to a larger audience.
“We look forward to having our cadets at football games again this fall, to continue our tradition of presenting our country’s flag at Top Taggart Field and during the national anthem,” Wright said. “That will also resume at hockey and basketball games, along with our marketing through decals, which will be visible to hockey fans at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. It is important for our program to make clear that we have a long-standing tradition at Ferris, where we are active and engaged in this fine campus community. We are grateful that the chance is here to promote our values to a larger audience in the year ahead.”